Starting with Windows 10 version 2004, May 2020 Update, devices will not longer have problems with the recovery partition.
On Windows 10, the installation process creates multiple partitions on the hard drive, one of these partitions is the recovery partition which holds the data and tools to recover the operating system in the case of a problem.
The caveat with this partition is that it’s usually written at the beginning of the drive on devices using Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI), and it’s impossible for the Windows Setup to extend it behind the Windows partition when installing an new feature update that may require a bigger recovery partition. When this happens, the setup creates another recovery partition causing the hard drive to end up with multiple recovery partitions.
According to a report from Windows Latest, the Windows Setup for version 2004 addresses the problem by creating the recovery partition after the Windows partition when using a clean install.
Correct partition layout includes EFI System Partition, Windows, and Recovery Partition.
Incorrect partition layout includes Recovery Partition, EFI System Partition, and Windows.
Although Microsoft is fixing this issue for future installs, if you have a branded computer (such as one from Microsoft, HP, Dell, or Lenovo), you may already have the recommended partition layout. However, the next time you need to format and reinstall Windows 10, you can be sure that the correct partition layout will be created, which was a problem for many users in the past on UEFI-based devices.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].