How to shrink home partition on a running OS (Ubuntu Linux)?

Question

I want to reduce the size of the /home partition, so I need to unmount it. How can I do it using GParted?

What type of file system is better for accessing both Windows and Linux?

Answer 1

Basically, you cannot modify the structure of a mounted partition (which you are using).

Home, boot, data partition

So a home partition can typically be unmounted using another user logged in, umount it and modify its structure.

Slash or extended partition when slash mounted on

You have to do this from a live UFD/DVD as you cannot unmount a Linux system partition on an hdd/ssd while it is directly or potentially in use.

As far as file systems are concerned, with Windows use NTFS and with Ubuntu system devices, stay with ext4. If you plan to stay with Windows keep data files on an NTFS system or use extufsd for example.

Answer 2

if you want to reduce home partition size means it definitely affects the whole working Linux operating system. while Linux machine is running it is not possible to edit the home partition. it can be done by using bootable Linux USB/cd (any Linux os, ex Ubuntu, Kali Linux) and gparted is installed on it. in this way also you may destroy your running Ubuntu os. but I tried this it workes for me. Hope that this s work for you also.

Answer 3

1. Log in as another user; typically Ctrl+alt+F1 username -> enter -> pwd (Instructions to create another if you don't have one yet; that other user must be added to the group sudoer)
2. Shutdown graphical interface sudo service sddm stop
3. Unmount home sudo umount /home
4. resize2fs /dev/sda6 6000M or the size you want
5. Remount all partitions defined into /etc/fstab which include /home sudo mount -a
6. Restart you graphical interface sudo service sddm start