How to shrink and create new partition on Windows Server

Managing disk space efficiently is crucial on any Windows Server, whether you’re running applications, storing databases, or just keeping things organized. Sometimes you need to split an existing partition to create space for a new one. Luckily, Windows Server has built-in tools for the job—no extra software required.

Here’s how you can shrink an existing partition and create a new one step by step.

Step 1: Open Disk Management

1. Log in to your Windows Server with an account that has administrative privileges.
2. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
3. Type diskmgmt.msc and hit Enter.
4. The Disk Management console will open, showing all your connected disks and partitions.

Step 2: Shrink an Existing Partition

1. Right-click the partition (volume) you want to shrink (for example, the C: drive).
2. Select Shrink Volume from the context menu.
3. Windows will query the volume for available shrink space. This may take a moment.
4. In the dialog, enter the amount of space to shrink (in MB). For example, to create a new 20 GB partition, enter 20480 MB.
5. Click Shrink.

Note: You can only shrink the partition up to the amount of free, contiguous space available. If you can’t shrink as much as you want, defragment the drive and try again, or move large files temporarily.

Step 3: Create a New Partition

1. After shrinking, you’ll see “Unallocated” space on the drive.
2. Right-click the unallocated space.
3. Select New Simple Volume.
4. The New Simple Volume Wizard will start. Click Next.
5. Specify the size of the new volume (use the default to use all the unallocated space), then click Next.
6. Assign a drive letter (like D: or E:), then click Next.
7. Choose a file system (NTFS is recommended for Windows Server), set the allocation unit size (default is fine), and name the volume if you want.
8. Click Next, then Finish.

Windows will quickly format the new partition, and it’ll be ready to use.

That’s It!

You’ve successfully shrunk an existing partition and created a new one. This is a safe, built-in process in Windows Server—just be sure to back up important data before making changes to your disk partitions.

Tips:

• Avoid shrinking the system partition too much—Windows needs space to operate smoothly.
• If you’re running out of space, consider moving files or expanding storage instead of splitting partitions further.

Have questions or need help troubleshooting disk management issues? Drop them in the comments below!

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!