Can I Switch Linux Distros Without Losing My Home Folder?
Asked by
CuriousCat42
I've been using Pop!_OS for a while, and honestly, I'm a bit bored with it. I'm thinking about installing a new distro, maybe something Arch-based. Is it possible to replace Pop!_OS with the new distro while keeping my home user folder intact? Can I just use my existing user account on the new distro? Also, I'd love to hear some recommendations for fresh or exciting distros to try out since I've already used Ubuntu, Pop!_OS, and Manjaro.
Answers
Honestly, losing your home folder might be a fast track to shaking off the boredom! Just a thought. But if you've collected a lot of stuff, I totally get why you wouldn't want to risk it.
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Definitely back up your home folder just in case. While you might be able to keep it, having a backup ensures you don’t lose anything important when switching distros.
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Your home folder has some hidden folders (.local, .config) that store settings specific to your current OS and apps. You might need to adjust some settings in the new distro after you switch.
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