How to Check if Disk is MBR or GPT in Windows

information   Information
GPT (GUID Partition Table) and MBR (Master Boot Record) are two different partition styles that can be used for a disk.

MBR disks use the standard BIOS partition table. GPT disks use unified extensible firmware interface (UEFI).

This tutorial will show you different ways on how to check if a disk is using a MBR or GPT partition style in Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

Note   Note
MBR vs GPT Basic Comparison:

MBR GPT
Older partition style. Newer partition style.
All Windows support as data drive. Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 support as data drive.
All Windows can boot from. Windows can't boot from unless installed with 64-bit and UEFI.
Supports up to 4 primary partitions, or 3 primary partitions and 1 extended partition with up to 128 logical volumes. Supports up to 128 primary partitions.
Supports up to 2TB for a partition. Supports up to 256TB for a partition.
Removable media is MBR by default. Removable media cannot convert to GPT.

CONTENTS:
  • Option One: To Check if Disk is MBR or GPT in Disk Management
  • Option Two: To Check if Disk is MBR or GPT in Device Manager
  • Option Three: To Check if Disk is MBR or GPT in Command Prompt
  • Option Four: To Check if Disk is MBR or GPT in PowerShell





OPTION ONE

To Check if Disk is MBR or GPT in Disk Management


1. Press the Win+R keys to open Run, type diskmgmt.msc into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Disk Management.

2. Right click or press and hold on the far left box of the Disk # you want to check, and click/tap on Properties. (see screenshot below)

Check if Disk is MBR or GPT in Windows-disk_management-1.jpg

3. Click/tap on the Volumes tab, and look in Disk Information to see if the Partition style for this disk is GUID Partition Table (GPT) or Master Boot Record (MBR). (see screenshots below)

Check if Disk is MBR or GPT in Windows-disk_management-2.png Check if Disk is MBR or GPT in Windows-disk_management-2.png

4. When finished, you can close the Properties window and Disk Management if you like.





OPTION TWO

To Check if Disk is MBR or GPT in Device Manager


1. Open Device Manager.

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

Check if Disk is MBR or GPT in Windows-device_manager-1.png

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

Check if Disk is MBR or GPT in Windows-device_manager-2.png

4. Look in Disk Information to see if the Partition style for this disk is GUID Partition Table (GPT) or Master Boot Record (MBR). (see screenshots below)

Check if Disk is MBR or GPT in Windows-device_manager-3.png Check if Disk is MBR or GPT in Windows-device_manager-4.png

5. When finished, you can close the Properties window and Device Manager if you like.





OPTION THREE

To Check if Disk is MBR or GPT in Command Prompt


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


1. Open an elevated command prompt.

2. Type the commands below into the elevated command prompt one at a time, and press Enter for each command. (see screenshot below)

diskpart
list disk

3. Look to see if a Disk # has a * (asterisk) in its GPT column or not.
Note   Note
If a Disk # has a * in its GPT column, then the disk is GPT.

If a Disk # does not have a * in its GPT column, then the disk is MBR.


Check if Disk is MBR or GPT in Windows-diskpart.png





OPTION FOUR

To Check if Disk is MBR or GPT in PowerShell


Note   Note
The Get-Disk command is only supported in Windows 8 and Windows 10.


1. Open PowerShell in Windows 10, or an elevated PowerShell in Windows 8.

2. Type the command below into PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

Get-Disk

3. Look to see if a disk Number or Friendly Name has GPT or MBR in its Partition Style column .

Check if Disk is MBR or GPT in Windows-get-disk_powershell.png


That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials