How to create a partition on Windows 11 | Tips and Tricks

Create a partition on Windows 11 (or Windows 10) it is often useful and also convenient: you can use it to tidy up your files, but also to install an additional operating system next to the main one.

In this article, you will find out how to resize, extend and create a partition on Windows 11 using the integrated tool with Microsoft’s operating system. At the end we will also suggest some alternative programs to the Windows tool that allow you to create and manage Windows partitions.

What is a partition?

Those who are less familiar with the subject might ask themselves what a partition is and what it is used for in the first place.
The term “partition” is common in set theory, in computer science it is often used when it comes to memory. For an operating system to use storage space, it must first be partitioned and then formatted.

Through partitioning, memory is divided into drives that can be managed independently as separate drives. Each partition can then be formatted.

Formatting is required because so is the operating system has two important pieces of information:

• unique addresses for each portion of the memory and numerically determined (called addresses, a bit like those of the streets);
• the criterion that is used to store files (such criteria are the file system, there are several, the most common are: FAT32, NTFS, exFAT, ext3, HFS +, APFS).

With this information, the operating system can confidently know where to write data and where to read it if required. Without this information, the operating system cannot read the data, even if it is still contained in memory. Recovery programs are used just that: from the structure of the surviving data they reconstruct the missing information, so that the operating system can be able to read it.

Types of partitions

There are two types of partitions:

• Primary Partitions – they can be a maximum of 4.
• Extended (or logical) partitions – they can be a maximum of 64.

Operating systems can usually only be installed on primary partitions. Usually a new partition is created just to allow the installation of a second operating system on the same computer. In short, to create a Dual Boot system where at startup you can choose which operating system (Windows, Linux distribution, MacOS) to use.

Typically on Windows the operating system is installed in the C drive.

How to create a partition on Windows 11

After explaining what a partition is, let’s move on to how to create a partition on Windows 11. The procedure is absolutely identical on Windows 11 and on Windows 10 (actually it’s identical at least since Windows 7). Both operating systems have an identical and fairly basic partition management tool.

Warning: the Windows tool can only resize drives if they are formatted in NTFS or if there is unallocated space (i.e. not included in any of the partitions). Also, the tool is not very advanced, so you can only shrink a drive until you encounter a file (so often you can’t shrink a drive of all available free space). It is therefore advisable to clean up by deleting unnecessary files before proceeding.

Resize a partition

To resize existing partitions just:

• right-click on the Windows logo (Start menu) and press on the item “Disk management“;
• right click on the partition you want to resize and press “Turn down volume“;
• a dialog box will open in which you can enter the size in MB that you want to reduce (remember that 1 GB is equivalent to 1024 MB and that therefore 10 GB is 10240 MB), when the window opens it will immediately indicate which is the maximum reduction that the instrument allows to effect;
• once the reduction has been chosen, you can press the “Reduce“;
• during processing the instrument will appear to be blocked, you have to wait, once completed you will have unallocated space available.

Extend a partition

To extend an existing partitionif there is unallocated space available on the same storage device (Hard disk, SSD, memory card, USB memory), just:

• always go to the instrument “Disk management“;
• always press the right button on the partition you want to resize and in the context menu click on “Extend Volume“;
• a dialog box will open in which you can enter the size in MB you want to add to the partition, when the window opens it will immediately indicate which is the maximum extension that the tool allows you to perform based on the available space;
• once you have chosen the size of the extension you can press the “Extend“;
• during processing the instrument will appear to be blocked, you will have to wait, once completed you will have a larger partition available.

Create a new partition

Having some space available you can create a new partitionit is possible to create a partition on Windows 11 always using the same tool, just:

• click with the right mouse button on the black section (“Not allocated“);
• then press on “New simple volume“;
• a wizard will open, click on “Forward“;

• select the size on the next screen (the maximum size will be shown automatically) and press “Forward“;
• then assign a drive letter and click on “Forward“;

• at this point we will be asked if we want to format the new volume, we recommend that you do so and choose the “File system” “NTFS“, Moreover, if you do not have particular needs, it is advisable to leave the check mark in the”Perform a quick format“;
• then press on “Forward“And, after taking a look at the summary, on the”Fine“.

Programs to create a partition on Windows 11

We have already mentioned that the partition management tool included in Windows is convenient but very limited indeed, fortunately there are very interesting and powerful alternatives. Here is a list of the best free solutions to create a partition on Windows 11:

EaseUS Partition Master is already in its free version an extremely complete tool. To create and modify partitions without difficulty, there will be no need to upgrade to the Pro version. If you want to download it, just go to the EaseUS Partition Master free version page.

MiniTool Partion Wizard 12 is another very complete tool already in the free version, which manages your partitions very well, offering a simple and clear interface. If you want to download it, just download the executable from its official MiniTool Partion Wizard page.

Active@ Partition Manager is a handy software completely free, great for managing all partitions on Windows, despite a not exactly cutting-edge interface it does its job really great. If you want to download it, just go to the Active @ Partition Manager official website.