How to merge two partitions of external hard disk on Windows 10/11?

To merge partitions of external hard drive, you'll want to use Windows' built-in Disk Management tool. Here's how to get there:

1. Right-click on the Start button or press Windows + X.Choose Disk Management from the menu.

2. To merge the partitions, you'll need to delete one of them:

• In Disk Management, find the partition you want to delete. Right-click on it.
  Select Delete Volume.
• Confirm that you want to delete it. (Remember, this will erase all data on that partition, so make sure it’s backed up!)
• You should now see unallocated space where the partition used to be.

3. Now it's time to merge the unallocated space with the remaining partition:

• Right-click on the partition that you want to extend.
• Select Extend Volume.
• Follow the prompts in the wizard. It’ll usually just ask you how much space you want to add (usually the default is the whole unallocated space).
• Hit finish. You've merged those partitions.

4. Once done, take a look in File Explorer. You should see the new size of your partition reflecting the merge.

HenryRobinson 

Converting to a dynamic disk to merge partitions of external hard drive sounds like a neat trick, but it definitely comes with its fair share of drawbacks. One of the biggest headaches is that dynamic disks can be a pain in the neck when you connect the external hard drive to different systems. Not all versions of Windows fully support dynamic disks, and if you try to plug it into a non-Windows machine or an old Windows version, it might not be recognized at all! I once mixed things up by using a dynamic disk and then trying to connect it to a friend's older laptop. Let's just say we spent a good hour trying to figure out why the drive was invisible.

Dynamic disks can be more complex to manage than basic disks. If you're not familiar with how they work, it can get pretty confusing. Certain functions you might be used to with basic disks may not apply or may behave differently on dynamic disks.

HenryRobinson  Disk Management does not have a built-in "Merge" option. The typical process involves deleting one partition to create unallocated space and then extending the adjacent partition into that space. This process effectively merges the space but can lead to data loss on the deleted partition.

To merge two partitions in Windows 11 without losing data, you usually need to rely on third-party partition management software like Partition Master, Partition Wizard, or Partition Assistant, which offer more advanced features and flexibility than the built-in Disk Management tool.

HenryRobinson 

It is indeed possible to merge two partitions of an external hard disk using the CMD command line through "diskpart", but you need to be careful in the operation. You can use the Windows built-in command line tool "diskpart" to manage partitions, but it is not easy to merge two partitions directly. Usually you need to delete one of the partitions and then expand the other partition.

The steps are as follows:

1. Open the command prompt, enter diskpart, and press Enter.
2. Enter list disk to view all hard disks and find the number of your external hard disk.
3. Enter select disk X (X is the number of your external hard disk).
4. Enter list partition to view the partitions and find the number of the partition you want to delete.
5. Enter select partition Y (Y is the number of the partition you want to delete).
6. Enter delete partition to delete the partition.
7. Then, select the remaining partitions: select partition Z (Z is the number of the partition you want to expand).
8. Enter the extend command to expand this partition.

Although you can merge two partitions of external hard disk in this way, you need to be particularly careful. Once you make a mistake, you may lose data. So, be sure to back up your data before the operation!

HenryRobinson 

Converting to dynamic disk is another method that can be used to merge two partitions on an external hard disk. By converting the hard disk to dynamic disk, you can combine multiple partitions into one "volume", thus achieving an effect similar to merging partitions. However, this method has certain risks, especially when operating on an external hard disk, it is easy to have compatibility issues.

The steps are generally as follows:

1. Open the "Disk Management" tool, right-click the hard disk, and select "Convert to Dynamic Disk".
2. After the conversion, right-click the partition you want to expand and select "Extend Volume".
3. The system will allow you to merge the free partition space into this volume.

Although you can merge two partitions of external hard disk, please note that dynamic disks may have compatibility issues on some systems, especially when you connect the hard disk to other computers.

In addition, improper operation may cause data loss, so this method is not recommended for external hard disks unless you are very sure that the external hard disk is mainly used for a single device and the data has been backed up.

When you merge two partitions of external hard disk on your Windows 10/11 computer. If the "Extend Volume" option is grayed out, it might be because the unallocated space isn't directly adjacent to the partition you want to extend. In that case, you might need third-party software, like MinTooI Parttion Wizard, which can make things easier for you.

HenryRobinson If you're facing issues with Disk Management not allowing you to merge partitions, it could be due to one or more of these reasons. Using third-party software is often the best solution if you need to merge partitions without data loss and with greater control over the process. As a Windows 10 user, I know how to do this with Partition Master, which offers a direct way to combine two partitions without losing data.

How to merge partitions of external hard disk in Windows 10:

1. In the main interface, locate the external hard disk and the two partitions you want to merge.

2. Right-click on the first partition (the one you want to keep) and select Merge from the context menu.

3. A dialog box will appear, showing the adjacent partitions available for merging. Select the second partition you want to merge with the first one. Click OK to confirm your selection.

4. Click Apply to start the merging process. The software will begin merging the partitions. This process may take some time depending on the size of the partitions.

Once the process is complete, you’ll have a single, larger partition that combines the space of the two original partitions. You can also verify the partition using File Explorer to ensure your data is intact.