GPT Partition Recovery | How to Recover GPT Partition

This article gathers 3 methods to perform GPT partition recovery in Windows 11/10, check out and restore GPT partition easily and efficiently.

Lora

By Lora / Updated on May 22, 2023

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“How do I recover a deleted GPT partition?”

   
   
   
       

I managed to delete the main partition on a secondary GPT HDD. It's now unallocated space on a dynamic drive and I've not touched it since. I can convert it to a basic disk (haven't done so yet) but would still be unable to recover GPT drive partitions. How can I recover this GPT partition?

       

- Question from HDDGURU

   

GPT partition loss seems to happen a lot among users, which is, needless to say, pretty annoying.

Some users may face a GPT partition loss due to an unexpected power off, accidental deletion, system crash, etc. When the GPT partition gets inaccessible, it is necessary for him to conduct GPT partition recovery in Windows 10/11.

To solve it, firstly, let’s make it clear what the GPT partition is and why your partition gets lost. GPT partition can be recovered if you used the methods below.

What is GPT partition style?

As is known to all, to facilitate management, improve system operation speed, and effectively protect system disk space and data, the disk is divided into several partitions, in which different files are stored.

Due to the rapid growth of hard disk capacity, the 2.2T capacity of MBR is difficult to meet users’ needs, and thus GPT came into being.  

GPT partition table (Globally Unique Identifier Partition Table), also named as GUID partition table, is one of the elements of UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface).

And another one is MBR. Due to different addressing methods, MBR and GPT have different characteristics and limitations. But, whatever you use, you might meet issues, e.g., MBR partition table recovery issue after corruption.

Then, what is the difference between GPT and MBR?

MBR vs. GPT

mbr-vs-gpt

MBR

  • The maximum partition capacity is 2TB, and the capacity larger than 2TB will not be recognized, resulting in a waste of hard disk space.
  • The maximum partition number is limited, including 4 primary partitions and one extended partition. But the logical partitions are infinite.
  • BIOS works with the MBR partitioning scheme.
  • Support Windows 7 and older systems like Windows 95, 98, etc.

GPT

  • The maximum partition capacity is 9.4ZB, and the size is far larger than that of MBR. And it can identify hard disk space above 2TB.
  • GPT partition table can support 128 primary partitions under Windows OS.
  • UEFI can work with the MBR partitioning scheme, which gets rid of plenty of the limitations of MBR.
  • Support Window Server 2003 SP1 and later version on 32-bit platforms, and Windows 8 and later allows booting from GPT partitions.

Compared with the MBR partition scheme, the GPT disk has more competitive edges. The partition table header plays an important role that specifies the disk’s usable blocks. And the GPT header describes the size of the partition entry.

To reduce the risk of damage to the partition table, GPT also saves a copy of the partition table at the end of the hard disk, and the user's data will be more secure.

What’s more, Windows 11 won’t utilize MBR scheme but switch to GPT. That’s also why many users want to convert MBR to GPT for Windows 11 update.

However, problems won’t bypass just because you use GPT scheme. Let’s check the possible reasons for GPT partition loss for a better GPT partition recovery.

Common causes of GPT partition loss

Then how does a GPT partition get missing? Here list some common causes of GPT partition loss.

Drive letter loss. While you are resizing or adjusting your partitions, the drive letter may get lost.

◆ Accidentally deletion. If unfortunately, you have made some improper operation inadvertently or carelessly, you may delete your partition accidentally. After that, an unallocated partition will begenerated. To recover accidentally deleted partition, please get help.

unallocated-space-after-deleting-partition

◆ Power failure. A sudden power outage may lead to an unexpected shutdown, causing malfunction of your PC and even damaging the hard drive, generating problems like inaccessible partition.

◆ Virus attack. If your PC is attacked by a virus or malware, the partition table may get damaged.

◆ Corrupted partition table. A partition table might get damaged or corrupted due to misoperation, virus attack, or some interruption during your partition formatting.

◆ Bad sectors. If there are bad sectors on the hard disk, the hard disk cannot be read or written.

bad-sectors

Methods of GPT partition recovery Windows 10/11

In this part, we will introduce some feasible methods to help you achieve GPT data recovery.

Before moving on to the solutions to restore GPT partition, some noteworthy points are ready here for you.

Notes:✎...
To avoid further data loss by power failure, keep your PC being enough charged during your operation. 
To minimize the data loss you suffer, it is the best bet to backup everything you need or cherish. 

Methods 1. Achieve GPT partition recovery in a breeze

Your GPT partition may be lost due to various reasons, e.g., partition deletion, drive letter loss, unexpected shutdown, system crash, etc., among which deletion is the biggest reason.

If you also accidentally deleted GPT partitions, you may think of backups. Of course, the most reasonable solution to data loss is restoring from the backup made in advance. Yet, there are a huge amount of users who don’t possess any backups.

In addition, the data recovery services cost exorbitantly for a dust-free in-lab data rescue, which lay a further burden on users.

