How to Partition SSD in Windows 11 [Step-by-Step Guide]

Top 3 questions about SSD partition

When you purchase a new Windows 11 machine, it is often provided with an SSD, and the manufacturer will only leave one drive on the disk. Many users responded that they had screwed up the OS file and their papers.  As a result, establishing additional partitions to save the operating system and personal data separately is becoming increasingly important when partitioning SSD.

So, how much do you know about the SSD? Here are the top 3 things you should know when partitioning SSDs in Windows 11.

▶ 1. Is it Okay to partition SSD?

Yes. SSD, also known as Solid State Disk, is a physical disk comparable to a hard disk drive that allows users to install the operating system, programs, and software, as well as save personal files, documents, and other data. You may also partition and re-allocate the SSD if you need to build two or more partitions on it. 

It is worth noting that the partition numbers of various types of drives differ. MBR includes three main partitions and one logical partition. GPT has 128 partitions. On Windows 11, you need to choose GPT partition scheme to ensure Secure Boot.

▶ 2. Should I Partition My SSD For Windows 11?

Well, it depends on specific situations. If your SSD is modest, with a capacity of 120GB or less, and you have a larger hard drive on your computer, utilize the 120GB SSD as the operating system disk and store files on the second HDD.  If your SSD is 250GB or more, or you only have one disk on your Windows 11 PC, it is recommended that you separate the OS and data drives.

Normally, we recommend leaving 100GB or 120GB of space for the OS disk. Also, if your OS or data drive does not have adequate capacity, Windows 11 will display a low disk space error.

In this instance, you'll need to repartition the SSD to increase the destination volume's unallocated free space.  In a nutshell, partitioning your SSD to provide adequate space for the OS disk is critical to keeping your computer running at top speed.

▶ 3. How to Partition SSD in Windows 11?

Here, we'll show you how to utilize these tools to partition an SSD drive in Windows 11 from two angles:

• Partition of an existing SSD disk.
• Partition a second, new SSD.

Why do I need to partition SSD in Windows 11?

When you buy a new computer with SSD, in most cases, it has only one partition. At this time, we need to partition it. Partitioning an SSD is a process of dividing a hard drive into several independent partitions. The reasons for this are as follows:

● Improved Data Organization
Partitioning divides your data logically into multiple regions. This means you may separate your Windows operating system, apps, and personal information onto distinct partitions. This reduces the likelihood of data loss or corruption in the event of system failures, infections, or software malfunctions. If one partition experiences problems, the others remain unaffected, assuring the security of your critical data.

● Enhanced Performance
When you partition your hard disk, you may assign individual partitions to different tasks. For example, you may set up a separate partition for gaming or resource-intensive programs. This separation eliminates unneeded fragmentation, resulting in better performance and shorter access times to key operations.

● Easy Backup and Recovery
Having separate partitions simplifies the backup and recovery process. You can create backups of specific partitions, making it easier to restore your system or personal files in case of emergencies. This level of granularity ensures that you only back up what’s necessary, saving both time and storage space.

●Security and Privacy
Separating sensitive data onto a different partition provides an additional degree of security for your files. You may use different access permissions and encryption on your private partition to make it more difficult for unauthorized people to access your data.

●Multi-Boot Configurations
If you want to run numerous operating systems on the same computer, partitioning is required. Each operating system can have its partition, allowing it to work smoothly and independently. This is particularly handy for developers, testers, and users who want to experiment with different operating systems.

Partition SSD in Windows 11 with Disk Management

No matter what your purpose is to partition SSD, you can partition Windows 11 through Disk Management. It is a built-in tool of Windows. It can shrink volumes, extend partitions, create partitions and format partitions. The following is how to shrink and create partitions in Disk Management.

Step 1. Click Search icon at the Windows 11 desktop and enter Create and format hard disk. Then, open it.

Step 2. Open Disk Management, if Windows OS occupies the entire partition. You can Shrink Volume to generate unallocated space. Right-click the system partition and select Shrink Volume.

Step 3. Enter the amount of space to shrink in MB and click on “Shrink” to continue.

Step 4. Now, you can notice a piece of unallocated space located on the right of the system partition. Right-click on the unallocated space and click on “New Simple Volume”.

Step 5. Follow the wizard until the last step to create a new partition. (If you still want to create another partition, don’t use up all the unallocated space you created. To create more partitions on the hard disk, you can repeat the “shrink and create” procedure.)

★Tips:

Disk Management only support shrinking volumes in NTFS and RAW. If the partition is in FAT32, then, you have to find another way out.

When shrinking the system partition, it is best to reserve 100G or 120G of space for the system partition. Because if the system partition space is not enough, Windows 11 may not play the best performance.

Best SSD partition software for Windows 11

Do you think it is too troublesome to use Disk Management to create partitions on Windows 11? If you think it takes time to create partitions one by one, you might as well try the professional disk partition software AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional (suitable for Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista/XP).

The software can not only create a partition on the unallocated space, but also create another partition on an existing partition. It supports resizing partitions, merging partitions, and it is also easy to allocate free space from one partition to another. In addition, unlike Disk Management, the software can shrink partitions in both NTFS and FAT32.

Now, free download the demo version of this software to create another partition on C drive for example.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional. Then, all disks and partitions will appear on the main interface.

Step 2. Right-Click on the C partition which already exists on the disk and select "Split Partition".

Step 3. You can see that a new partition E is automatically generated here, and you do not need to create a partition again. Customize the size of the partition to be created and hit "OK".

Step 4. Then, you’ll return to the interface. Click "Apply" on the upper left and hit “Proceed” to start the process.

Wait a while, your new partition in Windows 11 has been created. There are more functions on the main interface that you can try.

Final words

How to partition SSD in Windows 11? In the above article, two best methods are provided. You can use Disk Management to shrink and then create partitions, or you can try to use the most powerful disk management software AOMEI Partition Assistant Pro to splitting existing partition into two partitions at once. If you have such a demand, then I believe it will be your best choice.