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

[HenryRobinson]

Hi members,

I'm looking for some guidance on merging two partitions on an external hard disk on my Windows PC. The drive currently has two separate partitions, and I'd like to combine them into one without losing any data. Here’s what I’ve tried so far:

• I opened the Disk Management tool, but I couldn’t find an option to merge the partitions directly.
• I’m aware that I might need to delete one partition and then extend the other, but I’m concerned about potential data loss.

Is there any easy way to merge two partitions of external hard disk on Windows 11/10? If so, could you please share the steps you followed? Also, if there are any tools or software you recommend for this task, I’d appreciate your suggestions.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[#2]

Skipping the backup can be a huge mistake! If anything goes sideways during the merge, you could lose important files. Before you merge two partitions of external hard disk, back up any important files from both partitions onto another drive or your computer. You never know what could happen during the merging process, and it's always nice to have a safety net.

[#3]

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.

[#4]

@HenryRobinson The Disk Management tool in Windows requires one of the partitions to be deleted first to create unallocated space. It can then extend the adjacent partition into that unallocated space. If you don't have unallocated space directly next to the partition you want to extend, Disk Management won't be able to merge two partitions of external hard disk windows 11.

Besides, if the partitions use different file systems (e.g., one is NTFS and the other is FAT32), the Disk Management tool won't be able to merge them as well. Both partitions must use the same file system. In addition, If one partition is a primary partition and the other is a logical partition within an extended partition, you cannot merge them directly with Disk Management.

[#5]

@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.

[#6]

@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!

[#7]

You can back up first, then delete and expand the partition. This is a safer approach. Back up the data of one partition to another place, then delete the partition in the "Disk Management" tool, and then expand the other partition to occupy its space. In this way, you can merge the two partitions and then copy the data back.

[#8]

@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.

[#9]

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@SamuelSamson wrote:
You can back up first, then delete and expand the partition. This is a safer approach. Back up the data of one partition to another place, then delete the partition in the "Disk Management" tool, and then expand the other partition to occupy its space. In this way, you can merge the two partitions and then copy the data back.

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This method does sound safer, but I am a little worried that if the amount of data to be backed up is large or there is not enough space to store the backup files, will it be troublesome? Also, after deleting a partition in "Disk Management", will there be any risks when expanding another partition, such as data loss? Have you tried this method before?

[#10]

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.

[#11]

@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.

[#12]

Sometimes, we overlook the impact on drive letters. After merging to two partitions of external hard disk, the letters might get reassigned, leading to confusion if you're used to certain letters for certain drives. So keep track of your drive letters (like D:, E:, F:) and reassign them in Disk Management if needed after you're done merging. Just right-click on the partition and choose "Change Drive Letter and Paths." And take your time and double-check everything before confirming any deletions or merges. Trust me, a little patience can save you a lot of headaches later.

[#13]

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.