If you are one of them, why not choose the advanced & easy AOMEI Partition Assistant to recover GPT partition.

This app is easy and advanced in deleted volume recovery with many features.

Easy. It requires no specific expertise; all users could use it to get deleted partitions back with ease. 
Comprehensive. Utilizing advanced scanning methods, this tool could scan hard disk for deleted partitions from HDD/SSD/memory card/USB flash drives within several minutes. 
Compatible. It works smoothly with Windows 11/10/8/7/XP, etc. 
Multi-functional. Besides for partition recovery, it can also merge/move/check/resize/create partitions, etc.

Now download this useful tool to restore GPT partition in a breeze. 

Step 1. Install and start AOMEI Partition Assistant on your PC for a free trial.

Download Demo Win 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP
Secure Download

Step 2. Click Partition Recovery Wizard on the upper-left side of the panel.  Select a disk that you need to recover, then click Next.

click-partition-recovery-wizard

Step 3. Here offers you two search modes, the Fast Search is recommended as it is more time-saving. If you want to get a further search of your partition, choose Full Search.

fast-search-full-search

Step 4. When the searching process is finished, select the deleted partition in the list and then click Proceed.

select-lost-partitions

Then a congratulatory notice will be sent; you will have successfully recovered GPT partition which has been deleted.

Methods 2. Recover data from GPT partitions effortlessly

Now you have your partition back. But sometimes, you might still be in the plight of data loss if you have deleted data from the GPT partition.

In this case, how to recover data from GPT partition? You might as well turn to trusty and professional software Windows data recovery software.

With proper and advanced tech or tools, you don’t need to worry about further damage to the drive/partition and the data.

Here, we have a recommendation – MyRecover. This software is designed, developed, and supported by a sophisticated team with over 10 years of experience. You will get impressed with its features.

Widely-applicable. Apply to situations like deletion, formatting, Recycle Bin emptying, system crash, etc. 
Efficient. Restore the most frequently used formats of files: photos, videos, documents, emails, etc. 
Convenient. 3 steps to restore deleted data with original filename, format, and path intact. 
Compatible. Available for Windows 11/10/8/7/Server users.

Step 1. Install and run the program > select the source partition where the data were lost from > Start Scan.

select-location-to-scan

Step 2. While scanning, input the filenames/extensions to locate the files faster. Also, you can sort the detected files by size, path, type, etc.

scanning-drive

Step 3. Go to the original location under Deleted files, or go to Recycle Bin to recover items deleted from Recycle Bin > click Recover x files.

select-files-to-restore

Method 3. Restore GPT partition with Disk Management

If the problem you encountered is the drive letter loss, a quite useful utility that can be taken advantage of is Disk Management. Follow the steps listed below to recover GPT partition.

Step 1. Start Control Panel on your PC, then go to System and Security.

system-and-security

Step 2. Choose Create and format hard drive partitions in the Administrative tools.

create-and-format-hard-disk-partition

Step 3. Locate the drive which contains the deleted GPT partition, right-click on it and select Change Drive Letter and Paths.

change-drive-letter-and-paths

Step 4. Click Add on the lower-left part of this panel.

click-add

Step 5. Tick Assign the following drive letter, then choose a letter that has not been used before, and click OK to confirm.

assign-the-following-drive-letter.png

Thus you will have properly performed GPT partition recovery.

How to keep yourself away from GPT partition loss?

As what we have discussed, backups are always the safest and most direct way to get your data back when data loss occurs. Therefore, it is necessary to back up or clone GPT disk to guard against data loss.

We will recommend a handy software, AOMEI Backupper, which can meet your need. Now follow the steps below to do so. 

This freeware is pretty practical for everyone to copy important files from hard disks and partitions. You will not worry about data safety anymore.

Step 1. Download AOMEI Backupper and launch it.

Download Freeware Win 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP
Secure Download

Step 2. Find Backup on the left side of the panel > click Disk Backup.

disk-backup

Step 3. Click Add disk and choose the GPT partition you want to back up > specify the backup destination.

add-disk

Step 4. Click Add.

select-disk

Then your operation has been successfully carried out.

Summary

Three practicable approaches have been prepared for users to adopt to solve your GPT partition recovery problem. Besides, you can take a closer look at the difference between the GPT partition table and the MBR partition table, and some probable reasons for GPT partition loss as well.

What's more, if you are searching for a method to recover data from a GPT partition, you might as well turn to a professional Windows data rescue tool - MyRecover, which can scan your hard disk and quickly locate the deleted and missing data.

Hope this post can be of some help to you.

Lora
Lora · Editor
Lora is an editor of AOMEI Technology. She is also a tester and editor of AOMEI Data Recovery Tools. -- "Keep testing, write the most useful tutorials for helping people recover the lost data for Windows and phones" is the most meaningful thing for her. Dedicated to creating helpful tutorials, she hopes her tutorial can assist users to effortlessly solve data loss problems on their personal computers and mobile phones.