Your hard drives all need one thing to keep track of what's on them: a partition table. The partition table describes the partitions (sections) of the drive and helps your system find the files you need.

Windows uses a master boot record (MBR) or GUID Partition Table (GPT) depending on your operating system and firmware. Sometimes it's necessary to switch between MBR and GPT, but doing so can result in data loss.

However, there are two tools you can use to switch from MBR to GPT without incurring data loss. So, here's how to convert your MBR disk to GPT without losing a scrap of data.

MBR vs. GPT

First up, consider the differences between MBR and GPT and why some systems use one over the other.

MBR

MBR is the older of the two and therefore is compatible with a wider range of systems. MBR was developed for IBM PCs and, as such, was the primary partition table choice for Windows machines stretching for quite some time. The Master Boot Record takes its name from its location at the beginning of the drive, containing the bootloader for the operating system and information about the drive partitions.

MBR only works with drives up to 2TB in size. Furthermore, an MBR drive can only have four primary partitions. This was fine when a 2TB drive was a substantial outlay, but you can now pick up an 8TB drive, like a Seagate Barracuda, for an affordable price.

GPT

GPT is the newer of the two. GPT is closely associated with UEFI, the firmware solution modernizing the old alternative, BIOS. The GUID Partition Table assigns every partition on your drive a globally unique identifier (GUID), a 128-bit number that identifies only your hardware (a 128-bit integer has a maximum value of 1.7 x 10^39—a phenomenally large number).

GPT drives suffer few of the limitations of an MBR drive. GPT drives can be vastly larger than their MBR counterparts (with the right settings, a theoretical 256TB drive would work). On a Windows system, GPT drives can have up to 128 different partitions without using an extended partition. Other systems allow even more.

One additional major difference is in how GPT drives store boot data. Unlike the MBR drive, the GPT drive stores multiple copies of the boot data across several partitions, making recovery much easier.

Compatibility

Not all versions of Windows can boot from a GPT partitioned drive, with many requiring a UEFI-based system.

  • 64-bit Windows 11, 10, 8/8.1, 7, and Vista all require a UEFI-based system to boot from a GPT drive.
  • 32-bit Windows 10 and 8/8.1 require a UEFI-based system to boot from a GPT drive. There is no 32-bit version of Windows 11.
  • 32-bit Windows 7 and Vista cannot boot from a GPT drive.
  • All mentioned Windows versions can read from and write to a GPT drive.

Other operating systems also use GPT systems. For instance, Apple now uses GPT rather than its Apple Partition Table (APT). Furthermore, Linux has built-in support for GPT drives.

The launch of Windows 11 in 2021 forced many users to switch their existing drive partition from MBR to GPT. Windows 11 will only boot from a UEFI GPT drive, which has caused some users issues while attempting to make the switch.

Related: Things to Do Before Updating to Windows 11

How to Convert MBR to GPT

As we have seen, GPT is the more modern partition table type, offering better recovery and more overall versatility. For a long time, converting from an MBR drive to a GPT drive meant wiping the drive as part of the conversion process. But now, there are two tools you can use to safely convert from MBR to GPT without any data loss.

Note: There is no going back unless you wipe your drive. MBR to GPT is a one-way transformation. Please also remember there is a small chance your drive will cease to function after the conversion. While this is an extremely small chance, MakeUseOf and I accept no responsibility for your hardware if you continue with this tutorial after this warning. In this, the validation step in the upcoming tutorial is very important.

There is one final check to make before converting your disk. Does your hardware have UEFI support? If not, your hardware won't register the drive following conversion and, if converting a bootable drive, you will not have access to your operating system.

MBR2GPT

Microsoft's MBR2GPT tool is already on your system as part of the Windows 10 Creators Update.

The free MBR to GPT tool primarily caters to sysadmins who have to deploy Windows 10 installations on a large number of computers. However, you can use it to switch your MBR drive to GPT with minimal hassle.

  1. First, check your disk number. Complete a Start menu search for Computer Management and select the Best match. Select Disk Management and locate the disk you want to convert, noting the disk number. Right-click the disk number, select Properties and open the Volume Check the current partition type is MBR.
  2. Press Windows + X, 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.
  3. Now, validate the disk you want to convert. Type mbr2gpt /validate /disk:[enter your disk number here] /allowFullOS The validation should only take a moment. If the disk doesn't meet the conversion requirements, you'll receive an error. (For instance, the error below came from an invalid USB flash drive as it does not meet the requirements.)
    mbr2gpt validation fail check usb
  4. Type mbr2gpt /convert /disk:[enter your disk number here] /allowFullOS and press Enter to begin the conversion. The conversion is rapid, only taking a few seconds.
  5. You need to change your firmware to boot to UEFI mode. After your system restart, press your BIOS/UEFI entry key. Change the boot type to UEFI mode instead of Legacy Mode or other equivalents.

EaseUS Partition Software

The second option for converting MBR to GPT without data loss is to use EaseUS Partition Master Professional. Some may find this the easier of the two conversion options, using a similar UI to the Windows Disk Management screen. Furthermore, EaseUS Partition Software has several additional options, not least of which is the Convert MBR to GPT tool.

However, EaseUS Partition Master Professional will set you back $39.95, while the Windows integrated MBR2GPT tool is free, already part of your operating system.

  1. Head to the EaseUS Partition Master site. Purchase the software, download, and install. (Tip: If you're only converting one drive, grab the Trial version.)
  2. Open EaseUS Partition Master and wait for your drives to load. Next, locate the drive you want to convert. Select the disk, right-click, and select Convert MBR to GPT.
  3. Press the Apply button on the toolbar. Once you hit apply, your system will reboot. You'll arrive at an EaseUS Partition Master operation screen that shows the conversion process taking place.
  4. You need to change your firmware to boot to UEFI mode. After your system restart, press your BIOS/UEFI entry key. Change the boot type to UEFI mode, as opposed to Legacy Mode or other equivalents.

So, EaseUS Partition Master makes the MBR to GPT conversion process easier but is slightly slower than its free Microsoft counterpart.

MBR to GPT Conversion Complete!

You have now converted your old MBR drive into a GPT drive, granting additional control over how you use your drive. After switching up your partition table and moving from BIOS to UEFI, you'll find that you have more control over your system firmware, too. After all, that's one of the main reasons UEFI was introduced, to enable greater control and more advanced options over your hardware.