Manual Partitioning
Manual partitioning gives you full control over the disk partition scheme. It’s suitable for users with specific needs — such as having a separate /home partition, using multiple disks, or requiring a special partition layout.
When to Use Manual Partitioning
- Want the
/homedirectory on a separate partition to preserve personal data during reinstalls - Multiple disks that need to be planned separately
- Need to use a specific file system (e.g., Btrfs, XFS)
- Need precise control over partition sizes
- Need to create a dedicated swap partition
Partition Basics
Partition Table Types
- GPT: Used by modern UEFI systems; recommended for all new installations
- MBR: Used by legacy BIOS systems; supports a maximum of 4 primary partitions
Common File Systems
| File System | Features | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| ext4 | Stable, mature, balanced performance | Default recommendation; suitable for most scenarios |
| Btrfs | Supports snapshots, transparent compression, subvolumes | Users who need snapshot/rollback functionality |
| XFS | High performance, excels with large files | Databases, video editing |
| FAT32 | Cross-platform compatible | EFI system partition |
Recommended Partition Schemes
Basic Scheme (Single Disk 256 GB+)
| Partition | Mount Point | File System | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EFI System Partition | /boot/efi | FAT32 | 512 MB | Required for UEFI boot |
| Root Partition | / | ext4 | 50-100 GB | System and software |
| Home Directory | /home | ext4 | Remaining space | Personal data |
| Swap Partition | swap | swap | Equal to RAM | Optional; can use a swap file instead |
Advanced Scheme (Server or Large Disk)
| Partition | Mount Point | File System | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EFI System Partition | /boot/efi | FAT32 | 512 MB | UEFI boot |
| Boot Partition | /boot | ext4 | 1 GB | Needed if using LUKS encryption |
| Root Partition | / | ext4 | 50-100 GB | System core |
| Home Directory | /home | ext4 | As needed | Personal data |
| Data Partition | /data | ext4/XFS | As needed | Additional data storage |
| Swap Partition | swap | swap | 1-2x RAM | For hibernation and low-memory situations |
Manual partitioning directly modifies the disk partition table. Selecting the wrong disk or accidentally deleting a partition will result in permanent data loss. Confirm the target disk before proceeding and back up all important data.
Operating in the Installer
1. Enter Manual Partitioning
At the installation type step, select Manual partitioning (or “Something else”).
2. Create Partition Table (New Disks Only)
If it’s a brand-new disk, you need to create a partition table first:
- Select the disk device and click New Partition Table
- Choose the GPT partition table type
3. Create the EFI System Partition
- Click on the free space, then click the + button to create a new partition
- Size: 512 MB
- Partition type: Primary
- File system: EFI System Partition (FAT32)
- Mount point:
/boot/efi
If this is a dual boot installation and a Windows EFI partition already exists, do not create a new EFI partition. Instead, select the existing EFI partition and set the mount point to /boot/efi (do not format it). Formatting the EFI partition will prevent Windows from booting.
4. Create the Root Partition
- Click on the free space, then click +
- Size: 50-100 GB (adjust based on total disk capacity)
- File system: ext4
- Mount point:
/
5. Create the /home Partition
- Click on the free space, then click +
- Size: Allocate most of the remaining space
- File system: ext4
- Mount point:
/home
6. Create a Swap Partition (Optional)
- Click on the free space, then click +
- Size: Equal to physical RAM (if you need hibernation, use 1.5-2x RAM)
- File system: swap area
7. Confirm Boot Loader Location
Ensure “Device for boot loader installation” points to the disk containing the EFI partition.
Swap Size Recommendations
| Physical RAM | Swap (No Hibernation) | Swap (With Hibernation) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 4 GB | 4 GB | RAM x 2 |
| 4-8 GB | 4 GB | RAM x 1.5 |
| 8-16 GB | 4-8 GB | RAM x 1 |
| 16 GB+ | 4-8 GB | RAM x 1 |
If you have ample RAM (16 GB+) and don’t need hibernation, you can skip creating a swap partition entirely and use a swap file after installation instead.
Benefits of a Separate /home Partition
The biggest advantage of a separate /home partition:
- Preserve data during reinstalls: When reinstalling, only format the root partition; the
/homepartition remains intact - More flexible data management: You can independently back up, encrypt, or mount
/homeon a different disk - Clearer space planning: System space and personal data space don’t interfere with each other
Verifying Partitions via Command Line
After installation, you can check the partition layout with these commands:
# View disks and partitions
lsblk
# View mount points and disk usage
df -h
# View detailed partition information
sudo fdisk -l
# View fstab configuration
cat /etc/fstabFAQ
Installer says there’s no EFI partition
Confirm that you booted the USB drive in UEFI mode and that you created a FAT32 partition with the type “EFI System Partition.”
How large should the root partition be?
- Minimum: 25 GB
- Recommended minimum: 50 GB
- Generous allocation: 100 GB
- If you plan to install lots of software (e.g., Docker images, development tools), give the root partition even more space
Do I need a separate /boot partition?
For most regular installations, no. A separate /boot partition is only needed when using LUKS full-disk encryption or certain special LVM configurations.