Top 6 Partition Managers (CLI + GUI) for Linux

Are you seeking ways to efficiently handle disk partitions in Linux? In this article, we will explore some of the finest tools available to Linux users for partitioning and managing their disks.

We will cover a range of solutions, including command-line utilities and user-friendly GUI applications designed to streamline the process of disk partition management in the Linux environment.

I favor the command line over GUI (graphical user interface), I will start by describing the text-based utilities and then GUI applications as follows.

1. fdisk Command

fdisk is a versatile and widely used command-line tool that facilitates the creation and manipulation of disk partition tables, with support for various partition table formats, including MS-DOS and GPT.

fdisk provides a user-friendly, text-based, and menu-driven interface to display, create, resize, delete, modify, copy, and move partitions on disks.

To see a list of available drives and their partitions, you can use the following command.

$ sudo fdisk -l
fdisk - List Linux Disk Partition Table
fdisk – List Linux Disk Partition Table

Next, choose the disk you want to manage.

$ sudo fdisk /dev/sda
fdisk - Manage Linux Disk Partitions
fdisk – Manage Linux Disk Partitions

Once you’re inside fdisk, you can use the following commands to perform various partition management tasks:

  • p – Print the partition table to view existing partitions.
  • n – Create a new partition.
  • d – Delete a partition.
  • t – Change a partition’s type.
  • w – Save changes and exit.
  • q – Quit without saving changes.

2. GNU Parted

Parted is a popular command line tool for efficiently managing hard disk partitions (add, delete, shrink, and extend), offering support for various partition table formats such as MS-DOS, GPT, BSD, and more.

To view a list of available drives and their partitions, you can use the following command.

$ sudo parted -l
Parted - List Disk Partitions
Parted – List Disk Partitions

Next, select the disk you want to manage.

$ sudo parted /dev/sda
Parted - Print Disk Partition Table
Parted – Print Disk Partition Table

Once you’re inside parted, you can use a variety of commands to manage partitions, such as:

  • print – Print the partition table to view existing partitions.
  • mkpart – Create a new partition.
  • rm – Remove a partition.
  • resize – Resize an existing partition.
  • set – Set partition attributes.
  • quit – Exit parted without saving changes.

It can also help you create space for installing new operating systems, reorganizing disk usage, and moving data to new hard disks.

3. Gparted

GParted is a free, cross-platform, and advanced graphical disk partition manager that works on Linux operating systems, Mac OS X, and Windows.

It is used to resize, copy, move, label, check, or delete partitions without data loss, enabling you to grow or shrink root partitions, create space for new operating systems, and attempt data rescue from lost partitions. It can be used to manipulate file systems including EXT2/3/4.

GParted Partition Manager and Editor
GParted Partition Manager and Editor

4. GNOME Disks a.k.a ( GNOME Disks Utility)

GNOME Disks is a core system utility used for disk partition management and S.M.A.R.T monitoring. It is used to format and create partitions on drives, and mount and unmount partitions. It ships with the well-known GNOME desktop environment.

Gnome Disks
Gnome Disks

Lately, it’s been gaining features for advanced usage. The latest version (at the time of this writing) has a new feature for adding, resizing partitions, checking filesystems for any damages, and repairing them.

5. KDE Partition Manager

KDE partition manager is a useful graphical utility for managing disk devices, partitions, and file systems on your computer. It comes with the KDE desktop environment.

KDE Partition Manager
KDE Partition Manager

Most of its underlying work is performed by programs. It can be used to easily create, copy, move, delete, resize without losing data, backup, and restore partitions. It supports various including EXT2/3/4, BTRFS NTFS, FAT16/32, XFS, and more.

6. Qtparted

In addition, you can also use Qtparted, which is a Partition Magic (proprietary software for Windows) clone and Qt front-end to GNU Parted. Note that it is still in development and you may likely experience any kind of problem with the latest release. In that case, try to use the CVS version or a previous stable version.

QTParted Partition Magic
QTParted Partition Magic

It may not be one of the best options now but you can give it a try. More features are yet to be added to it.

You might also like to read the following related articles.

These are the best partition managers and editors available for Linux operating systems. Which tool do you use? Let us know via the comment section below. Also let us know if any other partition managers for Linux, missing from the list above.

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Aaron Kili
Aaron Kili is a Linux and F.O.S.S enthusiast, an upcoming Linux SysAdmin, web developer, and currently a content creator for TecMint who loves working with computers and strongly believes in sharing knowledge.

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14 thoughts on “Top 6 Partition Managers (CLI + GUI) for Linux”

  1. fdisk and parted look the same to me on the ubuntu 20.04 server.

    I’m looking for a CLI partition manager that, to make another partition, shows the next available start and the end values of the disk, and doesn’t make me guess what it already knows.

    Reply
  2. I see a lot of recommendations for Gparted. And it makes me wonder how much those involved used the product.

    I suggest people try a resize and slide operation of a partition larger than 20GB on a range of GPT/UEFI laptops and desktops from different manufacturers. Then check it for file table errors.

    Unless you are a partition mgt and multiboot Nazi, you are unlikely to know squat about this sector.

    Reply
      • A few days ago i deleted my swap, moved my root to the left (ex swap area), extend the root with swap leftover, shrunk the home partition 10gb and then extended the root with that 10gb all in one go with Gparted and that worked like a charm!!

        So i do like Gparted!

        Reply
  3. I would like to find a utility – CLI or GUI, it doesn’t matter – that will allow me to re-create exFAT partitions *without* having to format them for data-recovery purposes.

    Parted can do this, but doesn’t support exFAT, even with the exfat packages installed.

    Any ideas?

    Reply
  4. QTParted on Sourceforge hasn’t been updated since 2011. Hardly “still under development”! Worse, there was no development between 2005 and 2011. What is the point to including it here?

    Reply
  5. I have used fdisk, cfdisk and GParted for years. While fdisk may be more versatile, I prefer GParted because of its GUI.

    Reply

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