Easily Fix [Windows Server 2022 Cannot Extend Volume]

Need help: Server 2022 cannot extend volume

No matter whether you're using Windows Home or your Windows Server, Disk Management has an “Extend Volume” feature that allows users to extend the partition size on the target disk. This function is beneficial because the drives, especially the C drive, will run out of free space with daily data storage.

However, lots of Windows Server users find when they open Disk Management and prepare to extend the drives without sufficient free space, the “Extend Volume” button is greyed out. How does this happen? How to fix it? Follow this guide to find out why your Windows Server can’t extend volume and fix it with the solutions we will show later.

Why is Windows Server 2022 extend volume greyed out?

Here we list some common reasons for Server 2022 cannot extend volume:

1. There’s no unallocated space on your disk
The “Extend Volume” function is, actually, conditional. It requires the target disk to have unallocated space.

2. The unallocated space is nonadjacent
Some users might see that there is unallocated space on the selected disk, but, this unallocated space is nonadjacent to the drive they wish to extend. This unallocated space should be right and behind the target drive, otherwise, the button will also be greyed out.

3. File systems are not supported
Windows Server volume setting doesn’t allow users to execute any changes on the FAT32, exFAT, or Ext partitions. The opted partitions must be an NTFS or RAW.

4. The target disk is an MBR disk
If you are using an MBR disk, and the available space is about to reach the 2TB limitation of the MBR disk, then the “Extend Volume” might not be a nice choice for your device to seek more free space. Because MBR partition style only recognizes 2TB capacity, the rest will be unavailable. GPT style doesn’t have this limitation, it supports disks larger than 2TB.

How to fix ‘Windows Server can't extend volume’

There might be other reasons that can also make the “Extend Volume” greyed out, but the tool we’re going to introduce is suitable for lots of Windows computers. AOMEI Partition Assistant Server Edition is a professional Windows Server management. It has various convenient features to help users solve different problems, and supports Server 2025/2022/2019/2016/2012(R2)/2008(R2).

For the solutions of Windows Server 2022 or Server 2019 ‘cannot extend volume’, it can offer 4 ways for the mentioned 4 reasons. And these four methods won’t ask you to delete anything or damage data on the selected drives, the program is data-safe.

Now, let’s use this practical tool to see how to extend volume on Windows Server 2022 to fix the Server can’t extend volume problem.

Method 1. Allocate free space

You can immediately assign free space from one drive to the target drive to solve the 'Server 2022 extend volume greyed out' problem, so you don't have to worry about your disk running out of capacity.

Step 1. Install and run AOMEI Partition Assistant Server. In the main interface, right-click a partition that has much free space, and choose “Allocate Free Space.”

Step 2. In the pop-up window, type the free space that you want to transfer to C drive from D and choose C drive as the destination location. Then, click “OK”.

Step 3. In the home interface, you can see that the C drive has been extended with the free space that is moved from the D drive. Click “Apply” and “Proceed” to commit the pending operations.

Method 2. Merge partition

The “Merge Partition” function can help your Windows Server 2022 extend C drive by adding space of unallocated space that's not adjacent.

Step 1. In the software, right-click C drive partition, choose “Advanced” and select “Merge Partition”.

Step 2. Choose unallocated space in the following window and then click “OK” to go on.

Step 3. To execute all the operations, please click “Apply”.

Now the unallocated space has been merged into the C drive.

Method 3. Convert file system

Using Windows built-in tools to convert file systems will require users to delete all data on the drive, but AOMEI Partition Assistant supports data-safe conversion. After you convert the partition, you can extend it.

Step 1. Click “Convert” in the top toolbar, and choose “Convert to NTFS/FAT32”.

Step 2. Then you’ll enter the interface of the converter. Choose "FAT32 to NTFS" and click the "Next" button.

Step 3. In the partition list, choose the FAT32 partition that you want to convert to NTFS and click "Next".

Step 4. Confirm the partition that will be converted, then, click "Proceed" and "Yes".

Step 5. Click “Finish” to close the converter.

After you convert the drive, you can use Diskpart without the limitation of the type of file system.

Method 4. Convert to GPT disk

Because MBR disk has limits, if your disk is larger than 2TB but it’s partitioned on MBR style, we suggest you convert it to a GPT disk to initialize more available space to solve the 'Windows Server can't extend volume' error. AOMEI Partition Assistant can convert data or system disk between MBR and GPT without losing data or reinstalling the system.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant Server. Right-click the system disk and choose “Convert to GPT”.

Step 2. Click “OK” to confirm your operation.

Step 3. Back to the main interface, click on “Apply” to commit the pending operation.

Then you can use more space on the disk.

Conclusion

If you have AOMEI Partition Assistant, you will have no trouble resolving 'Windows Server 2022 cannot extend volume'. Furthermore, it may be used to transfer installed applications, migrate the operating system to another disk, and clone the disk... It is a very effective tool for controlling Windows devices.

FAQs about 'Server 2022 cannot extend volume'

Q1: Why can't I extend disk on Windows Server?
You won't be able to extend a disk volume in Windows Server if there is no unallocated space on the right behind the target partition. Also, the partition is formatted with a file system that does not support the extending FAT32, exFAT partition.

Q2: What is the volume size limit for Windows Server 2022?
If you need large storage on your Server 2022, ReFS is the clear option for scalability, supporting file and volume sizes of 35 PB compared to 256 TB in NTFS. File snapshots, which are important for backing up virtual hard drives, are new in ReFS in Windows Server 2022.

Q3: Do I need a recovery partition for Windows Server 2022?
Recovery partition stores Windows RE environment and default data. If you move it, you'll never be allowed to use Win RE. Normally, we suggest you don't move or delete it, however, if it occupies too much disk space, you can try to move recovery partition or some other ways to extend the partition or disk space.