Solved: Win10 Disk Management Not Loading - 10 Fixes

Sherly updated on Aug 20, 2024 to Partition Master | How-to Articles

Is Win10 Disk Management not loading and causing headaches? Find the practical and effective solution here. Our step-by-step guide ensures you can resolve loading or responding problems.

In this article, EaseUS'll guide you step-by-step to fix Win10 Disk Management loading or responsiveness problems. By following these fixes, you can eliminate the inconvenience and ensure seamless disk management on your Windows 10 system.

How to Fix Win10 Disk Management Not Loading

Here, we'll cover ten different solutions with proper step-by-step instructions for your convenience and you need to employ the solution according to your situation to get rid of the Win10 Disk management not loading problem.

  1. Fix 1. Use Disk Management Alternative
  2. Fix 2. Restart PC
  3. Fix 3. Disconnect Unnecessary External Devices
  4. Fix 4. Fix Disk Management From the Service Window
  5. Fix 5. Run SFC and DISM
  6. Fix 6. Check Hardware Running
  7. Fix 7. Create a New User Account
  8. Fix 8. Keep Windows Up to Date
  9. Fix 9. Update Device Driver
  10. Fix 10. Factory Reset Windows

Fix 1. Use Disk Management Alternative

If you want to fix the Windows 10 disk management not loading/responding, use the EaseUS Partition Master Professional. It's the best and most powerful disk management tool, offering flexibility and various useful features. It can seamlessly handle tasks like extending volumes and formatting partitions, making it an ideal solution when the default tool fails.

EaseUS Partition Master can perfectly replace Disk Management from the following aspects:

  1. Create/Delete Partitions: Effortlessly carve out or remove partitions to suit your storage requirements.
  2. Move and Resize: Seamlessly adjust the size and location of partitions for optimal disk space utilization.
  3. Extend/Shrink Partitions: Expand or reduce partition sizes with precision, accommodating changes in storage needs.
  4. Format Volumes: Quickly and securely format volumes to prepare them for data storage or other purposes.
  5. Split/Merge Partitions: Divide large partitions for the organization or combine smaller ones for streamlined storage management.

Simplify your disk management journey by downloading EaseUS Partition Master today. Take advantage of its powerful features to extend volumes, format partitions, and conquer Win10 Disk Management challenges effortlessly. This is the main interface of EaseUS Partition Master.

Do not miss this disk manager when Disk Management is empty, not responding, or unavailable. It's the perfect Disk Management alternative for Windows users.

Fix 2. Restart PC

Try to restart your PC and see if the issue is fixed. Sometimes, a simple restart can often resolve temporary issues that might be preventing Disk Management from loading properly. It's a simple step that can sometimes be surprisingly effective.

Fix 3. Disconnect Unnecessary External Devices

In some cases, overloaded USB ports or conflicting external devices can interfere with Disk Management's functionality. Here's what to do:

Step 1. Disconnect all non-essential external devices like external hard drives, USB flash drives, printers, and webcams.

Step 2. Leave only essential devices connected, such as your keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

Step 3. Open Disk Management again and see if it loads properly.

If disconnecting external devices fixes the issue, reconnect them one by one to identify the problematic device and avoid future conflicts.

Disk Management is a reliable disk manager; however, some errors may occur when it's running. Check the following related articles to get more details.

Fix 4. Fix Disk Management From the Service Window

Changing the status of the related services from the service window can also fix the problem of "Win10 disk management not working, loading, or responding". You can efficiently repair the Disk Management tool from the Services tool in Windows.

Follow the steps:

Step 1. Open the Run dialogue box by pressing the Windows+R buttons simultaneously, type services.msc and press Enter.

Step 2. In the Services window, scroll down to the "Remote Access Connection Manager" and double-click it.

Step 3. In the "General" tab, click the Startup type drop-down menu and select Disabled.

Step 4. Click Apply and then click OK.

Step 5. Similarly, find Remote Access Auto Connection Manager in the Services window.

Step 6. In the "General" tab, click the Startup type drop-down menu and select Disabled. Click Apply and then click OK.

Step 7. Find the Virtual Disk and double-click on it to open it.

Step 8. In the "General" tab, click the Startup type drop-down menu and select either Manual or Automatic from there. Click Apply and then click OK.

Step 9. Finally, restart your PC and check Disk Management to see if it's working.

Kindly share this article to let others know about these fixes.

 

Fix 5. Run SFC and DISM

The occurrence of the "Windows 10 Disk Management not loading" issue may be attributed to corrupted or missing system files. To fix this, employing the SFC and DISM utilities for file repair is recommended. Follow the steps:

Step 1. Type cmd in the Run box and then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter and run Command Prompt as an administrator.

Step 2. Type sfc /scannow in the Command Prompt and then press Enter to execute the command.

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, restart your Windows PC and open Command Prompt again.

Step 4. Type the commands below one by one and press Enter after each.

  1. DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  2. DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  3. DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Step 5. After it ends, restart the PC to see if the error is repaired.

Consider sharing this guide with your friends and colleagues who might also be struggling with the same issue, as these solutions may be a headache reliever for them.

