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fdisk

system managementLinux/Unix

The fdisk command is one of the most frequently used commands in Linux/Unix-like operating systems. fdisk Manipulate disk partition table

See Examples View Syntax

Quick Reference

Command Name:

fdisk

Category:

system management

Platform:

Linux/Unix

Basic Usage:

fdisk [options] [arguments]

Common Use Cases

Syntax

fdisk [options] [device]

Options

Option	Description
`-b, --sector-size`	Specify the sector size of the disk
`-B, --protect-boot`	Don't erase the bootbits when creating a new label
`-c, --compatibility[=]`	Set compatibility mode (dos or nondos)
`-L, --color[=]`	Control color output (auto, always, or never)
`-l, --list`	List partition table for specified devices
`-x, --list-details`	Like --list but with more details
`-n, --noauto-pt`	Don't automatically create a default partition table on empty devices
`-o, --output`	Specify output columns for the table view
`-t, --type`	Specify the partition table type (dos, gpt, etc.)
`-u, --units[=]`	Display units (cylinders, sectors, or specify custom)
`-s, --getsz`	Show the size of the device in sectors
`-w, --wipe`	Wipe signatures when writing a new table (auto, always, or never)
`-W, --wipe-partitions`	Wipe signatures from new partitions (auto, always, or never)
`-C, --cylinders`	Specify the number of cylinders
`-H, --heads`	Specify the number of heads
`-S, --sectors`	Specify the number of sectors per track

Examples

How to Use These Examples

The examples below show common ways to use the fdisk command. Try them in your terminal to see the results. You can copy any example by clicking on the code block.

# Basic Examples Basic

sudo fdisk -l

List all partitions on all disks.

sudo fdisk -l /dev/sda

List all partitions on the specified disk (/dev/sda).

sudo fdisk /dev/sda

Enter interactive fdisk mode for the specified disk. # Advanced Examples Advanced sudo fdisk -l -u /dev/sda List all partitions with sector size units. sudo fdisk -o device,start,end,size,type -l List partitions with specific columns. sudo fdisk -c=dos /dev/sda Specify DOS compatibility mode. sudo fdisk -w=always /dev/sda Always write the partition table when exiting. echo -e "p\nq" | sudo fdisk /dev/sda Print the partition table and quit (non-interactive).

Try It Yourself

Practice makes perfect! The best way to learn is by trying these examples on your own system with real files.

Understanding Syntax

Pay attention to the syntax coloring: commands, options, and file paths are highlighted differently.

Notes

The fdisk command is a text-based utility for viewing and manipulating disk partition tables. It's one of the most powerful and commonly used tools for disk partitioning in Linux. Key points about fdisk: 1. Root Privileges: fdisk requires root privileges (sudo) to make changes to disk partitions. 2. Interactive Mode: When run without the -l option, fdisk enters an interactive mode where you can use single-letter commands to perform various operations. 3. Common interactive commands include: - p: print the partition table - n: create a new partition - d: delete a partition - t: change a partition's type - w: write changes to disk and exit - q: quit without saving changes 4. Limitations: Traditional fdisk has some limitations: - It doesn't work with GPT partition tables (use gdisk or parted instead) - It doesn't modify the filesystem, only the partition table - It doesn't resize existing partitions (use resize2fs, lvresize, etc.) 5. Safety: fdisk modifies the partition table directly, which can result in data loss if used incorrectly. Always back up important data before using fdisk. 6. Post-fdisk steps: After creating or modifying partitions with fdisk, you typically need to: - Create filesystems on new partitions (mkfs) - Update the kernel's partition table (partprobe) - Mount the filesystems to make them accessible (mount) 7. Modern alternatives: While fdisk is still widely used, modern systems often use tools like parted, gdisk, or GUI tools that support advanced features like GPT partitioning and resizing.

Related Commands

These commands are frequently used alongside fdisk or serve similar purposes:

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Use Cases

Learn By Doing

The best way to learn Linux commands is by practicing. Try out these examples in your terminal to build muscle memory and understand how the fdisk command works in different scenarios.

See Examples Try Lab Exercises

$ fdisk

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