Arch Linux

opstrep

Member

Registered: 2025-12-01

Posts: 4

Shrink /home [SOLVED]

Just started using Arch and couldnt install it manually, I tried manual partitioning the disk and then using archinstall but it wouldnt work due to missing root, so I installed it with the recommended partition table, but it uses all my hard drive.
Id like to shrink a partition to make room for dualbooting, whats the easiest and safest way to do so?

Last edited by opstrep (2025-12-02 04:35:24)

Vlazm

Member

Registered: 2025-01-27

Posts: 39

Re: Shrink /home [SOLVED]

Looks like you may be having an issue with providing partitions that are required by arch. See Installation Guide#Partition the disks for more info on partitioning.

Also you can resize the root partition post installation (see this forum thread). Although it is a bit more complicated this way.

It is also my personal recommendation to go through manual process of installing archlinux. It will be hard and might not work from the start. I speak from personal experience when I say that the process is complicated especially when you do it for the first time. In my opinion it is a great learning experience that will help you establish basic understanding that will later help you use archlinux more comfortably. Again refer to the  Installation Guide if you'll ever decide to go through the manual process.

---

Arch linux — essential

opstrep

Member

Registered: 2025-12-01

Posts: 4

Re: Shrink /home [SOLVED]

I tried using cfdisk to shrink the partition in a live medium and the os wouldn't boot, maybe it has something to do with the filesystem(?). I'll try once more if I manage to understand how to properly do it. If it doesn't work, I'll just reinstall manually and sacrifice a whole night probably, thank you though.

Vlazm

Member

Registered: 2025-01-27

Posts: 39

Re: Shrink /home [SOLVED]

Meaning you tried doing this after the installation? If so, again please refer to this thread. Remember you need to firstly shrink the filesystem size and only then shrink the actual partition. Shrinking the partition first without resizing filesystem IS NOT something that you should do

---

Arch linux — essential

opstrep

Member

Registered: 2025-12-01

Posts: 4

Re: Shrink /home [SOLVED]

Yes. Apparently I am a little dumb and didn't do it that way, also don't really understand how to and can't find any guides on it. But I'll figure it out eventually. Thanks.

Vlazm

Member

Registered: 2025-01-27

Posts: 39

Re: Shrink /home [SOLVED]

Well you're definitely not alone in feeling dumb. Everyone does at some point.

Nevertheless you will rarely encounter concrete guides on what to do in your particular situation, when dealing with the OS related problems. This is why some amount of researching has to be done by yourself. In the thread I mentioned few times, I believe every step of the process is laid out eventually (down to the software used), just not in the form of a direct guide.

Last edited by Vlazm (2025-12-01 23:34:26)

---

Arch linux — essential

opstrep

Member

Registered: 2025-12-01

Posts: 4

Re: Shrink /home [SOLVED]

https://imgur.com/a/GC48QoX

Damn...

Manual reinstallation in progress... Wish me luck!

Last edited by opstrep (2025-12-02 00:06:00)

Vlazm

Member

Registered: 2025-01-27

Posts: 39

Re: Shrink /home [SOLVED]

Best of luck!

Please do remember to mark the posts as [SOLVED] when you feel like the solution has been found (meaning the solution for the problem stated in the thread's title, which may not always be the solution you were looking for) https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=50161

Edit:
Also in the screenshot you attached...

Kernel panic? Again it's a little out of the scope of the initial question, but it is generally an indication that something went horribly wrong
And it also looks like the problem is with the root partition again. I'm pretty sure it's something fixable since from what you told you've  been able to install system with archinstall so it is really the matter of following the Installation Guide exactly. But if you're absolutely sure that your problem with partitions is somewhere else you always can start another thread (as to not overscope this existing one).

Last edited by Vlazm (2025-12-02 04:44:07)

---

Arch linux — essential