How to Move Healthy EFI System Partition without Data Loss

Content Navigation

• #1 Move EFI System Partition without Data Loss
• #2-1 Move recovery and EFI partition and extend C drive without data loss?
• #2-2 Can you move EFI system partition to beginning of disk or another disk?
• #3 Can't move EFI partition cases
• #4 Disk Management VS Partition Resizer
• #5 Can you delete EFI system partition

What is EFI system partition: The EFI System Partition (ESP) is a small, dedicated partition on a storage device used in computers with Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) firmware. It contains essential files needed to boot the operating system, including boot loaders, device drivers, and system utilities..

Part 1: Moving Healthy EFI System Partition without Data Loss

Disk Management in Windows cannot move the EFI partition, so it's time to use a third-party tool like IM-Magic Partition Resizer—a free Windows utility that helps manage disk space.

Note: Moving the EFI system partition requires unallocated space. Please ensure you have some unallocated space on the disk beforehand. There are two ways to create unallocated space: by shrinking a large volume or deleting a volume. In most cases, shrinking a volume is the preferred method.

Video: How to move EFI system partition

Preparations: Download and install Partition Resizer on your PC first. Open it.

Steps to move the EFI system partition:

• 1, Right click a large volume, choose 'Resize/Move Partition' option
• 2, Shrink a volume by draging its border and then the volume size will be changed, at the same time, unallocated space will be created.
• 3, Right click the in-between partitions one by one, choose 'Resize/Move Partition' option to move the whole partition right-forward.
• 4, Right click the EFI partition, choose 'Resize/Move Partition' option too, and then move it whole right-side, and then the location of the EFI partition will be changed. (If you only need EFI partition moving, then you may click APPLY CHANGES now to apply all the previous virtual changes.)
• 5, If you need to expand a partition, such as the C drive, then right click C, choose 'Resize/Move Partition' option, drag its border to cover the unallocated space to get it larger.
• 6, Click APPLY CHANGES to get the job done.

#2-1 Steps to Move the Recovery & EFI System Partition

If the recovery partition is invovled in the partition moving, it's the same way to move it. Just one more step needed based on the above procedure.

Note: Partition moving is based on unallocated spaces, no matter it's a regular partition, or the EFI system partition, or the recovery partition. So please create unallocated space first.

• 1, Right click a large volume, choose 'Resize/Move Partition' option
• 2, Shrink a volume by draging its border and then the volume size will be changed, at the same time, unallocated space will be created.
• 3, Right click the in-between partitions one by one, choose 'Resize/Move Partition' option to move the whole partition right-forward.
• 4-1. Right click the recovery partition, choose 'Resize/Move Partition' option too, move it whole right-side. And the location of the recovery partition will be changed. (The only different step)
• 4-2, Right click the EFI partition, choose 'Resize/Move Partition' option too, and then move it whole right-side, and then the location of the EFI partition will be changed. (If you only need EFI partition moving, then you may click APPLY CHANGES now to apply all the previous virtual changes.)
• 5, If you need to expand a partition, such as the C drive, then right click C, choose 'Resize/Move Partition' option, drag its border to cover the unallocated space to get it larger.
• 6, Click APPLY CHANGES to get the job done.

Question: How to move EFI system partition to end of disk?

Answer: IM-Magic Partition Resizer provides function to help free redistribute disk space from volume to volume. However the order of the partitions cannot be changed unless you removed all other volumes. If you want to move the EFI system partition to the end of the disk, you need to remove all volumes after the EFI partitions first.

Note: Please use Partition Resizer to backup all partition first. Partition copy can be done to unallocated space on the same disk or any disk. So please prepare unallocated space first.

Steps to move the EFI system partition to end of the disk:

• 1, Delete partitions after the EFI system partition one by one (Please backup first before any deletion)
• 2, When the recovery partition stands after the EFI partition, you need to delete it too if you want to make the EFI partition at the end of the disk. (Or you may both move the recovery partition and the EFI system partition to the end of the disk and keep both)
• 3, Move the EFI partition to end of disk once the unallocated space is created after the EFI partition. (Right click the EFI system partition in Partition Resizer, choose 'Resize/Move Partition' option, and then use the mouse to drag and move it whole right till the end of the disk)
• 4, Click APPLY CHANGES in Partition Resizer to make all previous changes applied to your PC.

