[Solved] 1TB Free Can’t Shrink Partition In Disk Management

When you encounter 1TB free can’t shrink partition in Disk Management issue, you can read to know the reasons and get the targeted solutions.

Posted by @Irene February 10, 2025 Updated By @Irene January 8, 2025

Why 1TB free can’t shrink partition in Disk Management?

Shrinking a volume in Disk Management is a common task for managing disk space on Windows PCs. However, users often encounter errors or find the "Shrink Volume" option unavailable. Why can't you shrink a volume in Disk Management? 

Below are the main causes of can't shrink Windows partition:
Unmovable Files: Disk Management cannot shrink a volume if unmovable files, like the hibernation file, page file, or system volume information folder, are located at the end of the partition.
Insufficient Space: Sometimes, you may see an error message like "There is not enough space available on the disk(s) to complete this operation." This can happen even if free space is visible, often due to unmovable files occupying the space you want to shrink.
Fragmentation: Fragmented files scattered across the volume can prevent shrinking.
File System Errors: Corrupted or inaccessible file systems can cause issues.
Unsupported Partition Type: The Shrink Volume feature supports NTFS partitions but not FAT32. If your partition is FAT32, shrinking is not possible. In this situation, you can choose to convert FAT32 to NTFS without losing data.

These factors can all contribute to the problem. To address this, you can disable unmovable files or use a third-party partition management tool. In this article, we’ll explain how to shrink volumes when Disk Management fails and provide effective solutions to make the Shrink Volume option work again.

How to fix can't shrink hard drive partition on Windows 11 and 10?

In this situation, you can use AOMEI Partition Assistant to fix the problem quickly. It can bypassing unmovable files, such as the hibernation file, page file, or system volume information folder, which often block shrinking in Disk Management. Besides, it supports a wider range of file systems and can easily shrink partitions like FAT32 that Disk Management does not support. This powerful tool works with Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7 and provides various options for managing partitions.

Option 1. 1-Click Adjust Space

The "1-Click Adjust Space" feature is the easiest way to adjust free space on your disks. You can drag the edges of partitions to resize them, allowing you to modify the disk layout easily and efficiently. This tool lets you adjust multiple partitions at once, making the process fast and hassle-free.

AOMEI Partition Assistant

The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant. Right-click a partition (here is D: partition) you want to adjust space and select "1-Click Adjust Space".

Note: It cannot select unallocated space to adjust because the feature is just for partition space adjustment. If there is unallocated space and you want to use it to expand a partition, you can use the feature "Merge Partition".

Step 2. If you want to use the space on F: to expand D: you can simply drag the dot near the partition F: head backward to shrink the partition F: and enlarge the partition D: simultaneously. Then click "OK".  You can simultaneously drag the dot near the partition C: tail forward to shrink the partition C: so the D: will also be enlarged with the space of C: at the same time. In this case, you can adjust all partition space (C:, D:, and F:) on the disk.

Step 3. You can preview the operation by viewing the "Pending Operations". To commit the "Pending Operations", please click "Apply" and "Proceed".

Step 4. The process will start and you can check the progress. It might take time to finish the operation.

Step 5. Wait for the operation to be finished. After it is completed successfully, you will find D: is enlarged and both D: and F: are adjusted.

Option 2. Resize partition

To shrink partitions with unmovable files quickly and safely, you can use AOMEI Partition Assistant. Its Resize Partition feature makes it easy to shrink a volume, even if unmovable files are blocking the process. Unlike Windows Disk Management, this tool is designed to overcome limitations and provide a more efficient and user-friendly way to manage disk partitions.

AOMEI Partition Assistant

The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer

Step 1. Install and launch this free partition manager software.

Step 2. Right-click on the partition or volume to be shrunk and select Resize/Move Partition.

Step 3. In the next screen, drag the slider leftwards to shrink the partition.

Step 4. Click OK to preview the partition layout. If no problem, click Apply to run the operation.

To sum up

Why 1TB free can’t shrink partition in Disk Management? The general reasons are unmovable files, file system limitations, or other constraints. AOMEI Partition Assistant offers a reliable and efficient solution to these issues. With features like "1-Click Adjust Space" and "Resize Partition," it provides an easy and user-friendly way to manage disk partitions, even for complex scenarios. By using this tool, you can bypass common obstacles and adjust your disk layout quickly and safely.