MBR vs GPT: Which Partition Structure is Better for Your Data Storage?

When to Choose MBR?

• If you are using an older operating system such as Windows XP or Windows 7 (32-bit) that does not support GPT.
• If the disk capacity is less than 2TB, because MBR is enough for these needs.
• If your device is using Legacy BIOS and doesn’t support UEFI.

When to Choose GPT?

• If you are using the latest operating system such as Windows 10/11, the latest macOS, or a modern Linux distribution that supports GPT.
• If you want to use a storage capacity of more than 2TB, because GPT does not have partition size limitations like MBR.
• If your device uses UEFI BIOS, which offers faster booting, secure, and additional features like Secure Boot.
• If you prioritize data security, because GPT provides redundancy and checksum mechanisms to prevent data corruption.

How to Convert MBR to GPT or Vice Versa

Changing the partition structure from MBR to GPT or vice versa can be done by several methods. However, it is important to remember that this process will erase all data on the disk. Therefore, make sure you have backed up your important data before proceeding.

Method 1: Using Disk Management (Windows)

Here are the steps to convert MBR to GPT using Windows Disk Management:

1. Open Disk Management. Right-click on the Start Menu and select Disk Management.
2. Select the disk you want to change, Right-click on the disk (not the partition) at the bottom of the Disk Management window.
3. If the current disk is using MBR, select Convert to GPT Disk.  And if the current disk is using GPT, select Convert to MBR Disk.
4. Follow the prompts.

Method 2: Using Command Prompt (CMD) with Diskpart

You can also use the Command Prompt with the Diskpart tool to change the partition structure. Here are the steps:

Converting MBR to GPT:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator. Find CMD in the Start Menu, right-click, and select Run as Administrator.
2. Run the following command:

diskpart
list disk
select disk [disk_number]
clean
convert gpt
exit

Converting GPT to MBR:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Run the following command:

diskpart
list disk
select disk [disk_number]
clean
convert mbr
exit

Important Notes:

– Make sure you have backed up all important data before converting.

– The clean process will erase all partitions and data on the disk, so make sure you select the correct disk.

– If you’re using a Windows operating system, make sure that the converted disk isn’t the system disk you’re booting from.