Fix for Low System Reserved Partition on MBR/GPT Disk in Windows 7/8/10

Updated by

Tracy King 

Written by

Daisy 

Updated on Jan 23, 2025

Being confused about what is system reserved partition in Windows 7/8/10 and you are unable to update to the new system? Or are you receiving some error messages due to low system reserved partition space? 

Error Message: We couldn't update system reserved partition or Windows 10 couldn't be installed.

The reason for the error message：

The system reserved partition is created during the Windows installation process, which is about 100MB in Windows 7, 350MB in Windows 8, and 500MB in Windows 10. When too many programs are written to the system partition, there is no enough space for upgrading the SRP. If you want to figure out this issue, you have to extend the system partition drive.

Here you'll be able to extend system reserved partition and fix low system reserved partition issues in Windows 7/8/10 on GPT/MBR disk by following two parts.

You may think this is not possible, but follow and find out how to fix the low system reserved partition error and expand your system partition with ease now.

Part 1: Backup all computer data

It's highly recommended for all Windows users both MBR and GPT disk users to back up their important data, including Windows system before trying methods to extend system reserved partitions in Windows 10/8/7 etc.

A free Windows backup software may help you to easily back up all important Windows data or systems with simple steps. You can Google EaseUS Todo Backup and then free download this software to directly back up all Windows data then.

Part 2: Extend system reserved partition in Windows 7/8/10

Usually, the system reserved partition will not cause any big problems, but it still plays an important role in the Windows system running smoothly. But when the system reserved partition has low disk space space error, serious problems happen to the Windows system. 
Therefore, it’s highly recommended that users do not make any changes to the system reserved partition but keep the size of the partition at 100MB or so. 

It’s also suggested that users should check the system reserved partition usage situations regularly. However, problems may still happen, and the low system reserved partition space issue is a top one. So how to fix it? Here below, we’ll offer you an effective method to extend the system-reserved partition for both MBR disk users and GPT users.

For MBR users: extend system reserved partition

If you are an MBR disk user with a low system reserved partition space problem, you can only shrink the volume or add a mirror to the system reserved partition. No access can be done to extend it.

Here, we recommend you try processional partition manager software - EaseUS Partition Master, which will help you effortlessly extend the MBR disk system reserved partition:

Step 1. Go to Partition Manager, hover your mouse on target drive with low disk space, and click "Adjust with 1-Click".

When your partition is out of space and shows read, EaseUS Partition Master will pop up low disk space warning and offer "Adjust with 1-click" option.

Step 2. Click "OK" to automatically extend partition. 

EaseUS Partition Master will extend the partition to solve the low space issue intelligently, and you only need to click "OK" to continue.  

You can also click "Manual Adjustment" to extend the partition size manually if the Smart Space Adjustment cannot satisfy your needs. Then, click "OK" to continue.

Step 3. Execute operations to extend low disk space partition.

Click the "Execute Task" button at the top corner and keep all changes by clicking "Apply".

Then, you have successfully extended system reserved partition with simple clicks. You can view it at Disk Management under Windows 10/8/7, etc. 

If you like this tool, feel free to share it on your social media and help more of your friends enlarge their system reserved volume efficiently:

For GPT Disk Users: Extend System Reserved Partition

Things may become more complicated with the GPT disk to extend the system reserved partition. For protecting system security, the system reserved partition in the GPT disk is usually marked as an EFI system partition, and it's usually invisible to users. This will help to avoid some unexpected problems.

However, this may prevent users from adjusting or resizing system reserved partition in Windows 10/8/7. Here you may follow the recommended solutions below to try whether it fixes the problem or not:

Method 1. Extend System Reserved Partition with EaseUS Partition Master

Please follow the same steps offered for MBR users to extend the system reserved partition. But there are some tips that you should keep notified:

• If EaseUS Partition Master cannot detect the GPT disk system reserved partition, it cannot help to extend the space;
• If the system reserved partition is detected as other in the file system and none in the system status, EaseUS Partition Master will not be able to extend or add space to the system reserved partition.

Alongside extending system reserved partition, you can also apply EaseUS Partition Master to manage the system reserved partition, such as to: Recover Deleted System Reserved Partition.  

Method 2. Fix Low System Reserved Partition Problem via CMD

If you do not want to download the third-party tool to fix the low system reserved partition problem, we'd like to suggest you try to use Command Prompt. It enables you to resize or extend system reserved partition:

#1. Resize system reserved partition in Windows 10:

1. 1. Search cmd on the search bar. Right-click the Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
2. 2. Input mountvol y: /s > Enter

It will add Y: drive letter to access the system partition.

1. 3. Type Y: and press Enter. And then type cd EFI\Microsoft\Boot\Fonts to the Fonts folder.
2. 4. Type del *.* to delete the font files. Then, press Y and Enter to continue.

#2. Increase system reserved partition in Windows 7/8:

1. 1. Search cmd > Right-click the Command Prompt > choose Run as Administrator.
2. 2. Type mountvol y: /s > Enter

This will add Y: drive letter to access the system partition.

1. 3. Type taskkill /imexplorer.exe/f > Enter > explorer.exe > Enter > reboot File Explorer as Admin mode
2. 4. Open File Explorer > type Y: \ EFI \ Microsoft \ Boot \ > Enter
3. 5. Choose language folders to delete. > restart device

• Try some other partition manager software;
• Delete system reserved partition (some users tired but not recommended).