A “drive letter” is the letter that precedes paths to files on that drive. For example, C:\, D:\, E:\, etc. Windows lets you change the drive letter of hard drives, USB flash drives, DVD drives, or other drives attached to your system if so desired. These instructions work on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7:
- Close out any programs that are using the drive whose letter you want to change
- Click the Start button
- Right-click “Computer” or “My Computer”
- Click “Manage” from the popup menu
- If a User Account Control dialog appears, click “Continue”
- Click “Disk Management” under “Storage” on the left
- In the list, find the drive whose letter you want to change and right-click on it
- Click “Change Drive Letter and Paths…” from the popup menu
- Click the “Change…” button
- Select a new letter from the dropdown
- Click OK
- A dialog will appear warning you that programs that rely on drive letters (e.g. your backup software, if you’ve told it to backup certain drives) may no longer work. Click “Yes.”
- If you didn’t complete step 1 (closing out programs using the drive), you may get this warning:
If you know what program is using the drive, click “No,” close the program that’s using the drive, and repeat these steps. Otherwise, click “Yes” and restart your computer.
- Close the “Computer Management” window
- Click "Start," click "Computer" or "My Computer," and view the Computer window’s drive list to confirm that the drive shows up with the new letter
I appreciate the support and instructions…I was able to follow them very very well. Thank You again.
wow.. thx, really.. at last i can change my drive letter.. God bless U
Not sure why my USB drive letter changed but your article helped me change it back.
Thank you.
P.S. Your instructions were well written and easy to understand.
Your instructions don´t work. I right click on My computer, get the dropdown menu, fine. When I click on manage nothig happens.
Thanks Bud! Works Perfect!!! Easy to follow too!
the drive letter ‘D’ is not in the list so I cannot change it?
(external hard drive)
Check that other drives dont already have that letter allocated.
it’s work…. really thanks
Thank you for the help! Everything is turned around in Windows 7.
Luis: You have a deeper problem… Get a tech. to look at your system.
Mark: Any other drives already assigned to “D”? If so, change that one first. If not, it may be assigned to a network drive, otherwise, baring a technical problem, it’s reserved for some reason.
Thank you so much for your easy instructions. Please, send your CV to Microsoft!!
Thanks!!! easy instructions
Thank you very much. Changed back my external drive letter with ease thanks to your instructions.
Do they have any free software that will automatically do this or make it easier to do?
Thank you. SO nice to look up a question and get the answer so easily!
Thank you. I’ve been looking for this for quite some time.