Devices Check if Disk Drive uses MBR or GPT Partition Style in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to check if a disk drive is using the GPT (GUID Partition Table) or MBR (Master Boot Record) partition style in Windows 11.

Disks can be divided into multiple chunks called partitions. Each partition - even if there's only one - has to have a partition style - GPT or MBR. Windows uses the partition style to understand how to access the data on the disk.

Most PCs use the GUID Partition Table (GPT) disk type for hard drives and SSDs. GPT is more robust and allows for volumes bigger than 2 TB. The older Master Boot Record (MBR) disk type is used by 32-bit PCs, older PCs, and removable drives such as memory cards.

Master Boot Record (MBR) disks use the standard BIOS partition table. GUID partition table (GPT) disks use the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI). MBR disks don't support more than four partitions on each disk. The MBR partition method isn't recommended for disks larger than 2 terabytes (TB).

References:







1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on System on the left side, and click/tap on Storage on the right side. (see screenshot below)



3 Click/tap on Yes if prompted by UAC.

Starting with Windows 11 build 26100.7705 (24H2) and build 26200.7705 (25H2), to help ensure that only authorized Windows users can access system files, Windows now displays a User Account Control (UAC) prompt when you open Storage settings (Settings > System > Storage).

Starting with Windows 11 build 26100.8514 (RP 24H2), and build 26200.8514 (RP 25H2), Microsoft updated Settings > System > Storage, so rather than seeing a UAC prompt immediately when you go to the page, you’ll only see it when going to view temporary files.

4 Click/tap on Advanced storage settings to expand it open, and click/tap on Disks & volumes. (see screenshot below)


5 Click/tap on the Properties button for the disk you want. (see screenshot below)


6 You will now see the Partition Style of this disk as either GUID Partition Table (GPT) or Master Boot Record (MBR). (see screenshot below)






1 Open Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc).

2 Click/tap on View on the menu bar. (see screenshot below)

3 Click/tap on Top, and click/tap on Disk List.


4 You will now see the Partition Style of each disk as either GPT or MBR.







1 Open Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc).

2 Right click on the Disk # left box you want, and click/tap on Properties. (see screenshot below)


3 Click/tap on the Volumes tab. (see screenshot below)

4 You will now see the Partition style of this disk as either GUID Partition Table (GPT) or Master Boot Record (MBR). (see screenshot below)






1 Open Device Manager (devmgmt.msc).

2 Expand open Disk drives, and double click/tap on the disk you want to check. (see screenshot below)


3 Click/tap on the Volumes tab, and click/tap on the Populate button. (see screenshot below)


4 You will now see the Partition style of this disk as either GUID Partition Table (GPT) or Master Boot Record (MBR). (see screenshot below)

You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.

1 Open Windows Terminal (Admin), and select Command Prompt.

2 Copy and paste the command below into Windows Terminal (Admin), and press Enter. (see screenshot below)


3 Copy and paste the command below into Windows Terminal (Admin), and press Enter.


4 Look to see if each Disk # has a * (asterisk) in its Gpt column or not.

If a Disk # has a * in its Gpt column, then the disk uses GUID Partition Table (GPT).

If a Disk # does not have a * in its Gpt column, then the disk uses Master Boot Record (MBR).

1 Open Windows Terminal, and select Windows PowerShell.

2 Copy and paste the command below into Windows Terminal, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)


3 The Partition Style column will show GPT or MBR for each disk.




That's it,
Shawn Brink