How to Extend Volume of SD Card to Get Missing Capacity Back

Scenario: the 16G SD card which is for camera loses about 1G space without knowing the exact reason. After opening Windows 7 built-in disk management utility I found the missing space becomes unallocated, so I was planning to expand the SD to it via the function “Extend Volume”. But disappointingly, “Extend Volume” is grayed out, so I really hope somebody could tell me how to extend volume of SD card so as to help me get lost capacity back.

Solution: Windows Disk Management utility will not allow users to do most partitioning operations on a SD card since the device is recognized as removable by system. Under this situation, if users want to get missing space back, the best solution is to make use of third party Windows partitioning freeware, and MiniTool Partition Wizard is worth downloading. Well then, how to extend volume of SD card by using this program? Please look at the following demo.

Note: MiniTool Partition Wizard is free for home users only. To use it in commercial environment, please download server edition or more advanced editions.

How to Extend Volume of SD Card with MiniTool Partition Wizard

After installing the partitioning freeware on Windows 7, please run it to get the starting interface, and then choose “Launch Application” to get the main interface below:



The main interface shows us all devices in both disk map and partition list, and Disk 2 is the SD card we are going to operate. Please select the volume on SD card and choose the function “Move/Resize Partition” from the left action panel to get the window below:



Then, drag the black triangle circled by red line to lengthen partition handle so as to expand SD card. Then, click “OK” to go back to the main interface:



Now we can see the capacity of SD card becomes 7.21G, and the unused space becomes 3.75G. At this time, please click “Apply” button to apply the very change. Once the application is finished, the SD will be expanded by Windows partitioning freeware.

Now users would know how to extend volume of SD card. If your SD card or other removable device loses capacity, try taking this way to get the missing capacity back.