Shrink Option is not avaialable

Question

Dear All,

I am not getting option to shrink in the disk in hyper v VM Setting --> edit disk, VM, I have 1.8 TB unallocated space inside the disk and i want to free that space.

Thanks
Aziz

Answer 1

Hi @Aziz Husain ,

It's not possible to shrink a VHDX file because you cannot shrink the volume on the virtual disk, for more information read the blog post here:
https://blog.workinghardinit.work/2016/08/09/you-cannot-shrink-a-vhdx-file-because-you-cannot-shrink-the-volume-on-the-virtual-disk/

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(If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote and/or accept as answer, thank you)

Best regards,
Leon

Answer 2

Assuming that you are using a currently-supported version of Hyper-V (not 2008 R2 or older), then you can create a VHDX from the VHD.

1. Shut down the VM.
2. Detach the VHD from the VM.
3. Create a new dynamically expanding VHDX from the source VHD (screenshot below).
4. Shrink the newly created VHDX.
5. If you wish, convert to fixed.
6. Reattach the final VHDX to the VM.
7. Test that everything works.
8. Delete the old VHD and any intermediary VHDXs.

Answer 3

Op, how did you fix this? im facing this same issue right now, appreciate any feedback! Thanks!