Extend Volume Option Is Greyed Out in Windows 7/8/10

Some of you probably had the experience. Windows Disk Management works faultlessly in managing hard drive volumes at times, however, sometimes does not. One of the commonly seen problems is that "Extend Volume" option is greyed out. For the case of unavailability of extending a volume or a partition, we've figured out why you can't extend volume by using Windows 10, Windows 8 and Windows 7 disk management tool and how to troubleshoot the issue with ease.

Why Is "Extend Volume" Option Greyed Out

The following three major reasons are responsible for the case of not being able to extend volume in Windows Disk Management.

1. There is no unallocated space on your computer hard drive. Or even if there is such free space, it's not next to the partition you want to extend.

2. The target partition is a FAT partition. Windows Disk Management (including Windows 10/8.1/8/7) only works on NTFS partitions.

3. The partition needs enlarging is about a primary partition or a system partition that contains crucial boot files.

Solution: Windows Disk Management Alternative Makes "Extend Volume" Available

Seeing that the issues discussed above can't be solved by Windows Disk Management, here we find you a free alternative. EaseUS Partition Master helps resize partition without any hassle. This free partition manager can extend system partition, primary partition, FAT partition, NTFS partition... Following are solutions for how to increase a partition when there is no unallocated space or space is not continuous with EaseUS Partition Master Free. Let's choose C drive as the target partition and give an example.

Step 1: Launch EaseUS Partition Master

Step 2: Add space to the System C drive

1. Shrink partition and leave unallocated space for extending C: drive:

1. Right-click on a partition next to the C: drive and select "Resize/Move".
2. Drag either end of the partition to shrink and leave unallocated space behind the system C: drive and click "OK".

2. Right-click on the System C: drive and select "Resize/Move".

To add space to the C: drive, drag the system partition end into unallocated space.

Step 3: Confirm to extend system C drive

Click the "Execute Operation" button, check all the operations waiting for pending, and click "Apply" to keep all changes so to extend C drive.