How to Delete a Partition in Windows 10 With Disk Management or DiskPart

To delete a partition in Windows 10, use Disk Management and choose Delete Volume, or run DiskPart’s delete partition command. Both remove the volume from normal access and leave the space unallocated. Back up its files first.

Before deleting a partition

Match the target by disk number, capacity, drive letter, label, and position in the layout. Disk numbers vary by PC, and some partitions have no drive letter; don’t assume Disk 0 is the target.

Never remove EFI System, Microsoft Reserved, Windows boot, recovery, or OEM recovery partitions just to free space; doing so can prevent boot or factory recovery. DiskPart’s override bypasses type protections, so it isn’t a routine workaround. This guide covers basic data disks. Microsoft warns that deleting a partition on a dynamic disk can destroy all dynamic volumes on that disk.

Partition deletion also isn’t a secure erase. Treat the files as lost for normal use, and don’t rely on deletion to sanitize a drive before selling or disposing of it.

Option 1: Delete a partition in Disk Management

1. Open Disk Management. Right-click Start and choose Disk Management, or press Windows + R, enter diskmgmt.msc, and press Enter. Approve an administrator prompt if Windows displays one.

   

2. Locate the data volume. In the lower map, compare the disk capacity, partition layout, and drive letter or label. Keep Windows, EFI, recovery, and OEM partitions intact.

   

3. Delete the selected volume. Right-click the ordinary data volume and choose Delete Volume. Read the confirmation dialog and continue only if it names the correct volume and you have backed up its files. Deletion removes the volume’s file system access; it does not move the files into the Recycle Bin.

   

4. Choose how to use the space. The area appears as Unallocated. Leave it unused, create a drive with New Simple Volume, or extend a neighboring volume. Windows can extend a basic volume only into eligible unallocated space immediately to its right on the same disk, and the target must use NTFS or ReFS. If Extend Volume is unavailable, don’t delete another partition without identifying it.

Option 2: Delete a partition with DiskPart

DiskPart deletes the partition in focus. Use it only when you can match disk and partition numbers to the data volume you verified in Disk Management. Replace the example numbers with those shown on your PC.

1. Open an elevated terminal. Right-click Start and choose Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin), then approve the User Account Control prompt. At the prompt, run diskpart.

   

2. Identify and select the disk. Run list disk and compare the displayed sizes with the physical drive. If the DYN column marks the disk as dynamic, stop and use a documented recovery or storage plan instead. For a basic disk, replace 1 below with the verified disk number:

   list disk
   select disk 1

   

3. Find and verify the partition. Run list partition to see the partitions on the selected disk. Compare the size and offset with the layout you inspected earlier. Replace 2 with the intended partition number, then inspect its properties:

   list partition
   select partition 2
   detail partition

   If the selected partition is a system, boot, recovery, or OEM partition—or you cannot match it with certainty—type exit and stop.

   

4. Delete only after verifying the selection. Run the command once. There is no normal undo. After success, type exit and confirm in Disk Management that the space is unallocated.

   delete partition

   Do not add override to force removal of a protected partition.

   

If an option is unavailable

• Delete Volume is grayed out or DiskPart refuses. The selected partition may be in use or protected. Don’t bypass the protection; recheck the disk map and consult Microsoft or the PC manufacturer’s recovery instructions.
• Extend Volume is grayed out. Windows requires eligible unallocated space immediately to the right of the volume on the same disk. If the gap is elsewhere, you can leave it unallocated or create a separate volume.
• You need to remove another operating system. Don’t delete its partition while booted from it. Back up data, confirm which partitions belong to that installation, and follow the operating system or PC manufacturer’s removal guidance.

For current details, see Microsoft’s Disk Management guide, the DiskPart reference, and Microsoft Learn’s pages for delete partition, detail partition, and extending a basic volume.