How to Fix “Cannot Extend C Drive Due to Recovery Partition” in Windows

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Introduction

Running out of space on your C: drive can slow down your PC and limit your productivity. When you try to extend the C: drive using Windows Disk Management and find that the option is greyed out, it’s often because a recovery partition is blocking access to the adjacent unallocated space. In this guide, we’ll walk you through why this happens and how to fix it safely.

🔍 Why You Can’t Extend the C Drive

In Windows, the built-in Disk Management tool only allows you to extend a partition into unallocated space that is immediately next to it on the disk. If there is a recovery partition between the C: drive and the unallocated space, you can’t extend the volume—hence the greyed-out “Extend Volume” option.

✅ Solution 1: Use Third-Party Partition Software (Recommended)

Tools like MiniTool Partition Wizard, EaseUS Partition Master, or AOMEI Partition Assistant offer more flexibility than Disk Management.

Steps:

1. Download and install a trusted partition manager.
2. Launch the tool and locate your disk layout.
3. Move the recovery partition to the right (after the unallocated space).
4. Once the unallocated space is adjacent to C:, extend the C: drive.
5. Apply changes and restart your computer if prompted.

🛑 Note: Be cautious with changes involving recovery partitions. If you rely on factory reset features, moving or deleting this partition may impact that functionality.

🧹 Solution 2: Delete the Recovery Partition (Use With Caution)

If you’re certain that you no longer need the recovery partition, you can delete it and merge the space with the C: drive.

Steps:

1. Open Disk Management (Win + X > Disk Management).
2. Right-click the recovery partition and select Delete Volume (if enabled).
3. The partition becomes unallocated space.
4. Right-click on the C: drive and choose Extend Volume.

⚠️ This action is irreversible unless you create a full system image backup first.

💻 Solution 3: Use DiskPart via Command Line

For advanced users, the DiskPart tool can be used to delete the recovery partition if Disk Management doesn’t allow it.

Steps:

1. Press Win + X > select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin).
2. Type the following commands: diskpart list disk select disk 0 (or your target disk) list partition select partition X (replace X with the recovery partition number) delete partition override exit
3. Now go back to Disk Management and extend the C: drive.

💡 Final Tips

• Always backup your data before making changes to disk partitions.
• If you’re unsure about deleting a recovery partition, create a Windows recovery USB drive as a fallback.
• Consider using external storage or cloud services to avoid space issues in the future.

Conclusion

While Windows Disk Management has its limitations, you can still extend your C: drive even if a recovery partition stands in the way. Whether you choose to use third-party software, remove the partition, or use command-line tools, the key is to proceed with caution and always back up your data first.