Resize and Move Partition: Safe Steps

Resizing and moving a partition is possible on Windows, macOS, and Linux using built-in tools or free third-party software, and it is safe if you back up your data first and follow the correct steps. You can shrink a partition to free up space, extend one into unallocated space, or move it to a different position on the disk, but the exact procedure depends on your operating system and whether the partition is your system drive.

Formula

The calculator works out your average pace (minutes per kilometre) and average speed (kilometres per hour) from the time you took and the distance you covered. The formulas are:

Pace = Total time (minutes) ÷ Distance (kilometres)

Speed = Distance (kilometres) ÷ (Total time (minutes) ÷ 60)

Where:

• Total time (t) – the time it took to cover the distance, in minutes.
• Distance (d) – the length of the run, walk, or ride, in kilometres.
• Pace – how many minutes it takes to cover one kilometre, expressed as min/km.
• Speed – how many kilometres you cover in one hour, expressed as km/h.

Worked Example

Using the default values from the calculator: you finish in 50 minutes and cover 10 kilometres.

1. Pace = 50 min ÷ 10 km = 5.0 min/km
2. Speed = 10 km ÷ (50 min ÷ 60) = 10 km ÷ 0.8333 h = 12.0 km/h

So your average pace is 5 minutes per kilometre, and your average speed is 12 kilometres per hour. The calculator shows the same results.

Why Resize or Move a Partition?

Partitions are logical divisions of a physical hard drive or SSD. You might want to resize one because your system drive is running out of space, or you need to create a new partition for a second operating system or for separating your data. Moving a partition is less common but becomes necessary when you want to merge two adjacent partitions or when you need to place unallocated space next to a partition you want to extend. For example, if you have a 500 GB drive with a 200 GB C: drive and 300 GB of unallocated space, you can extend C: to 300 GB. But if the unallocated space is on the wrong side of another partition, you may need to move that partition first.

How Partition Resizing Works

Resizing a partition changes its size without deleting the data on it. The process involves moving the partition’s end boundary (to shrink or extend) or its start boundary (to move it). Modern file systems like NTFS, APFS, and ext4 support online resizing, meaning you can often shrink or extend a partition while the system is running, though some operations still require a reboot. When you shrink a partition, the filesystem moves data from the end of the partition to the beginning, then truncates the partition. When you extend, it simply claims adjacent unallocated space. Moving a partition is riskier because it relocates the entire filesystem, which can take a long time on a large drive and has a higher chance of interruption causing data loss.

How to Resize and Move Partitions on Windows

Windows has a built-in Disk Management tool that can shrink and extend partitions, but it cannot move them. To move a partition, you need third-party software like EaseUS Partition Master, MiniTool Partition Wizard, or GParted (which runs from a live USB). Here are the general steps for Windows:

1. Back up your data – before any partition operation, back up important files to an external drive or cloud storage.
2. Open Disk Management – right-click the Start button and select “Disk Management�.
3. Shrink a partition – right-click the partition (e.g., C:), select “Shrink Volume�, enter the amount to shrink, and click OK. This creates unallocated space.
4. Extend a partition – right-click the partition you want to enlarge, select “Extend Volume�, and follow the wizard to add adjacent unallocated space.
5. Move a partition – Disk Management cannot move partitions. Use a third-party tool: download and install it, select the partition, choose “Move/Resize�, drag the partition to the desired position, and apply the changes. The tool will schedule the operation and may require a reboot.

If you are extending the system drive (C:), the unallocated space must be immediately to the right of C:. If it is not, you may need to move other partitions first, which is where third-party tools are essential.