#2-2 Moving Healthy EFI System Partition to the Beginning of the Disk or to Another Disk?

Question: How can you move the EFI system partition to the beginning of the disk, before the C drive?

Answer: For non-technical users, we do not recommend moving the EFI system partition to the front of the disk. This process involves multiple steps and carries a high risk of rendering your operating system unbootable.

Alternative Safe Solution: You can safely move partitions — including the EFI system partition — using IM-Magic Partition Resizer. The process relies on unallocated space. Please create unallocated space first by shrinking a large volume, deleting a partition, or using another method.

Technical Solution: If you still wish to move the EFI system partition to the beginning of the disk, here are some methods. However, be aware that they involve significant risk and may cause your OS to become unbootable.

Before attempting to move the EFI system partition to the start of a disk, it's highly recommended to clone your disk to another drive as a backup. This ensures that your data and OS are preserved. See guide: How to Clone an OS Disk to Another Drive

Method #1: Unplug your OS disk and connect it to another PC as an external hard drive. Then follow these steps:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Type diskpart and press Enter.
3. Run the following commands one by one:

   list disk
   select disk X   (replace X with the correct disk number for your OS disk)
   list partition
   select partition Y   (replace Y with the EFI partition number)
   delete partition override
       

4. Now you have unallocated space where the EFI partition was. Use Partition Resizer or Disk Management to shrink the volume in front of the C drive and move unallocated space to the beginning of the disk.
5. To create a new EFI system partition at the front:

   create partition efi size=500
   format quick fs=fat32 label="System"
   assign letter=S
       

6. Rebuild the BCD store:

   bcdboot C:\Windows /s S: /f UEFI
       

7. Safely eject the drive and reconnect it to the original PC.

Method #2: Clone your OS disk to a new disk, then set the new disk as the boot drive in BIOS. Afterward, clean up and create a new EFI partition on the old disk.

1. Connect both disks to your PC.
2. Clone the OS disk to the new disk using cloning software.
3. In BIOS, change the boot order to boot from the new disk.
4. Once booted into the new system, open Command Prompt as Administrator and run the following:

diskpart
list disk
select disk X   (select the old OS disk)
list partition
select partition Y   (select the EFI partition)
delete partition override
  

5. Use IM-Magic Partition Resizer to create around 500MB of unallocated space at the beginning of the disk.
6. Open Command Prompt again and recreate the EFI system partition:

   diskpart
   select disk X   (your old OS disk)
   create partition efi size=500
   format quick fs=fat32 label="System"
   assign letter=R
   exit
   bcdboot C:\Windows /s R: /f UEFI
       

Note: Always back up your data before making any partition changes.

Guide: How to use Partition Resizer to clone a disk FREE

Question: How to Move the EFI System Partition to Another Drive or Disk?

Can I move the EFI system partition to another disk?

Before proceeding, consider how you plan to use your computer and how many disks are installed.

Solution: To move the EFI system partition, you need to clone your entire current OS disk to another disk. This process effectively moves the EFI partition along with the operating system. After cloning, you'll have two identical systems on separate disks.

Guide: How to Use Partition Resizer to Clone a Disk for FREE

Important Note: The EFI system partition must reside on the same disk as the C: drive (your Windows OS). If the EFI partition is on a different disk, it can lead to boot failures or system conflicts.

In short, it’s not possible to have the C: drive on Disk 1 and the EFI partition on Disk 2—they must remain on the same physical disk.

#3 Can't move EFI partition cases

Here are some cases why your EFI partition cannot be moved.

• 1, There is no unallocated space created on your disk.
• 2, There is free space, but it's not unallocated space. You need to convert the free space to unallocated space by creating a volume with it, and then delete it. See: how to convert free space unallocated space
• 3, The unallocated space is on another disk, no unallocated space on the same disk where your EFI system partition located
• 4, BitLocker or disk encryption is enabled — it must be disabled first.

