Lost a partition on Windows 10? Whether it's hidden or showing as "Unallocated," learn safe recovery methods to get it back.
A lost partition in Windows 10 may disappear from File Explorer, show up as unallocated space in Disk Management, or remain on the disk without a drive letter. The right recovery method depends on which situation you're facing. Here are some common reasons why a partition may become inaccessible:
🌟 To learn more about recovering a deleted partition in Windows, please refer to this complete guide: Recover Deleted Partition.
A partition that does not appear in File Explorer is not necessarily deleted. It may simply lack a drive letter or have a configuration issue that prevents Windows from displaying it. Try the following two methods to recover lost partition in Windows 10.
Disk Management is a built-in Windows utility that lets you inspect partitions and assign drive letters. This method is suitable when the partition still exists and its file system is recognized, but the volume has no drive letter. Follow the instructions below to restore lost partition in Windows 10:
Step 1. Press Win + X and select Disk Management.
Step 2. Locate the affected disk and identify the partition by its size and status. Make sure it is the correct partition before making changes.
Step 3. If the partition appears healthy but has no drive letter, right-click it and select Change Drive Letter and Paths.
Step 4. Click Add, select Assign the following drive letter, and choose an available letter. Then click OK to apply the change.
Step 5. Open File Explorer and check whether the partition is now accessible. If the partition reappears, open a few files to verify that your data is intact.
DiskPart is a command-line utility that can list disks and volumes and assign a drive letter to an existing partition. Use it only when the partition still exists and you have confirmed that it is the correct volume.
Step 1. Type “cmd” in the Windows search box, right-click Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
Step 2. Enter diskpart and press Enter.
Step 3. Enter list volume and press Enter to list the available volumes.
Step 4. Enter select volume 6 and press Enter. Replace “6” with the actual volume number of the missing partition.
💡 Note: Identify the volume that has no drive letter. Check its size, file system, and other available details. If the missing partition is not listed, do not assume it can be restored with DiskPart.
Step 5. Enter assign letter=G and press Enter. Replace “G” with your preferred unused letter.
Step 6. Enter exit and press Enter to exit DiskPart.
Step 7. Enter exit and press Enter to exit Command Prompt.
Step 8. Open File Explorer and check whether the volume is accessible.
If Disk Management shows the former partition as Unallocated, Windows no longer recognizes it as an existing volume. This can happen after accidental deletion, partition-table damage, or other disk problems. The following two methods can help you recover deleted partition in Windows 10.
AOMEI FastRecovery is a Windows data recovery tool that can help you recover data from lost partition along with the partition entry.
Follow these steps to recover an accidentally deleted partition in Windows 10 using AOMEI FastRecovery.
Step 1. Install AOMEI FastRecovery on a different drive from the one containing the deleted partition. Launch the software, select Disk Data Recovery, and click Start Partition Recovery.
Step 2. Identify the disk where the partition was deleted by checking its disk number, capacity, model, and partition layout. Select the correct disk and click Next.
Step 3. Choose a search method and click Next to begin scanning. Select Fast Search to quickly look for deleted or lost partitions.
Step 4. After the scan finishes, review the detected partitions and their details. Select the partition you want to recover and click Proceed.
💡 Note: If the desired partition is not listed, click Back and try Full Search for a more thorough scan.
Step 5. Wait for the recovery process to finish, then open File Explorer to check whether the partition has been restored. If it does not appear, try assigning it a drive letter or restarting your computer.
TestDisk is a free, open-source partition recovery tool that can scan for lost partitions and restore partition table entries when conditions allow. It can be helpful if a partition disappears from Windows while its underlying data remains intact.
However, TestDisk uses a command-line interface, so follow each prompt carefully. Writing an incorrect partition structure can complicate recovery.
Step 1. Visit the official TestDisk website and download the version compatible with your Windows computer.
Step 2. Extract the downloaded archive to a folder. Right-click testdisk_win.exe and select Run as administrator.
Step 3. On the opening screen, select Create to create a new log file.
Step 4. Select the physical disk that contained the deleted partition. Check its capacity and device information carefully to ensure you choose the correct disk.
Step 5. Choose the appropriate partition table type. TestDisk often detects the correct type automatically. Common options include Intel for MBR disks and EFI GPT for GPT disks.
Step 6. Select Analyse, then choose Quick Search to scan for lost partitions.
Step 7. If TestDisk finds the missing partition, highlight it and press P to list its files. Check whether the displayed filenames and folders match your expected data.
💡 Note: If you only need to recover files, use the on-screen instructions to copy them to a different drive. This is generally safer than immediately modifying the partition table.
Step 8. If the files are correct, press Q to return to the partition list. Confirm you have selected the right partition and press Enter to continue.
Step 9. If you have verified the partition layout and want to restore the partition entry, select Write and press Y when prompted. This writes the partition structure to the disk and may restore access to the partition.
💡 Note: If Quick Search does not find the missing partition, select Deeper Search to perform a more thorough scan. If the partition layout is unclear, avoid writing changes until you have verified the results or secured a copy of the recoverable data.
1. Can I recover a lost partition in Windows 10 without formatting?
Yes. In many cases, you can attempt recovery without formatting. If the partition still exists but lacks a drive letter, assign one through Disk Management or DiskPart. If it is deleted or shown as unallocated, use a suitable recovery tool such as AOMEI FastRecovery.
2. Is it possible to recover a lost partition on an SSD?
Sometimes, but the outcome depends on the cause of the loss and whether the original data remains available. SSD TRIM and garbage collection may clear deleted data, reducing the chance of recovery. Stop using the SSD and avoid creating new partitions or formatting the affected space.
3. What should I do if the lost partition is not detected?
First, check whether Windows detects the physical disk in Disk Management and Device Manager. Verify the connection, cable, power supply, and enclosure where applicable. If the disk is detected but the partition is missing, a recovery tool may help. If the disk is not detected at all, reports an incorrect capacity, or shows signs of physical failure, professional diagnosis may be necessary.
If you need to recover a lost partition in Windows 10, start by identifying whether the partition is hidden or actually deleted.
Choose the method that matches your situation, save recovered files to another healthy drive, and verify your data before making further changes to the original disk. Maintaining regular backups can also help protect against future partition loss.