Introduction
GParted (GNOME Partition Editor) is a powerful, open-source graphical tool for creating, deleting, resizing, and modifying disk partitions. Whether you’re preparing a new drive, recovering lost space, or reorganizing your storage, GParted provides an intuitive interface for complex partitioning tasks without needing command-line expertise.
What is Gparted?
GParted is a front-end for the GNU Parted partitioning library. It supports a wide variety of file systems including ext4, NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, XFS, Btrfs, and many others. The application provides visual representations of your disk layout, making it easier to understand your storage configuration at a glance.
Getting Started
Launching GParted
GParted requires root privileges to modify partitions, so in a terminal:
sudo gparted
Or access it through your application menu and authenticate when prompted.
Understanding the Interface
1. Device Selector (Top): Choose which disk you want to work with
2. Partition List: Shows all partitions on the selected device
3. Visual Diagram: Graphical representation of disk layout
4. Operations Queue: Pending changes before you apply them
5. Info Bar: Details about selected partition
Common Tasks
Resizing a Partition
1. Select the partition you want to resize
2. Right-click and choose “Resize/Move”
3. Drag the partition boundary or enter exact values
4. Click “Resize” to queue the operation
5. Click “Edit” → “Apply All Operations” to commit changes
Important: Back up your data first. Resizing can be risky if interrupted.
Creating a New Partition
1. Right-click on unallocated space
2. Select “New”
3. Choose file system type (ext4, NTFS, etc.)
4. Set partition size and label
5. Click “Add” and then apply the operation
Deleting a Partition
1. Right-click on the partition
2. Select “Delete”
3. Confirm the operation
4. Apply changes
Copying a Partition
1. Right-click the partition to copy
2. Select “Copy”
3. Right-click unallocated space
4. Select “Paste” and adjust size if needed
5. Apply operations
Safety Tips
– Back up everything before making changes
– Don’t modify your system drive while the OS is running from it
– Use a live environment for system drive operations
– Verify changes in the operations queue before applying
– Keep the operation log for troubleshooting if something goes wrong
– Avoid interruptions during operations—power loss can corrupt data
Using Gparted via ArchBang Live
For safer system drive operations, boot from a live environment:
1. Boot into ArchBang live environment
2. Run sudo gparted
3. Your system drive won’t be mounted, making modifications safer
Troubleshooting
Device is busy error
– Close other applications accessing the drive
– Unmount the partition before modifying it
– Boot from live environment for system drives
Partition won’t resize
– Some file systems must be unmounted first
– Check that adjacent space is unallocated
– Verify the file system is not corrupted
Operations taking too long
– Large partitions take time to resize
– Avoid canceling—let it complete
– Check system resources and close other applications
Conclusion
GParted is an essential tool for disk management on Arch Linux. Its intuitive interface and visual feedback make complex operations accessible. Always prioritize backups and careful planning before making changes to your storage.
Last Updated: November 2025