How to increase EFI and Recovery partitions size using only Microsoft tools?

Hi Greg,

I appreciate your quick response and your time spent to explain the same thing once again.

I've already done my research and could not find a working solution.

I was referring to someone's old posts on this forum suggesting using EaseUS PM for this task. I've tried and it prompted me to buy a paid version, that's why I included such sentence in my original post. The MiniTool PM however has those options included in free version, so I tried using it this time.

The first link you provided, explaining how to borrow space from other partition is broken.

Nevertheless I managed to figure out how to do this, but it didn't work on EFI partition (it worked on my D: partition though). Below is the screenshot showing the error message I encountered:

Even though I managed to cut off some space from the left side of partition C: it won't let me extend EFI partition as the 16 MB Reserved Partition is standing in it's way. I can, however, extend the C: partition, as nothing is between them.

Below is my Disk Management screenshot:

Here you can see, that all options on the EFI partition are greyed out. Normally I should be able to extend this partition with Disk Management, as free space is next to it, but it won't let me.

I'm out of options in this moment. The only thing I managed to do was extending Recovery Partition by borrowing space from partition C, but the EFI partition cannot be modified.

I also had to decrypt all partitions from BitLocker encryption prior to doing anything, as the encrypted partitions also could not be modified.

Could you please advise how to extend the EFI partition to 300 MB in such case?

Many thanks,

Kapi

Hello again Kapi =

Did you try assigning a drive letter to EFI System? If extend doesn't work then I'd delete MSR and Resize EFI System into the Unallocated Space you made.

I've never heard of Extend not working. But if it doesn't what I would do next is create the bootable media for Partition Wizard and do the operation from boot mode when Windows cannot interfere.

If PW want's you to use Paid version for bootable version, then I'd do Resize from Easeus or another that offers it free.

There are also these guides for doing this:

https://www.hdd-tool.com/windows-11/extend-efi-...

https://www.diskpart.com/windows-11/windows-11-...

Keep me posted on your progress as I will be here to help until the case is resolved.

____________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

Hi Kapi. I'm Greg, here to help you with this.

No one here suggests paid software. This is not something Windows can do since the other partiitons need to be moved over as EFI System is being extended to around 300mb to avoid this error. Disk management can only resize from the right, not from the left or move partitions as required here.

The solution which I've given literally hundreds of times over 14 years in forums is to use free Partition Wizard extend function, which can borrow space from any other partition even if it's not adjacent, something no Windows tool can do, and most partition managers cannot even do.

This is illustrated here:
https://www.partitionwizard.com/help/extend-par...
Free download is here:
http://www.partitionwizard.com/download.html Install app, Open PW, Right click EFI System to Extend, tell it to borrow the space from C to make EFI System 300mb. Click OK and Apply.

In some cases it may be necessary to first right click to assign EFI System a Drive letter, OK, Apply. Afterwards remove it so nothing can write there.

If any problems post a screenshot of Disk Management, which I read like a doctor reads X-rays. Follow the steps here so I can see everything needed to advise you: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/foru...

Feel free to ask back any questions. Based on the detailed results you post back, I will have other suggestions if necessary.

______________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.