Note: Partition Resizer can help move the EFI system partition when your Windows is running. However It needs a restart of OS to finish processing the EFI system partition location changing.

Note: Disk Management provided by Microsoft Windows cannot move nor delete the EFI system partition. Read the following function comparsion table between the Disk Management and Partition Resizer.

#4 Disk Management VS Partition Resizer

Here is a brief overview of what can and can't be done using Disk Management.

	Disk Management	IM-Magic Partition Resizer*
Create Partition
Shrink Partition
Move unallocated space	NO
Move Partition	NO
Move EFI System Partition	NO
Delete EFI System Partition	NO	NO
Move System Reserved Recovery partition	NO
Delete System Reserved Recovery partition	NO
Extend Fat32 C Drive	NO
Extend NTFS C Drive	YES when right unallocated space is contiguous to C
Clone Disk	NO
Migrate OS	NO
Price	FREE	FREE
		Download for Windows 11-7 (100% Free) Download for Windows Server (Free Demo)

Also read: How to Move Recovery Partition

Part 5: Is it safe to delete the EFI system partition, how to delete EFI partition

Question: Is there any way to delete the EFI system partition in Windows 11 10 or Server 2012 2016 2019 2022 2025?

Answer: There is no way to delete an Healthy EFI system partition if you still need to run the Windows OS.

Can You Delete the EFI Partition?

Yes, but don't unless you're wiping the drive. The EFI System Partition (ESP) is essential for booting your OS. Deleting it will make your system unbootable.

Only delete it during a full clean install or when reformatting the entire disk. Accidentally removed it? You'll need a recovery USB to restore the bootloader using tools like bcdboot (Windows) or grub-install (Linux).

When might you delete it?

• If you're wiping the entire drive to do a clean install or repurpose it.

• When you're repartitioning during a full system reinstall (like Linux overwriting everything).

Ways to Delete the EFI System Partition

Method #1: Unplug your OS disk and connect it to another PC as an external hard drive. Then follow these steps:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Type diskpart and press Enter.
3. Run the following commands one by one:

   list disk
   select disk X   (replace X with the correct disk number for your OS disk)
   list partition
   select partition Y   (replace Y with the EFI partition number)
   delete partition override
       

4. Now you have unallocated space where the EFI partition was. Use Partition Resizer or Disk Management to shrink the volume in front of the C drive and move unallocated space to the beginning of the disk.
5. To create a new EFI system partition at the front:

   create partition efi size=500
   format quick fs=fat32 label="System"
   assign letter=S
       

6. Rebuild the BCD store:

   bcdboot C:\Windows /s S: /f UEFI
       

7. Safely eject the drive and reconnect it to the original PC.

Method #2: Clone your OS disk to a new disk, then set the new disk as the boot drive in BIOS. Afterward, clean up and create a new EFI partition on the old disk.

1. Connect both disks to your PC.
2. Clone the OS disk to the new disk using cloning software.
3. In BIOS, change the boot order to boot from the new disk.
4. Once booted into the new system, open Command Prompt as Administrator and run the following:

diskpart
list disk
select disk X   (select the old OS disk)
list partition
select partition Y   (select the EFI partition)
delete partition override
  

5. Use IM-Magic Partition Resizer to create around 500MB of unallocated space at the beginning of the disk.
6. Open Command Prompt again and recreate the EFI system partition:

   diskpart
   select disk X   (your old OS disk)
   create partition efi size=500
   format quick fs=fat32 label="System"
   assign letter=R
   exit
   bcdboot C:\Windows /s R: /f UEFI
       

If you accidentally delete it:

You’ll likely need:

• A bootable USB with recovery or installation media.

• Commands like bcdboot (Windows) or grub-install (Linux) to recreate the partition and bootloader.

Bottom line:
Don't delete the EFI partition unless you're completely reinstalling or erasing the OS. It’s small, but essential.