On Windows 10, you can use two types of partition styles, including the legacy Master Boot Record (MBR) or the newer GUID Partition Table (GPT).
A partition describes how data is stored on the drive, and its boundaries (start and end), and it includes the instructions to make the partition bootable. In the universe of Windows, the Master Boot Record (MBR) is the older style, and it is the most compatible, but it has some limitations, such as support for drives of up to 2TB of storage per portion.
On the other hand, the GUID Partition Table (GPT) is the newer style that overcomes the limitations of MBR, which include support for larger drivers and an unlimited number of partitions. Also, other advantages include data integrity check and self-recovery, and partition and boot data are stored in multiple places within the disk.
If you have the 64-bit version of Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 7 on a device using Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) firmware, you should be using the GPT style. However, if you need a more compatible system using older hardware, then MBR should be the choice.
In this guide, you will learn the steps to find out if a formatted hard drive is using the MBR or GPT partition style.
- Check MBR or GPT partition style using Disk Management
- CheckĀ MBR or GPT partition style using Command Prompt
- CheckĀ MBR or GPT partition style using PowerShell
Check MBR or GPT partition style using Disk Management
To check the partition style of a drive Windows 10, use these steps:
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Open Start on Windows 10.
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Search for Disk Management and click the top result to open the app.
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Right-click the disk (not the partition) and select the Properties option.
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Click the Volumes tab.
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Check the āPartition styleā field, which will tell you if the hard drive is formatted using the Master Boot Record (MBR) or GUID Partition Table (GPT) style.
Once you complete the steps, you will know which partition style the drive uses on Windows 10.
CheckĀ MBR or GPT partition style using Command Prompt
To determineĀ if the drive uses GPT or MBR with Command Prompt, use these steps:
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Open Start.
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Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
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Type the following commands to determine the drive partition scheme and press Enter on each line:
Diskpart List disk Ā
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If the drive uses GPT, youāll see an asterisk character (*) under the āGptā column. If you donāt see the asterisk character (*), the drive is using the MBR scheme.
After you complete the steps, you will know which partition style the drive uses.
CheckĀ MBR or GPT partition style using PowerShell
Alternatively, it is also possible to use a PowerShell command to determine if the drive is using the MBR or GPT partition style.
To use PowerShell to determine whether the drive uses MBR or GPT, use these steps:
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Open Start.
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Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
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Type the following commands to determine the drive partition scheme and press Enter:
Get-Disk
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Under the āPartition Styleā column, you can determine if the drive uses the MBR or GPT scheme.
Once you complete the steps, you will have an understanding of the partition style that the hard drive is using on Windows 10.