Fix 6. Check Hardware Running

Disk Management won't work when there are hardware problems. Your PC hardware is primarily composed of 6 parts, including hard disks, CPU, GPU, motherboard, RAM, and battery. This fix requires more technical expertise and carries the risk of data loss, so proceed with caution. Follow the steps to run the Windows Performance Monitor:

Step 1. Press the Win + R shortcut to access the Run dialog box, then input "perfmon /report" and press Enter. A window will appear (Collecting data for 60 seconds).

Step 2. Navigate to the Diagnostic Results section, where you'll discover detailed results displayed in the following subsections.

Additional tools and steps to check hardware:

  1. 1. Open Device Manager: Press Win + X and select "Device Manager" from the menu. Examine the status of hardware devices. Look for any devices with warning symbols or error messages.
  2. 2. Check Disk Health: Use built-in tools or third-party software to assess the health of your storage devices. Resolve any issues detected.
  3. 3. Inspect RAM: Run Windows Memory Diagnostic to check for memory-related problems. Restart your PC to allow the tool to scan and identify issues.

Fix 7. Create a New User Account

In some instances, creating a new user profile/account and logging in with that account might resolve the "Disk Management not loading in Windows 10" issue.

Follow the steps:

Step 1. Open Windows Settings by pressing Windows + I and select "Accounts."

Step 2. Navigate to "Family & other users" and click on "Add someone else to this PC."

Step 3. In the pop-up window, select "I don't have this person's sign-in information."

Step 4. Proceed by clicking on "Add a user without a Microsoft account." Enter a username and password in the subsequent window, then click "Next."

Step 5. After successfully creating the new account, switch to it and check if the issue is removed.

Fix 8. Keep Windows Up to Date

Keeping your Windows system updated is crucial for maintaining optimal performance and security. Outdated software can lead to various issues, including "Win10 Disk Management Not Loading/Responding".

Follow the steps:

Step 1. Open Windows Settings. Simply press the Windows+I buttons simultaneously to open it.

Step 2. Navigate to Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.

Step 3. Wait a few moments and let it scan any updates.

Step 4. Once you find any updates, follow the simple on-screen instructions to download and install them.

Fix 9. Update Device Driver

Outdated or incompatible device drivers can sometimes cause Disk Management not opening or loading errors. By updating the disk-related device drivers, you ensure your system has the latest software to communicate and interact with your storage devices effectively.

Follow the steps:

Step 1. Type "Device Manager" in the search box. Click the "Device Manager" app in the search results.

Step 2. Expand the "Disk drives" section in the Device Manager window by clicking on greater than sign (>). This will display a list of all storage devices connected to your system.

Step 3. Right-click on the driver for your primary storage device and select "Update driver."

Step 4. Choose the update method; you'll be presented with two options:

  • "Search automatically for updated driver software": This option allows Windows 10 /11 to search online for the latest driver.
  • "Browse my computer for driver software": This option allows you to manually select a downloaded driver file (it is not recommended unless you have a specific driver from the manufacturer).

Step 5. Select Search Automatically, let it search online, and update drivers automatically.

Fix 10. Factory Reset Windows

This fix should only be attempted if all other solutions fail. The last solution for resolving the "Win10 Disk Management Not Loading" issue is factory resetting your Windows but making a backup of your important data before resetting it is necessary as factory reset deletes your personal files, applications, and settings.

After creating a backup of your important data, follow the steps to reset Windows:

Step 1. Open Windows Settings by pressing the Windows+I buttons.

Step 2. Navigate to Update & Security > Recovery.

Step 3. Click "Get started" under the "Reset this PC" section.

Step 4. Choose the reset option, you'll be presented with two choices:

  • Keep my files: This option removes applications and settings while preserving your data.
  • Remove everything: This option erases all your personal files, applications, and settings, returning your PC to its factory state.

Step 5. Choose the desired reset option based on your conditions. Keeping your files is highly recommended to avoid permanent data loss.

Step 6. Follow the on-screen prompts and instructions to complete the reset process.

Conclusion

Encountering problems with Win10 Disk Management not loading or responding can be a frustrating hurdle in your system management. Identifying the root cause is crucial for implementing the right solution. Several factors could contribute to Win10 Disk Management not working issues, including temporary bugs or glitches, virus or malware infections, application conflicts, corrupted or missing system files, and outdated or incompatible device drivers. Turn to its reliable and powerful alternative - EaseUS Partition Master.

Disk Management Not Opening/Working FAQs

If you're facing challenges or have more queries about Windows Disk Management not responding error, consider seeking assistance from these FAQs.

1. Why is my Disk Management empty?

Several reasons can lead to an empty Disk Management window. Corrupted system files, issues with the Logical Disk Manager service, or even hardware problems can contribute to this issue.

2. Why won't Disk Management load or respond?

Various factors can prevent Disk Management from loading or responding properly. Conflicting services, outdated drivers, or temporary glitches can hinder its functionality.

3. Why is my hard drive not showing up in Disk Management but showing up in BIOS?

The drive might not be initialized or formatted, have corrupted partition tables, or be experiencing hardware issues.