This article is about how to shrink c drive on Windows server 2012 r2 with disk management or other partition tool, you can use this solution to better manage your disk space.
If the “shrink volume” option is grayed out in Disk Management, you can shrink the partition with a third party disk partition manage tool. Here we recommend IM-Magic Partition Resizer, which is a 100% safe and effective software.
#1, First, free download IM-Magic Partition Resizer. Run the computer on your computer.
#2, Then right click the partition which you want to shrink, choose “resize/move partition”.
#3, Move the cursor to shrink the partition easily when the mouse shows double arrows.
Steps to resize partitions in Windows server
And then unallocated space will be produced at the right side of the c drive.
#4, Apply the changes.
Case#1: If you want to use the unallocated space to create a new volume
Video: Shrink C, create partition in Server 2012
Here are the steps to create a new volume based on the unallocated space after shrinking c drive.
Case#2: If you want to add the unallocated space to another drive in your computer after shrinking c drive
Video: How to shrink C extend D
Also read: How to shrink C extend D on Windows Server
If the target drive is just next to the unallocated space, you may go with the following steps.
Note: If you want to add the unallocated space to F volume that stands after drive C, D, E, then you may add the following steps after the step1
And then you may go with the above step2 to claim the unallocated space.
Also read: how to shrink c drive, or how to move unallocated space to target partition
Disk Management is an useful partition manage tool which can help you to change disk partitions like extending partition, shrinking partitions.
If you want to shrink volume with Disk Management, here are the terms:
You can run this tool by right clicking the “Computer”, and choose “Manage”, then you can enter “Disk Management” module, if you use NTFS file system on your computer, you can use the “shrink volume” option there to resize your disk partitions.
Shrink Volume will be unavailable in Disk Management if
Fix tips:
Defrag (defrag C: /X)
Disable hibernation (powercfg -h off)
Use diskpart or 3rd-party tools like Partition Resizer Server
Note: It's not possible to move unallocated space nor move a partition in Disk Management. Partition Resizer Server can help move unallocated space or partitions safely without losing data.
When the “shrink volume” option greyed out in disk management for c drive in Windows server 2012 or 2012 R2, you can use Partition Resizer Server.
“Hello, I have a question. I want to shrink my c drive and create a new partition to save my important data. I know Disk Management on the Windows system can make it. I tried it, but turned out the shrink volume option grayed out on the menu, and I don’t know why. How can I shrink the c drive on the Windows server 2012 r2?”
There are a lot of reasons that the shrink volume grayed out in Disk Management. Maybe your file system is not NTFS, maybe you have unmovable data on the c drive, etc. Then how to shrink the c drive in Windows server 2012 r2 safely? This page shows some useful solutions to shrink boot volume on server 2012 wihtout formatting or losing data.
Also read: shrink volume grayed out