How to Resize and Move Partitions on macOS

macOS uses the APFS file system, which handles resizing differently. The built-in Disk Utility can resize APFS volumes easily, but moving them is not supported. Here’s what you do:

1. Back up – use Time Machine or another backup method.
2. Open Disk Utility – go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.
3. Select the container – in the sidebar, select the physical disk (e.g., “Apple SSD�) and then the container (e.g., “Container disk1�).
4. Resize the container – click the “Partition� button, then drag the corner of the container to resize it, or enter a size. This will shrink or expand the APFS container, and the volumes inside will adjust automatically.
5. Move a partition – Disk Utility does not allow moving partitions. If you need to move an APFS volume, you would have to erase and recreate it, which is not practical. In practice, you rarely need to move APFS volumes because the container manages space dynamically.

How to Resize and Move Partitions on Linux

Linux offers the most flexibility with tools like GParted, which can resize, move, and copy partitions. Here’s a typical workflow:

1. Back up – always back up before modifying partitions.
2. Boot from a live USB – download GParted Live or use a Ubuntu live USB, and boot from it. Do not resize mounted partitions.
3. Open GParted – select the disk from the drop-down menu.
4. Resize – right-click the partition, choose “Resize/Move�, drag the arrows or enter the new size, and click “Resize/Move�.
5. Move – in the same dialog, drag the partition to a new position or enter the “Free space preceding� value. Click “Resize/Move�.
6. Apply – click the green checkmark to apply all pending operations. This may take a while.

GParted works with ext2/3/4, NTFS, FAT32, and other file systems. It is powerful but requires care; a power failure during a move can corrupt data.

Common Problems and Safety Tips

The biggest risk is data loss. Power outages, software crashes, or accidental cancellation can corrupt the partition table or filesystem. To minimize risk:

• Always back up – even if the operation is usually safe, backups are your only insurance.
• Do not resize a partition that is nearly full – shrinking a partition that is 95% full may fail because there isn’t enough free space to move data.
• Do not interrupt the process – let the tool finish, even if it takes hours. If you must cancel, do it only after the operation completes.
• Defragment first (HDDs only) – on traditional hard drives, defragmenting before shrinking can speed up the process and reduce errors. SSDs do not need defragmentation.
• Check for errors – run a filesystem check (chkdsk on Windows, fsck on Linux) before and after resizing.

Another common issue is that you cannot shrink a partition below the size of the filesystem’s used space. The shrink limit is determined by the location of the last file, not just the total used space. Tools like Disk Management may show a smaller shrink limit than expected because of unmovable system files (e.g., pagefile.sys, hiberfil.sys).

Alternatives to Resizing and Moving Partitions

If resizing or moving seems too risky, consider these alternatives:

• Use folder redirection – move your Documents, Downloads, or other folders to another drive without changing partitions.
• Create a new partition – if you have unallocated space, just create a new partition and move files there.
• Replace the drive – if your drive is too small, clone it to a larger drive and then resize the partition on the new drive.
• Use a storage pool or spanned volume – Windows Storage Spaces or Linux LVM can combine multiple disks into one logical volume, avoiding the need to resize.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I resize the C: drive without losing data?
Yes, you can shrink or extend the C: drive using Disk Management or third-party tools without losing data, provided you have enough free space and the operation completes successfully. Always back up first.

Why can’t I extend my partition even though there is unallocated space?
The unallocated space must be immediately to the right of the partition you want to extend. If it is on the left, or separated by another partition, you cannot extend using built-in tools. You may need to move partitions with third-party software.

Is it safe to move a partition?
Moving a partition is riskier than resizing because it rewrites the entire filesystem location. It is generally safe if you have a backup and use reliable software, but a power failure during the move can cause data loss.

How long does it take to move a partition?
It depends on the partition size and disk speed. Moving a 100 GB partition on a typical HDD can take 30 minutes to several hours. On an SSD it is faster, but still significant.

Can I move the system partition (C:)?
Yes, but it is more complicated because the system files are in use. You must use a tool that can work offline, like GParted from a live USB, and you may need to repair the bootloader afterward.

Do I need to defragment before resizing?
On HDDs, defragmenting can help reduce the time and risk of shrinking, but it is not mandatory. On SSDs, defragmenting is unnecessary and can reduce the drive’s lifespan.

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in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2