4 reasons to use multiple partitions on a Windows PC

by Edward Harper March 26, 2025

Windows isn’t the only operating system you can run on your PC. Provided you have space on your local drive, you can use multiple partitions to run different Linux distros, create storage partitions, and more. With storage so cheap these days, most users have multiple drives for managing operating systems and data on their desktops. However, it is still possible to partition your drive, and there are good reasons to use multiple ones.

For example, with multiple partitions, your data is potentially more secure. If malicious code infects your Windows partition, it is less likely to find your data. However, this isn’t entirely true if you have an intelligent and complex virus or ransomware attack. So, ensure that you use the best security practices on your machine. Another possibility is using different file systems on a different partition. Let’s look at why you might want to use multiple partitions on your Windows PC.

Create a data partition

Reinstall Windows without affecting your personal files.

Screenshot shows Disk Management app on windows 11 to manage partitions

If you have a data partition, your files and folders may not be affected if Windows crashes or corrupts. When you reinstall Windows, you won’t have to worry. It also allows you to reinstall the OS faster on a smaller space on the drive than the entire thing. Typically, the drives on a modern PC are enormous compared to a decade ago. So, reinstalling Windows on a 128GB partition will go much quicker than an entire 1TB drive. Remember, the minimum storage requirement for Windows 11 is a paltry 64GB.

However, you will probably want a 128GB partition to handle updates and apps. 128GB is still small, considering the large drive sizes we have today. You can also keep all your data in a separate partition. So, you get a twofer since reinstalling is easy, and your data is safer from OS corruption.

Create a smaller Windows partition

Fast recovery if Windows crashes

Shows shrinking the main OS partition to evaluate space to save

As mentioned, a smaller partition will allow you to reinstall Windows faster. If it becomes corrupt, unstable, or freezes up, reinstalling Windows on a smaller partition is a cakewalk compared to a large drive. You only need to format the OS partition and reinstall the operating system. Another possibility is cloning the Windows partition so you have the precise setup you need in the future. Cloning your drive is wise, even if you don’t use multiple partitions. All PC users ought to have one on hand if disaster strikes. Also, those files you put on the data partition will be unaffected and accessible once you get Windows 11 up and running.

Run multiple operating systems

Run other versions of Windows or Linux

Screenshot of a computer asking the user which operating system to boot into

One of the most common reasons to use multiple partitions on Windows is so you can run different operating systems. For instance, just creating an extra partition will allow you to run different versions of Windows or Linux. It’s also important to note that you can have a Linux/Windows dual-boot system and a data partition. Or, maybe you want to have Windows 11, Windows 10, and Ubuntu that you can boot into. I remember having four partitions on a laptop several years ago. One for Linux, one for Windows 7, one for Windows 8, and one for my data. That was fun, but deciding which OS to boot into was sometimes a challenge, but a good one.

Create an encrypted partition

Securely store your world domination files

Screenshot of BitLocker setup asking the user where to store the recovery key

You know that you can create a partition to keep your data. However, if you have sensitive files you don’t want people to see, you can make an encrypted partition to store your plans for world domination (or whatever you don’t want people to see). Once you have the partition created, you can encrypt it using BitLocker. Once complete, the files and folders on that partition will be encrypted and inaccessible to others. You can have peace of mind knowing that your data is secure. It's also important to note that Windows 11 automatically adds BitLocker encryption to new Windows partitions.

Multiple drive partitions on a Windows PC

Regardless of how you use them, having multiple partitions on your Windows PC still has a place in 2025. Some users dislike using virtual machines and prefer a more authentic experience on their PC while running different operating systems. In contrast, other users are just old-school and want to create partitions for data. There is a considerable debate in the PC enthusiast community about whether you should partition your PC’s drive. But if you want to, there are good reasons for it.

It is also essential to note that partitioning your drive has drawbacks. For instance, an intelligent and complex virus, malware, or ransomware could infect all partitions and leave your data vulnerable. Also, improperly sized partitions may lead to an inefficient use of space. There is also the possibility of losing everything if the entire drive fails.

With virtualization increasing and the low cost of storage drives increasing, partitioning is less common. However, you typically only have one disk. With a large enough drive, you can create virtual machines via Hyper-V and put whatever OSes you want on them. Still, you can create partitions on your HDD or partition your SSD for reasons that make sense to you.