Can't shrink/extend partition to reclaim unused space

Question

Can't shrink/extend partition to reclaim unused space

Holly Moly 20

Greetings,

I am having problems with shrink/extend to reclaim space from unallocated and underused drives. I am on Windows 11 Pro.

Can someone please help me? I have attached screenshots below on the state of my drives:

User's image

Neil D 34,305 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-06-30T13:37:35.5366667+00:00

Did you create Disk 2 as a Dynamic disk?

Answer accepted by question author

Marcin Policht 109.1K MVP Volunteer Moderator

From Disk Management, right-click Disk 2, which contains the 700 GB unallocated space and select “New Simple Volume.”

Follow the wizard to:

use the full size,
assign drive letter E:,
format as NTFS,
and optionally give it a label such as “Data” or “Storage.”

After the wizard completes, E: will appear in File Explorer as a normal storage drive.

To free space on C:, move large user folders to E:. In File Explorer, right-click folders such as Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Videos, or Desktop → Properties → Location → Move, then select a folder on E:. Windows will move the files and automatically update the folder locations.

For OneDrive, open OneDrive Settings → Account → Unlink this PC, then sign in again and choose a new sync location on E:.

Change default save locations under Settings → System → Storage → Advanced storage settings → “Where new content is saved,” then set documents, apps, downloads, and other content types to E:.

You can also move or reduce the paging file (swap file). Open System Properties → Advanced system settings → Performance Settings → Advanced → Virtual Memory → Change. Uncheck “Automatically manage paging file sizes for all drives.”

Select C: and either reduce the paging file size or choose “No paging file.” Then select E: and choose “System managed size” or specify a custom size. Click Set and restart the PC.

If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

hth

Marcin

Holly Moly 20 Reputation points

2026-07-01T07:43:59.2333333+00:00

Thank you for the detailed instructions, Marcin. After completing the steps, I only had partial success.

I moved a few files/folders to the newly created G: drive, but most other things appear to be system related. So not sure whether I can touch those - advice sought.

I am still short on completing Windows update by half a GB. I am unable to paste screenshots - says max 3MB - failed! Any suggestion?
Marcin Policht 109.1K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-07-01T11:16:07.4866667+00:00
Most space problems on C: are usually caused by hidden system files, Windows component storage, application data, virtual machines, Outlook PST files, OneDrive sync data, hibernation, or the paging file rather than normal documents.

You can safely move:

personal folders,

media files,

downloads,

game libraries,

VMs,

ISO files,

PST/OST mail archives,

and OneDrive storage.

Avoid manually moving:

Windows,

Program Files,

Program Files (x86),

ProgramData,

or hidden system folders.

Use Storage Settings (Settings → System → Storage) to identify what is consuming space. “Apps,” “Temporary files,” and “Other” are usually the biggest categories.

You can safely run:

Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr),

“Clean up system files,”

Storage Sense,

and remove old Windows Update cleanup files.

If hibernation is enabled, disabling it can immediately recover several GB: powercfg /h off (run from an elevated Command Prompt).

Moving the paging file to G: can also reclaim significant space on C:.

If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

hth

Marcin
Holly Moly 20 Reputation points

2026-07-01T11:50:15.4166667+00:00

Hello Marcin,

I see 2 replies deleted due to code violation! Not sure if you or someone was responding to my queries.
Neil D 34,305 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-07-01T12:42:23.2066667+00:00

@Holly Moly don't worry about the deleted posts. They were duplicates of a post from you and I deleted them as Irrelevant but the system shows Code violations.

7 additional answers

Your answer

Neil D 34,305 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-06-30T13:37:35.5366667+00:00

Did you create Disk 2 as a Dynamic disk?
Holly Moly 20 Reputation points

2026-07-01T07:43:59.2333333+00:00

Thank you for the detailed instructions, Marcin. After completing the steps, I only had partial success.

I moved a few files/folders to the newly created G: drive, but most other things appear to be system related. So not sure whether I can touch those - advice sought.

I am still short on completing Windows update by half a GB. I am unable to paste screenshots - says max 3MB - failed! Any suggestion?
Marcin Policht 109.1K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-07-01T11:16:07.4866667+00:00

Most space problems on C: are usually caused by hidden system files, Windows component storage, application data, virtual machines, Outlook PST files, OneDrive sync data, hibernation, or the paging file rather than normal documents.

You can safely move:

personal folders,

media files,

downloads,

game libraries,

VMs,

ISO files,

PST/OST mail archives,

and OneDrive storage.

Avoid manually moving:

Windows,

Program Files,

Program Files (x86),

ProgramData,

or hidden system folders.

Use Storage Settings (Settings → System → Storage) to identify what is consuming space. “Apps,” “Temporary files,” and “Other” are usually the biggest categories.

You can safely run:

Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr),

“Clean up system files,”

Storage Sense,

and remove old Windows Update cleanup files.

If hibernation is enabled, disabling it can immediately recover several GB: powercfg /h off (run from an elevated Command Prompt).

Moving the paging file to G: can also reclaim significant space on C:.

If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

hth

Marcin
Holly Moly 20 Reputation points

2026-07-01T11:50:15.4166667+00:00

Hello Marcin,

I see 2 replies deleted due to code violation! Not sure if you or someone was responding to my queries.
Neil D 34,305 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-07-01T12:42:23.2066667+00:00

@Holly Moly don't worry about the deleted posts. They were duplicates of a post from you and I deleted them as Irrelevant but the system shows Code violations.

Answer 1

Holly Moly 20

Thank you for the detailed instructions, Marcin. After completing the steps, I only had partial success.

I moved a few files/folders to the newly created G: drive, but most other things appear to be system related. So not sure whether I can touch those - advice sought.

I am still short on completing Windows update by half a GB. I am unable to paste screenshots - says max 3MB ! Any suggestion?

0 comments

Answer 2

Holly Moly 20

YAY! Finally, managed to release lots of GBs. Thanks @Marcin Policht . And thanks @Neil D for your intervention.

However, I am still unable to complete the Windows Update - see the screenshot. I repeatedly keep getting the shown error.

I tried, Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth,

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth,

Dism /Image:C:\offline /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and

Dism /Cleanup-Mountpoints.

Any help on this would be appreciated.

I think this is a different problem from the original, so I will accept the answer for others' benefit.

User's image

0 comments

Answer 3

Holly Moly 20

YAY! Finally, managed to salvage lots of GB. Thanks @Marcin Policht . Also, thanks @Neil D for your intervention.

However, I am repeatedly getting error with Win Update - see below. I have tried Dism, ScanNow, RestoreHealth, CleanupMountpoints and reset Windows Components to no avail. Still can't update.

Since this appears to be different issues, I will accept answer to help others. But further help on this would be appreciated.

User's image

Neil D 34,305 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-07-03T08:38:47.7+00:00

The preview updates are causing issues for some so you are not alone.

It may be best to set Get updates as soon as they're available Off. These updates should be optional as the are like a testing update that you don't need to install.

In the meantime you can try a repair of windows to see if that helps but you should make sure you have the latest drivers from the manufacturer including a any bios updates.

For the repair see Settings > System > Recovery > Fix problems using windows update, select Reinstall now.

Answer 4

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