To download and install AOMEI Partition Assistant on Windows 10 or Windows 11, go to aomeitech.com, scroll to Download Freeware, run the installer, accept the UAC prompt, pick your language, skip the Pro trial, accept the agreement, click Install Now, uncheck the User Experience Program, and click Enjoy Now. The Standard Edition is free and covers partition resizing, splitting, merging, and copying — upgrade to Pro for SSD migration, secure disk wiping, and dynamic disk management.
Applies to: Windows 10 (22H2) and Windows 11 (23H2, 24H2, 25H2) | Last updated: April 15, 2026
Key Takeaways
- AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard Edition is free and covers the everyday tasks — resize, split, merge, copy, and format partitions without needing to boot into a live environment.
- Download directly from aomeitech.com using the Download Freeware button — not from software aggregator sites that bundle adware.
- Skip the Pro trial offer during setup unless you actually need SSD migration, dynamic disk support, or secure disk wiping — Standard covers what most home users will ever do.
- Uncheck the User Experience Improvement Program on the final setup screen to stop AOMEI collecting usage telemetry.
- AOMEI is the tool I use when I need to move the recovery partition after a Windows install or extend C: past a blocking partition that Disk Management refuses to move.
Quick Steps
- Go to aomeitech.com/aomei-partition-assistant.html.
- Scroll to Download Freeware and click it.
- Run the downloaded installer. Accept the User Account Control prompt.
- Select your language and click OK.
- Skip the Pro trial when offered.
- Accept the license agreement and click Install Now.
- Uncheck Join the User Experience Improvement Program, then click Enjoy Now.
Affiliate disclosure: Links to the AOMEI Partition Assistant Pro Edition in this post are affiliate links — if you buy through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
When to Use AOMEI Instead of Windows Disk Management
Windows Disk Management handles the basics — shrink a volume, create a new partition, delete one — but it hits a wall quickly. It cannot move partitions, which means if a recovery partition is sitting between your C: drive and unallocated space, Disk Management refuses to extend C:. It also cannot resize system-reserved partitions, merge two partitions, or safely relocate the Windows recovery partition.
In my repair shop, this comes up constantly after a clean install done via the “no USB” method or the WIMUtil custom ISO method — both leave a leftover installer partition with a recovery partition blocking the way. AOMEI Partition Assistant moves the recovery partition out of the way in a couple of clicks so C: can absorb the free space.
Step 1: Download the Standard Edition
Go to the official AOMEI Partition Assistant download page. Always download from aomeitech.com directly — software aggregator sites often bundle adware or older versions with known bugs.
Scroll down the page until you see the Download Freeware button. That downloads the Standard Edition — the free version. Click it and save the installer to your Downloads folder.
Note: The installer is around 40 MB. AOMEI also sells a Pro Edition — the Download Freeware button explicitly downloads Standard, not a trial of Pro.
Step 2: Run the Installer
Double-click the downloaded PAssist.exe installer. Windows will show a User Account Control prompt because AOMEI needs administrator access to modify partitions — click Yes.
Select Your Language
The setup wizard opens with a language picker. It defaults to English — if that matches your system, click OK. Otherwise pick from the dropdown and confirm.
Skip the Pro Trial Offer
AOMEI offers a Pro trial at this step. The Standard Edition already covers the common partition operations — resize, split, merge, copy — so unless you specifically need SSD migration, secure disk wiping, or command-line operation, skip the trial. You can always upgrade later from within the installed app if you change your mind.
Accept the License and Pick a Location
Tick I accept the agreement and click Next.
The default install location is C:\Program Files (x86)\AOMEI\AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard Edition 10.0. I leave it alone — there is no benefit to installing it elsewhere unless your C: drive is severely cramped. Click Install Now. The install takes about 30 seconds.
Step 3: Opt Out of Telemetry
On the final screen, AOMEI offers to enrol you in the User Experience Improvement Program. Uncheck this box — it sends anonymous usage telemetry, and there is no benefit to the user. I uncheck it on every install.
Click Enjoy Now to close the installer and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant.
What the Standard Edition Can and Cannot Do
The main window shows every disk and partition on your system as a graphical map. The Standard Edition gives you plenty to work with:
Included in Standard (Free)
- Resize, move, split, and merge partitions — the core operations Disk Management cannot do fully.
- Copy disk or partition — clone a partition to another location (useful for backups).
- Format and delete partitions — including stubborn EFI and recovery partitions.
- Convert disk styles — MBR to GPT without data loss (for moving to UEFI).
- Create a bootable WinPE rescue USB — good for when you need to partition the OS drive itself.
Pro-Only Features
- Migrate OS to SSD — clone Windows from one drive to another and boot from the new drive.
- Secure disk wipe — DoD-standard secure erase before selling a drive.
- Dynamic disk management — spanned, striped, and mirrored volumes.
- Command-line operation — scripted partition operations.
- Recover deleted partitions — bring back a partition that was accidentally deleted but not yet overwritten.
If you need any of these Pro features, grab the AOMEI Partition Assistant Pro Edition — the link above is an affiliate link. For OS-to-SSD migration specifically, I also have a step-by-step guide at how to migrate Windows to another drive, which uses DiskGenius as a free alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AOMEI Partition Assistant really free?
Yes — the Standard Edition is genuinely free for personal and commercial use, and covers resize, split, merge, copy, format, and MBR/GPT conversion. The Pro Edition adds features like OS-to-SSD migration, secure wipe, and dynamic disk management, but the core partition management is all in Standard.
Do I need to upgrade to Pro?
Only if you specifically need one of the Pro features. For the typical “I ran out of space on C: and need to move the recovery partition” scenario, Standard handles it fine. For SSD upgrades, OS migration, or scripted partition operations, Pro pays for itself quickly.
Is it safe to resize the C: drive with AOMEI?
Yes, provided you follow the prompts and do not interrupt the operation mid-way. Any operation affecting the running Windows partition schedules the actual work for next boot, runs it from a pre-boot environment, and reboots again. Do not power off the PC during that phase — let it complete. As with any partition tool, back up irreplaceable data before making changes.
Can I change the installation location?
Yes — the installer has a Path button on the location screen that lets you pick any folder. There is rarely a reason to move it off C: unless your system drive is cramped; the install is only around 80 MB.
How do AOMEI and Disk Management differ?
Disk Management handles the basics but cannot move partitions, cannot resize certain system partitions, and cannot merge two partitions. AOMEI Partition Assistant handles all three. The biggest real-world advantage: AOMEI can move the Windows recovery partition out of the way to let you extend C: into freed space, which Disk Management refuses to do.
Are there free alternatives to AOMEI?
Yes. MiniTool Partition Wizard Free has a similar feature set to AOMEI Standard. DiskGenius Free is more technical but powerful, and I use it for OS migration. GParted is the open-source choice — it runs from a live Linux USB, so you get full control over the Windows drive without Windows being in the way.
