Remove Virtual Drive on Windows 10: 2 Simple Ways to Do It

Virtual drives are virtualized hard drives that operate much the same as additional external hard disk drives with their partitions. Although they can be useful for virtual machines, some users remove virtual drives in Windows 10 when no longer needed.

The process of deleting a virtual drive is different from creating it. And to free up storage space if the virtual drive is not required, deleting it is the best way to proceed. So, let’s find out all about it.

What is a virtual drive?

A Virtual Drive is similar to a regular one and can be created on a connected storage drive. It usually has two extensions, .vhdx and .vhd, with distinct features and individual sets of pros and cons.

To any program or application on the PC, the virtual drive appears as a real/physical device and is used as such. Here are some of the key features of a virtual drive:

• Easy to create: Virtual drives are easy to create and can be built on an existing storage drive, all in a matter of minutes.
• Can be quickly moved: A major benefit of virtual drives is the enhanced portability, meaning they can be moved quickly and easily from one system to another.
• Used by Virtual Machines: Virtual Drives are mostly employed by Virtual Machines to store the OS, programs, and data. So, once done with the latter, you can remove the virtual drive in Windows 10.
• Slower than regular drives: One of the aspects users often complain about is the slow speed of drives that were created virtually. And there’s ain’t much you can do because that’s how the way it works.

How can I remove the virtual drive on Windows 10?

Tip

Many recommend removing the Virtual Drive via the Uninstall Device option in the Drivers tab in its Properties. But, the method wouldn’t work. As soon you restart the computer, the virtual drive will reappear, given that Windows automatically installs the missing driver.

1. Using Disk Management

1. Press Windows + X to open the Power User menu, and select Disk Management from the list.
2. In Disk Management, locate the Virtual Drive, right-click on it, and choose Detach VHD.
3. Click OK in the confirmation prompt to remove the Virtual Disk in Windows 10.

This is the simplest method to remove the virtual drive in Windows 10, and it shouldn’t take more than a few seconds. But, if you prefer the command line over GUI, we have a solution for that as well.

2. With Diskpart

1. Press Windows + R to open Run, type cmd, and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
2. Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
3. Paste the following command and hit Enter:diskpart
4. Next, execute this command while replacing Path of the VHD file with the actual one on your PC:select vdisk file=”Path of the VHD file”
5. Finally, run this command to delete Virtual Drive in Windows 10:detach vdisk

The Virtual Drive has now been removed from Windows 10. Also, you could head over to the file path and delete the .vhd or .vhdx file to free up storage space in case there’s no data on the Virtual Drive.

Besides, if there’s critical data on the virtual drive, we recommend you use a reliable backup tool to store it and only then remove the drive.

How to delete a virtual hard disk on VirtualBox?

1. Launch VirtualBox, right-click on the Virtual Machine, and select Settings.
2. Now go to the Storage tab.
3. Right-click on the virtual drive and select Remove Attachment from the context menu.
4. Once done, click OK to save the changes.

If you were wondering how to remove the virtual CD drive, it could be done via the VirtualMachine settings in no time.

These are all the ways you can remove a Virtual Drive in Windows 10 and even on VirtualBox. And while we are on the subject, check our curated list of the best Virtual Machines in Windows.

If you have any queries or want to share additional information on the subject, comment below.