How to increase /root partition using GPARTED

Question

I have a dual boot Windows + Ubuntu machine. There is plenty of space in my /home partition and recently I got an error message showing that I have low disk space in /root. I want to resize my /root an put some of the space from /home into /root. Unfortunately I cannot find the /root in GParted.

Here is an image of the GParted screen.

gparted

Partition(s) are mounted, and you can't resize whilst mounted. The easiest way is by booting live media (such as Ubuntu install media) using the Try Ubuntu option and resize from there. — guiverc, Oct 02 '20 at 12:43
Edit your question and show me free -h and grep -i swap /etc/fstab, and tell me what version Ubuntu you're running, and I can make the best recommendation. Start comments to me with @heynnema or I'll miss them. — heynnema, Oct 02 '20 at 13:28
Please see my answer. If it's helpful, please remember to accept it by clicking on the checkmark icon that appears just to the left of my answer. Thanks! — heynnema, Oct 02 '20 at 13:54
You say that "unfortunately I cannot find the /root in GParted". The /root partition is the one called / in the Mount Point column. — Lorenz Keel, Oct 02 '20 at 14:01
See also: partitioning - How to modify partitions without a live USB/CD - Ask Ubuntu — user202729, Feb 14 '24 at 22:00

heynnema · Answer 1 · 2020-10-02T14:01:43.783

We'll convert your partition-based swap, to a /swapfile. We'll delete the swap partition, and use that unallocated space to increase the / partition. You'll need to have a bootable Ubuntu Live DVD/USB to proceed.

Edit /etc/fstab...

To edit, use sudo -H gedit /etc/fstab or sudo pico /etc/fstab

and comment out this line:

UUID=xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx none  swap       sw       0       0

Save the edit and quit the editor

Boot to a Ubuntu Live DVD/USB

Start gparted.

Do a swapoff on the /dev/nvme0n1p6 partition

Delete the /dev/nvme0n1p6 partition, as it won't be used any more

Drag the right side of the /dev/nvme0n1p5 partition all the way right

Click the Apply button

Quit gparted

Reboot

Create a /swapfile...

Note: Incorrect use of the dd command can cause data loss. Suggest copy/paste.

In the terminal...

sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/swapfile bs=1M count=4096
sudo chmod 600 /swapfile  # set proper file protections
sudo mkswap /swapfile     # init /swapfile
sudo swapon /swapfile     # turn on swap
free -h                   # confirm xxG RAM and 4G swap

Confirm this /swapfile line at the end of /etc/fstab... and confirm no other uncommented “swap” lines...

To edit, use sudo -H gedit /etc/fstab or sudo pico /etc/fstab

Note: Use SPACES, not TABS

/swapfile  none  swap  sw  0  0

reboot                    # reboot and verify operation

How to increase /root partition using GPARTED

1 Answers1