How to Delete EFI System Partition in Windows 11/10/8/7?

By Piyusha On Jun 27, 2024

When you delete the EFI System Partition (ESP) in Windows 11/10/8/7, you should give it a lot of thought because it’s an important part of how the system starts up. Setting up the operating system when the computer first turns on is done by the driver files and settings that are in the EFI System Partition. You might not be able to get your computer to start up if you remove this part correctly. But you do need to delete the ESP sometimes, like when you prepare a disk for a new OS or change what a drive is used for.

Table of Contents

Step-by-Step Guide to Delete EFI System Partition

Step 1: Copy the things that are important to you. Make a copy of all the important files before you change anything on the disk. Some people lose data when they delete sections the wrong way. Before you delete the section, make sure you have a full copy of all your files on a hard drive or in the cloud in case something goes wrong.

Step 2: Open the Command Prompt as an administrator: At the very least, you need to be an administrator to deal with disk sections correctly. Do this: press Win + X to get to the Power User menu. Next, pick either Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin), depending on what kind of OS you have. Look at any User Account Control (UAC) pop-ups that seem to want you to do something with more power.

Step 3: Launch the Diskpart tool. In the Command Prompt window, type diskpart and press Enter to open the Diskpart package. You can use the command line tool diskpart to manage disks, partitions, and folders in a more complex way. It tells you how to change files at the system level, such as the EFI System Partition.

Step 4: Write down the disks and pick one: It will show you a list of all the connected disks if you type list disk and press Enter. Note down the disk number that has the EFI System Partition that you want to get rid of. “select disk X” (where “X” is the disk number) will help you choose the right disk.

Step 5: Make a list of the partitions and pick the one you want: Type “list partition” and press “Enter” to see all of the disk’s files. That’s the EFI System Partition. It’s called System and is about 100 to 200 MB in size. To pick which EFI partition to remove, type “select partition Y” and change “Y” to the number of the partition.

Step 6: Delete the EFI System Partition as the sixth step: To get rid of the chosen EFI System Partition, type delete partition override and press Enter. To delete important system partitions, you need to use the overriding choice to get around protections that stop you. You should be careful when you run this command because it deletes the file and all of its data for good.

Step 7: Close the Command Prompt and Diskpart: Type “exit” in the Diskpart window and press “Enter” to stop the program. Close the Command Prompt window to finish the job.

Managing Unallocated Space

After you delete the EFI System Partition, your disk will have more space. With Disk Management, you can use this room to make a new partition or make an existing one bigger:

Press Win + X and pick Disk Management to get to the menu.
To add the empty room to a nearby partition, right-click on it and choose “Extend Volume.”
To finish, do what it says on the screen of the Extend Volume Wizard.

Conclusion

When you remove the EFI System Partition in Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7, you could hurt yourself. Do it only when you have to, like when you need to restart the system or use the disk for something else. Before you use Diskpart tools, you should always back up your data.

Also, be careful not to cause problems that weren’t meant to happen. For safety and to make sure your system works right, you should talk to a professional or read through detailed guides and other tools if you need help.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why do I need to get rid of the EFI System Partition?

If you want to run a new operating system or use the disk for something else, you may need to delete the EFI System Partition. Make sure you have a good copy of your data and that your system is ready before you delete a drive.

The EFI System Partition. Is it possible to get rid of it with Disk Management?

The Disk Management tool in Windows can’t get rid of the EFI System Partition. You need diskpart tools to make changes to and remove protected system partitions like the EFI System Partition.

What will happen if I remove the EFI System Partition?

Some important BIOS files are stored in the EFI System Partition. If you delete this partition, your system will not be able to start up because the operating system needs these files to begin. With a bootable installation disc, you can always get back to the OS or restart it.

Should I get rid of the EFI System Partition on a second disk?

You can remove the EFI System Partition from a secondary disk if you don’t need it for the system to start up. Make sure the drive isn’t part of a dual-boot setup or holds important files before you delete it.

How do I make the EFI System Partition again if I need to?

To rebuild the EFI System disk, you either need to reinstall the operating system or use special tools that can make new disk structures and bootloader files. This process is usually taken care of when the OS is installed and the right partitions are made immediately.