How to Delete Recovery Partition in Windows 11/10
If you buy a pre-installed Windows PC, you may find that the storage space available is less than your expectation based on the size of your hard drive. The reason behind this could be a Windows recovery image or a separate recovery partition added by the manufacturer, which usually occupies around a few hundred MBs or even 2-3 gigabytes on the main hard drive. This guide will show how you can delete Recovery Partition in Windows 11/10.
What Is a Recovery Partition?
Recovery Partition is created by the OEM and contains important boot files. It can be used if you want to revert your system to factory settings. You will find them on every new computer because the supplier doesn’t provide recovery media along with the system anymore. It is not recommended to store the recovery data in the same partition where Windows is installed. It is because if your hard drive gets corrupted, your recovery files will also get damaged, and it will become tough for you to reinstall the operating system.
Should You Delete the Recovery Partition?
The answer to “can I delete the recovery partition” is a resounding yes. There is no impact on the OS when you delete a recovery partition. However, it has its use, and depending on what kind of user you are, the answer varies a little.
As a general rule, it is better to keep the recovery partition as it is on the hard drive since a partition of this size won’t take up too much space. Users can use the recovery partition instead of reinstalling their operating system if it becomes corrupted or damaged or performs poorly.
Computer users with advanced computer skills may delete the recovery partition optionally, assuming they have one of the following things: a recovery drive, a recent system image backup, or a Windows installation CD. An image recovery partition is only helpful for restoring the drive to its factory setting. However, backups are far more advantageous for this purpose.
How To Backup Recovery Partition Windows 11/10
While you can back up the recovery partition using any Backup & Restore software, creating the recovery driver after deleting is not possible.
How to Delete Recovery Partition in Windows 11/10
You can use any of these methods to delete the recovery partition on Windows PC.
- Backup Recovery and Delete
- Delete the Recovery partition using Disk Management
You will need an admin account and a clear understanding of the steps suggested below. Make sure to take backup of critical data.
1] Backup Recovery and Delete
Those who want to delete the recovery partition of their hard drive to utilize extra space should create a recovery media and store the backup of the recovery image first. You can create a USB recovery drive by following the steps given below.
- Click on the Start button.
- Type Recovery in the search box and select Create Recovery Drive option from the list of suggestions.
- The Recovery Media Creator will open up. Click on Next
- Select the USB drive and click on Next
It will copy the recovery partition on the USB drive, and since it requires extra space, we advise our viewers to store the data in a USB with high storage capacity. You will be asked to remove the recovery portion from the hard drive at the end of the process. If you delete the partition, you need to refresh and reset the computer from the control panel. Refreshing the system won’t affect your files, but resetting will delete them.
Related: How to create space on Windows 10 by clearing the Hidden cache.
2] Delete the Recovery Partition Using Disk Management
If you do not delete the recovery partition while creating the recovery media, you can do it later using disk management. However, it is impossible to resize the other partitions if the recovery partition appears before the C drive/partition on the disk.
- Right Click on Start Menu and select Disk Management from the list.
- A new Disk Management Window will open up where you can see the hard drive’s various partitions (disc 0, if you have one only).
Usually, in Windows 10, users get 100MB for the System file, after that Windows (C:) and finally the Recovery drive. Though, it could be different as per the configuration of your device. After seeing the name of your disc and the location of the recovery partition, minimize the windows for a while.
- Right-click on Start Menu and select Command Prompt (Admin)
- Next to C:\WINDOWS\system32> type DiskPart
- Then next to DISKPART> type List Disk
- Type Select Disk 0
- It will tell you that the disc is now selected. Type List Partition
- It will show you the listing of partitions. If the recovery is listed on number 3, then type Select Partition 3
- It will show you “partition three is now selected,” type Delete Partition Override
- The message will be displayed “Partition 3 has been successfully deleted” close the Command Prompt screen
Open the Disk Management Window again; it will show Unallocated under the recovery partition
- Right-click on Windows (C:)
- Select Extend Volume
- Click on Next > Click on Next again > Hit Finish
After this, you will get complete control of your hard drive and will be able to use the space which was reserved for the recovery image.
Conclusion
So, this is how to delete the recovery partition in Windows 11 and 10. While it is not necessary, if it’s taking more than usual space, you can choose to delete the recovery partition in Windows 11/10.
Do let us know if you have doubts through comments, and we will try to solve them as soon as possible.
