Steps to convert MRB to GPT drive structure in Windows 10

However, in Windows 10, Microsoft introduced a new and very simple tool called MBR2GPT, which allows you to convert from MBR to GPT structure easily with just two commands.

Here's how you can switch from Legacy BIOS to UEFI in Windows 10.

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Information you need to know

Note : The MBR drive structure is used to support Legacy BIOS while the GPT architecture supports UEFI. Therefore, sometimes there is a trade-off between converting from MBR to GPT to converting from Legacy BIOS to UEFI. In fact, after converting from MBR to GPT structure on Windows 10 you will have to access the BIOS to switch from Legacy to UEFI or you will not be able to boot into Windows.

While converting from MBR to GPT in Windows 10 is easy, there are a few things that you should know and do before embarking on the process.

Step 1. There will be no data loss during the conversion from MBR to GPT. However, as a precaution, please backup your system before proceeding.

Step 2. You should use Windows 10 version from v1703 or later. If you are not sure what version of Windows you are using, press Win + R , enter the keyword winver and press Enter . On the second line, you should see version 1703 or higher. For example, as of this writing, the version of Windows 10 in use is v1809.

Step 3. The drive you are trying to convert should not have more than three partitions. If your drive has more than three partitions on your Windows 10 installation drive, merge or delete the extra partitions.

Step 4. If you are using BitLocker to encrypt your system, decrypt the drive and disable BitLocker protection before starting the conversion process. When BitLocker protection is enabled, Windows 10 cannot convert your drive from MBR to GPT.

Step 5. Once the conversion is complete, you may have to change your motherboard's firmware settings from Legacy BIOS to UEFI. Depending on your motherboard manufacturer, the conversion process will also vary. Find and refer to the motherboard manual from the manufacturer to get the necessary information.

Check if you are using Legacy BIOS or not

The last thing you need to check is to determine if you are using Legacy BIOS, because if you are already using UEFI then it is completely worthless to perform the conversion.

To check, first, search for the keyword 'Create and format hard disk partitions' in the Start menu and press Enter to open the integrated disk management tool Disk Management . Now, right click on the drive where you install Windows and select Properties .

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In the Properties window , you go to the Volumes tab . Here, if you see a Master Boot Record (MBR) next to Partition style , it means you are still using Legacy BIOS.

Convert MRB to GPT

After you have determined that your system is still using Legacy BIOS and have completed the system backup as mentioned above, you can now start converting from MRB to GPT.

Step 1. To start the conversion process, you need to access Command Prompt from Windows start-up. To do that, press the Win + X key combination , click on the Shut down or sign out item and hold the Shift key and click the Restart button to reboot your system into Advanced Start-up mode.

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Step 2. At the Advanced Start-up screen , navigate to Troubleshoot -> Advanced Options , and select the Command Prompt option .

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Step 3. The first thing we need to do is specify the drive that we are trying to convert. Type the command below and press Enter .

mbr2gpt /validate

If you see the message Validation completed successfully , go to the next step.

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Step 4. Once the disk to convert has been identified, execute the command below:

mbr2gpt /convert

As soon as the command is executed, Windows 10 will start the conversion process, i.e. it will automatically add all necessary UEFI boot files and GPT components, and then update the Boot Configuration Data. startup configuration).

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Step 5. Now reboot your system, launch your motherboard's system settings screen and change it from Legacy BIOS to UEFI. The specific process of changing from Legacy BIOS to UEFI will depend on the motherboard manufacturer you are using. Refer to the manufacturer's manual for the correct steps.

Step 6. After rebooting into Windows 10, you can verify if the Legacy BIOS has been converted to UEFI. Just like in the first steps, go to the Properties section of Disk Management , navigate to the Volumes tab . Here you will see the GUID partition table ( GPT ) appear next to the Google partition type.

Above are the steps to convert MBR to GPT in Windows 10. Share your thoughts and experiences on using this method to convert MBR to GPT on your system in the comments section below. ! Good luck!

Jessica Tanner

Update 30 August 2021