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How to extend my EFI System Partition?
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Maoud ur Rahman
20
Reputation points
Hey!
I recently encountered an issue where my PC refused to update and after digging around I found out that the EFI System Partition I have is small (100 MB) and completely full. Also I can not extend the partition in windows 11 as provided disk management tool as it is greyed out even if I unallocate space from the D: or the C: Drive.
I saw somewhere online that I can use a third party app called MiniTool Partition Wizard 13.0 to create unallocated space to the left of C: drive. However, the tool does not allow me to shrink my C: drive for some reason (Option does not even show up). Any help on how to proceed will be greatly appreciated.
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Windows update
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5 answers
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Pauli O 15,375 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator2025-09-21T05:29:04.33+00:00 See this tutorial how to make more space for system reserved partition.
https://www.kapilarya.com/fix-we-couldnt-update-system-reserved-partition-in-windows-11
Deleting those fonts free some space on EFI partion and that may be enough for update work again.
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Rodrigo Queiroz 77,500 Reputation points Independent Advisor2025-09-19T23:39:30.6833333+00:00 To extend a partition, the Unallocated space must be next to it, if it is not next to the EFI partition, move C: to let a unallocated space next to the EFI partition
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Maoud ur Rahman 20 Reputation points
2025-09-21T18:37:00.5733333+00:00 Well there is a 16mb GPT drive in the way that doesn't allow me to assign the unallocated space to the EFI
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Rodrigo Queiroz 77,500 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-09-22T00:04:32.11+00:00 Move this other partition too.
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Dylan Foster 0 Reputation points2026-05-05T02:39:16.99+00:00 @Maoud ur Rahman Same it does not let me move it
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Volume Z 1,390 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator2025-09-18T09:57:51.93+00:00 Try the folowing: Delete the Microsoft reserved partition.
Using MTPW, you will not be able to move the Reserved partition in the first place. The 16 MB it gives you will be enough to enable the upgrade.
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Rodrigo Queiroz 77,500 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-09-18T02:22:06.14+00:00 Hi, I'm Rodrigo and I will help you.
You are not able to change the C: partition because it is BitLocker encrypted, you can disable the BitLocker encryption, make the changes you need and then, re-enable BitLocker.To disable BitLocker, open the Start Menu, type BitLocker and open "Manage BitLocker".
Select "Turn off BitLocker" on the disk you want, after completing, restart the computer.
Now you will be able to use Partition Wizard to resize C:.Do the same procedure to re-enable it, it will ask to save the recovery key, Microsoft Account is the best option.
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Maoud ur Rahman 20 Reputation points
2025-09-19T22:36:24.8366667+00:00 I did remove bitlocker and was able to resize in third party app however I still can not extend the EFI as I guess it is too far away
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Volume Z 1,390 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2025-09-20T00:07:48.84+00:00 I have already suggested that the RESERVED partition would be in the way of extending EFI. The Microsoft Reserved partition is next to EFI by default. If you stick with MiniTool, the Reserved partition must be DELETED. In order to move the partition, another free partitioning tool is required.
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Maoud ur Rahman 20 Reputation points
2025-09-21T04:18:08.4066667+00:00 Can you please provide details and potential risks?
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Volume Z 1,390 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2025-09-21T04:48:46.29+00:00 The risks are virtually nonexistent. The Microsoft Reserved partition is considered not required in any instance of an MBR disk converted to GPT.
Also you are free to create a new Microsoft Reserved partition in another spot. Leave 16 MB of unallocated space when extending EFI and then run
diskpart select disk 0 create partition msrin command prompt.
Or switch to EaseUS or AOMEI and just move the partition.
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