[Step-by-Step Guide] How to Convert MBR to GPT?

Description: In this post, you’ll learn how to convert MBR to GPT disk with useful tools. One is a built-in tool, the other is a better third-party tool. Keywords: convert mbr to gpt, convert mbr to gpt without data loss, change MBR to GPT, mbr to gpt converter, how to convert MBR to GPT

When things are related to disk type, some users might start to get confused at first. Since Windows 11 has clearly confirmed the requirements of UEFI mode and Secure Boot, the options for disk partition scheme now are tending to GPT. If you want to upgrade to Windows 11 or do a clean installation and you’re using an MBR disk as the system disk, you will have to convert it to GPT type, otherwise, the PC Health Check will warn you “This PC Can’t Run Windows 11”.

Overview of MBR &GPT

First, you need to understand that MBR and GPT are two disk partition styles while BIOS and UEFI are two boot modes.

MBR & GPT

MBR is the elder one and hence works with a broader range of systems. For a long period, it was the primary partition table of choice for Windows computers. Because early devices did not require big capacities, MBR only supports drives up to 2TB in size. In addition, an MBR disk can only have four primary partitions. It was acceptable when a 2TB drive was a significant investment, but now consumers want a bigger disk, hence GPT type is used.

How to Convert MBR to GPT

GPT is the more recent of the two. GPT is closely related to UEFI, the firmware solution that replaces the prior option, BIOS. The GUID Partition Table gives a globally unique identifier to each partition on your disk (GUID).

GPT drives have fewer constraints than MBR drives. They can be significantly bigger than MBR equivalents. GPT disks on a Windows system can contain up to 128 distinct partitions without the need for an extra partition. Other systems go much beyond.

Another significant difference is how GPT disks save boot data. The GPT drive, as opposed to the MBR drive, saves several copies of the boot data over different partitions, making recovery considerably easier.

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How to convert MBR to GPT?

To help users to convert their disks, Windows has built-in tools, Disk Management, and CMD. But, Disk Management doesn’t allow users to convert system disks. So here we’ll show you how to use MBR2GPT exe. to convert system disk to GPT with commands.

Tool 1. MBR2GPT exe.

First, you need to check your disk number in Disk Management. Open it and right-click the disk number, choose “Properties”, and then choose the “Volume” tab.

After you know the number of the target disk, we can convert it.

Step 1. Press the Windows + X keys, then select Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu. If Command Prompt (Admin) is no longer an option, complete a Start menu search for Command Prompt, then right-click and select “Run as Administrator”.

Step 2. Type the following commands:

mbr2gpt /validate /disk:x(x is the number of the system disk) /allowFullOS

mbr2gpt /convert /disk: x(x is the number of the system disk) /allowFullOS

Press “Enter” after each to begin the conversion. The conversion is rapid, only taking a few seconds.

How to Convert MBR to GPT

You need to change your firmware to boot to UEFI mode. After your system restarts, press your BIOS/UEFI entry key. Change the boot type to UEFI mode instead of Legacy Mode or other equivalents.

Tool 2. AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional

However, if you’re not familiar with the commands or you’ve already failed to use the built-in tools, you can choose another handy tool, AOEMI Partition Assistant Professional, a Windows partition manager.

It is an all-around disk and partition management tool for all Windows PCs. You can clone SSD to larger SSD to do a disk upgrade, move folders and installed programs, extend partitions… At the same time, it’s not only an MBR to GPT converter, but a disk speed tester, disk cleaner, and a disk formatter to help you manage your disks much more efficiently.

To convert MBR to GPT, you can follow the steps to finish this job quickly.

How to Convert MBR to GPT

Step 1. In the pop-up window, click “OK” to continue.

How to Convert MBR to GPT

Step 2. Click “Apply” to perform the operation and then your disk will be changed into GPT disk style.

How to Convert MBR to GPT

After the conversion, you need to reboot your PC and change the BIOS to UEFI mode, and then you can safely upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11.

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To sum up

If you use AOMEI Partition Assistant to change Windows 10 MBR to GPT, the conversion will be quite easy. With all the helpful features it has, all Windows PC users can easily and securely manage their computers.