I've just installed Linux Mint 22.3 on a 1 TB SSD after wiping the drive. At the moment it has a small EFI partition and one large partition containing the system. I'm considering separating the operating system from my personal files, applications, photos, and games so that reinstalling or changing distributions would be easier later.
My previous Windows 11 setup used a 100 GB system partition and a 900 GB data partition, but the system partition filled up quickly and became a constant hassle. I'd like to avoid making the Linux system partition too small, while also not wasting space unnecessarily. The drive currently shows about 905 GB available after installation.
Would creating a separate /home or data partition be worthwhile with Mint? How much space should I allocate to the operating system, and should I use a live USB to resize the existing partition? Is there anything important I should consider before changing the layout?
4 Answers
Linux doesn’t require the same kind of strict system/data split as Windows. You can keep the standard layout and organize files into directories on the same filesystem. If you do want separate partitions, avoid making the root partition too small. Around 100–150 GB is generally comfortable for Mint and installed applications, while the remaining space can be used for /home or a dedicated data partition.
A separate /home partition can be useful if you expect to reinstall Mint or try another distribution, since your personal files and many settings can remain separate from the operating system. Just remember that it isn’t a backup, so keep important data elsewhere too. The exact size depends on what you store there, especially games and media.
For reference, a fairly well-used Linux installation with lots of extra software can still fit in roughly 50 GB, but that doesn’t include large game libraries, music, backups, or old files. Since you have a 1 TB drive and don’t want to repeat the problems caused by a cramped system partition, giving the operating system around 100 GB or more is a reasonable choice.
If the disk is already laid out as one large partition, resizing it should be done from a live USB so the installed system isn’t actively using the partition. Back up anything important first, then shrink the existing partition and create the new one. Be especially careful with the EFI partition and verify which partition you are modifying.
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