Storage Pools in Windows 11 let you combine several hard drives into one big virtual drive. This helps you store your files in a safe and easy-to-manage way.

What is a Storage Pool?
It’s like putting a bunch of smaller boxes together to make one big box. Your computer will see this big box as a single drive, even though it’s made up of several drives.

One great thing about Storage Pools is they can keep extra copies of your files. So if one hard drive stops working, you won’t lose your data.

Step-by-Step Guide: Create a Storage Pool in Windows 11

Follow these simple steps to make a storage pool on your Windows 11 PC:

1. Open Settings:
   Click the Start menu and choose Settings, or press Windows key + I on your keyboard.
   Learn more about opening Settings.
   

   Click System in Settings

2. Go to Storage:
   In the System section, find and click on Storage.
   

   

3. Open Storage Spaces:
   Scroll down and click on Advanced storage settings, then select Storage Spaces.
   

   

4. Create a new Storage Pool:
   Click the Add button under “Add a new Storage Pool.”
   

   

5. Name your storage pool and pick drives:
   Enter a name for your new storage pool.
   Select at least two extra drives (they can be internal or external). These drives will be combined.
   Then click Create.
   

   

6. Choose Size and Protection Type:
   
   Pick the size of your storage space and how you want to protect your data:
   
   
   
   • Simple: Uses at least 2 drives, but no data backup.
   
   
   • Two-way mirror: Uses 2 drives and keeps a backup in case one drive fails.
   
   
   • Three-way mirror: Needs 5 drives, protects against two drives failing.
   
   
   • Parity: Needs 3 drives, balances protection and speed.
   
   
   • Dual parity: Needs 7 drives, protects against two drive failures with good speed.
   
   

   Click Create when finished.
   

   

7. Set up your new drive:
   Give your new virtual drive a name and pick a drive letter (like D: or E:). Choose a format:
   NTFS is best for Windows, FAT32 works for some devices.
   Then click Format.
   

   

   
   
8. Done!
   
   Your new storage pool will now appear as a drive in File Explorer. You can start saving files there just like with any other drive.
   

   

Why Use Storage Pools?

• You can combine many smaller drives into one big drive to make managing files easier.
• You get extra protection for your files — if one drive breaks, your data stays safe.
• You can add more drives later to increase your storage without hassle.

More Help

For official details and troubleshooting, visit Microsoft Storage Spaces Support.

Summary:

• Storage Pools let you combine multiple drives into one virtual drive in Windows 11.
• They protect your data by keeping extra copies depending on the option you choose.
• Setting one up is easy through the Windows Settings app.
• Once created, your new storage pool is ready to use and shows up like a regular drive.

That’s all! Now you know how to create a storage pool and keep your data safer on Windows 11.