How to Fix "Shrink Volume is Too Low" in Windows 11

The problem: When trying to shrink a volume in Windows 11, you might encounter the frustrating "shrink volume is too low" error. This typically happens because of unmovable system files that prevent the volume from being reduced. In this guide, we'll show you how to identify and temporarily disable these files to successfully shrink your partition.

Causes: Why Can't I Shrink My Volume in Windows 11?

Windows protects certain critical system files by making them unmovable during the shrinking process. These files include:

• Hibernation file (hiberfil.sys)
• Page file (pagefile.sys)
• System restore points
• Memory dump files

Easier, Faster, and Free Fix: The free tool Partition Resizer can help shrink any volume. It offers an easy-to-use interface and guarantees 100% data safety with no loss. Additionally, the software includes a 'Check Partition' feature to detect and repair bad sectors, along with partition/disk cloning capabilities for extra data protection.

Video1: Shrink C extend D or E

Also read: how to shrink C extend another drive

Besides using Partition Resizer to shrink volumes, here are additional solutions to fix the "shrink volume is too low" error without any third-party tools.

Step 1: Identify and Disable Unmovable Files

• Hibernation File (hiberfil.sys): Disable hibernation to remove this file. Open Command Prompt as administrator and type powercfg /h off and press Enter.
• Paging File (pagefile.sys): Disable the paging file temporarily to allow shrinking. Open Advanced System Settings (search for "advanced system settings"), go to the "Advanced" tab, click "Settings" under Performance, and then click "Change". Uncheck "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives", select your C drive, choose "No paging file", and click "Set", then OK, OK, and Yes.
• System Protection: Disable system protection for the C drive temporarily. Go to System Protection (search for "system protection"), select the C drive, and click "Configure". Choose "Disable system protection", then OK.
• Kernel Memory Dump: If you are comfortable with advanced settings, you can also disable kernel memory dumps by going to System Properties → Startup and Recovery → Settings → Write debugging information and selecting "None" from the dropdown.

Step 2: Shrink the Volume

After disabling these files:

1. Press Win + X and select "Disk Management"
2. Right-click the volume you want to shrink
3. Select "Shrink Volume"
4. Enter the amount of space to shrink (in MB)
5. Click "Shrink"

Alternative Solution: If Disk Management still won't let you shrink the volume sufficiently, consider using third-party partition managers like Partition Resizer which is 100% free.

Step 3: Re-enable System Files

After successfully shrinking your volume:

1. Re-enable the paging file using the same steps as above (set to "System managed size")
2. Re-enable system protection if desired
3. To re-enable hibernation: powercfg /h on
4. Reboot your computer

Additional Tips for Successful Volume Shrinking

1. Run Disk Cleanup

Remove unnecessary files before shrinking:

1. Right-click your C drive and select "Properties"
2. Click "Disk Cleanup"
3. Select all file types to delete
4. Click "OK" and "Delete Files"

2. Defragment Your Drive

While Windows 11 automatically defragments, you can manually optimize:

1. Search for "defragment" and open "Defragment and Optimize Drives"
2. Select your drive and click "Optimize"

3. Check for Disk Errors

Run CHKDSK to fix file system errors:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
2. Type: chkdsk C: /f
3. Press Y to schedule on next reboot
4. Restart your computer

Important Considerations

• Always back up your data before modifying partitions
• Ensure you have enough free space before shrinking (at least 10-15% free space recommended)
• Third-party tools often offer more flexibility than Windows Disk Management
• Some system files may still prevent shrinking - you may need to try multiple methods

When All Else Fails

If you still can't shrink your volume sufficiently:

1. Consider moving personal files to another drive
2. Uninstall large applications you don't need
3. Perform a clean Windows installation as last resort

By following these steps, you should be able to overcome the "shrink volume is too low" error in Windows 11 and successfully resize your partitions as needed.