Move Healthy Recovery Partition in Windows 11, 10, or Server 2022/2025

Quick Overview: To move the healthy recovery partition, you can use a third-party tool such as the free software IM-Magic Partition Resizer without data loss. Alternatively, you can delete the recovery partition using Partition Resizer or DiskPart (after running reagentc /disable), and then recreate it in another location on the disk, such as at the beginning or the end. (Note: It is more complicated to create a healthy recovery partition at the front of the disk than at the end.)

Our Words: If you want to extend a partition into unallocated space but the recovery partition is in the way, you can safely move it using the free tool IM-Magic Partition Resizer without deleting any partitions.

This article contains the following parts and includes different purposes and cases when moving the recovery partition.

This article will use a free tool IM-Magic Partition Resizer. You may download it from the following link.

#1. Move Healthy Recovery or System Reserved Partition to Expand C

This section explains how to move the healthy recovery or system reserved partition to extend the C drive without data loss using the free tool IM-Magic Partition Resizer, when there is adjacent unallocated space.

Partition Map:

Before: C, Recovery, Unallocated

After: C, Unallocated, Recovery

Note: If there is no adjacent unallocated space—or no unallocated space at all—you can shrink a larger volume and then move partitions to make the unallocated space adjacent to the target partition using IM-Magic Partition Resizer. This process does not cause data loss or require app reinstallation.

Question1: How to move recovery partition to expand disk?

Answer: When the Recovery partition blocks the disk expansion, you may move it with IM-Magic Partition Resizer, no data loss or app reinstallation.

Also read: how to move partition to extend C

#2 Move Recovery Partition to End of Disk

Before: C, Recovery, Unallocated, E

After: C, Unallocated, E, Recovery

Video: How to move Recovery to end of disk using IM-Magic Partition Resizer

Note: You need to delete all partitions after the Recovery to move it end, or you may create the recovery at the end of disk with unallocated space using Diskpart CMD. (Shrinking a partition can generate unallocated space)

Also read: How to move the recovery partition end of disk

Usually we won't recommend you move the Recovery partition to the end of the disk unless you have special purposes. You can simply move partitions to change the location of unallocated space using Partition Resizer.

#3 Move Healthy Recovery Partition to the Front of the Disk

Before: C, Recovery, D

After: Recovery, C, D

Creating a new recovery partition before the C drive is the key step for this process. Only disk management tools like Partition Resizer can create unallocated space before the C drive by shrinking it from the left side.

Note: The system will require a reboot because the start sector of the C drive is changed during the process.

Video: Move the Recovery Before C Drive, Left of C

Q2: How to move the healthy recovery partition to the beginning of the disk in Windows Server 2022?

Answer: If you are using Windows Server 2022 or 2025 and want to move the healthy recovery partition to the beginning of the disk, the process is similar to the method described above using IM-Magic Partition Resizer Server (Free Trial). We recommend using the "Migrate OS Wizard" feature in this tool to create a full disk backup if you are concerned about unexpected data loss.

Also read: How to move recovery partition at beginning of disk

#4 Move Recovery Partition to Another Disk?

Note: The recovery partition cannot be moved to another disk by itself. It must be bundled with the boot partition (e.g., OS C:). This can be done using the "Migrate OS Wizard" feature provided by IM-Magic Partition Resizer.

Steps:

• Download and install Partition Resizer.
• Prepare another disk as the backup destination.
• Open Partition Resizer, click "Tools" in the navigation bar, and choose "Migrate OS Wizard."
• Select the backup disk as the destination.
• Click "OK" to confirm, then wait for the software to complete the process.

Note: Remove the backup disk after the cloning process is complete.

Question3: Can the system reserved partition be moved to another disk?

Answer: The system reserved partition cannot be moved to another disk by itself. Whether it is the Recovery or EFI partition, it must be bundled with the OS volume (e.g., C:). They must remain together. This can be done using the "Migrate OS Wizard" feature under the "Tools" menu in Partition Resizer.

Also read: How to move a partition to another disk