DiskPart - Windows Disk Management

Master DiskPart, the powerful command-line disk partitioning utility built into Windows. Learn to manage disks, partitions, and volumes with precision.

Critical Warning: DiskPart commands can permanently destroy data. The CLEAN command erases ALL data on the selected disk. Always double-check disk numbers before executing commands.

How to Launch DiskPart

Method 1: Run Dialog (Recommended)

Press Windows + R
Type diskpart
Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter (for admin privileges)
Click "Yes" on UAC prompt

Method 2: Command Prompt

Open Command Prompt as Administrator
Type diskpart and press Enter
Wait for DISKPART> prompt
Begin entering commands

Note: DiskPart always requires administrator privileges to run.

Essential DiskPart Commands

Command	Description	Example	Risk Level
`list disk`	Display all physical disks	`DISKPART> list disk`	Safe
`list volume`	Display all volumes	`DISKPART> list volume`	Safe
`list partition`	Display partitions on selected disk	`DISKPART> list partition`	Safe
`select disk X`	Select disk number X for operations	`DISKPART> select disk 1`	Caution
`select volume X`	Select volume number X	`DISKPART> select volume 2`	Caution
`clean`	Erase ALL data on selected disk	`DISKPART> clean`	Critical
`create partition primary`	Create a primary partition	`DISKPART> create partition primary size=10240`	Caution
`format fs=ntfs quick`	Quick format with NTFS	`DISKPART> format fs=ntfs quick label="Data"`	Caution
`assign letter=X`	Assign drive letter	`DISKPART> assign letter=E`	Low
`extend`	Extend selected volume	`DISKPART> extend size=5000`	Caution
`shrink`	Shrink selected volume	`DISKPART> shrink desired=1000`	Caution
`detail disk`	Show detailed disk information	`DISKPART> detail disk`	Safe
`attributes`	Display or set disk attributes	`DISKPART> attributes disk`	Low
`exit`	Exit DiskPart utility	`DISKPART> exit`	Safe

Common DiskPart Operations

DISKPART> list disk
DISKPART> select disk 1
DISKPART> clean                           # WARNING: Erases all data!
DISKPART> create partition primary
DISKPART> format fs=ntfs quick label="NewDrive"
DISKPART> assign letter=E
DISKPART> exit

This sequence completely erases the selected disk!

DISKPART> list disk
DISKPART> select disk 2
DISKPART> attributes disk clear readonly
DISKPART> online disk
DISKPART> convert gpt                     # Or 'convert mbr' for MBR
DISKPART> create partition primary
DISKPART> format fs=ntfs quick
DISKPART> assign letter=F

DISKPART> list volume
DISKPART> select volume 3
DISKPART> extend size=10240              # Extend by 10GB
# Or extend using all available space:
DISKPART> extend

Volume can only be extended if unallocated space exists immediately after it.

DISKPART> list disk
DISKPART> select disk 2                  # Ensure this is your USB!
DISKPART> clean
DISKPART> create partition primary
DISKPART> select partition 1
DISKPART> active
DISKPART> format fs=fat32 quick
DISKPART> assign
DISKPART> exit

Triple-check the disk number - this will erase everything!

# To remove a drive letter:
DISKPART> list volume
DISKPART> select volume 4
DISKPART> remove letter=G

# To change a drive letter:
DISKPART> select volume 4
DISKPART> assign letter=H

Interactive Command Builder

Build Your Command Sequence:

Your Command Sequence:

Click buttons to build your command sequence...

Best Practices

Always run list disk first to verify disk numbers
Double-check disk selection before destructive operations
Back up important data before any disk operations
Use detail disk to verify you've selected the correct disk
Test commands on non-critical systems first
Document your disk layout before making changes

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Selecting wrong disk number (can destroy OS or data)
Using CLEAN without verifying disk selection
Forgetting to assign drive letter after formatting
Not checking for existing partitions before creating new ones
Attempting to extend volumes without adjacent free space
Running DiskPart without administrator privileges

Additional Information

Partition Types

Primary: Bootable partitions (max 4 per MBR disk)
Extended: Container for logical drives (MBR only)
Logical: Drives within extended partition
GPT: Modern partition table (128 partitions, >2TB support)
MBR: Legacy partition table (4 primary partitions, 2TB limit)

File Systems

NTFS: Default for Windows, supports large files, permissions
FAT32: Universal compatibility, 4GB file size limit
exFAT: For flash drives, no file size limit
ReFS: Resilient File System for servers

Pro Tip

DiskPart scripts can be automated by saving commands in a text file and running: diskpart /s scriptfile.txt

Quick Reference Card

Information Commands

list disk
list volume
list partition
detail disk
detail volume

Selection Commands

select disk X
select volume X
select partition X

Action Commands

clean
create partition primary
format fs=ntfs quick
assign letter=X
extend
shrink