As you download files, install applications, and basically just using your Linux system, you generate temporary files and logs that consume valuable disk space. If not monitored and managed, these files can fill up your disk and negatively impact your system's performance.
You can remove these unwanted files to reclaim your disk space. Some methods are universal across Linux distributions, while some are dependent on the distribution. For example, apt is used to manage packages for Ubuntu and Debian derivatives while yum is used for distributions such as RHEL, Fedora and CentOS.
Related: How to get file and directory size in Linux
Related: How to check disk space and usage in Linux
Steps to free up disk space on Linux:
- Assess disk usage on all disks and mount points.
$ df -h Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on tmpfs 391M 1.9M 389M 1% /run /dev/sda3 20G 7.2G 11G 40% / tmpfs 2.0G 0 2.0G 0% /dev/shm tmpfs 5.0M 0 5.0M 0% /run/lock tmpfs 4.0M 0 4.0M 0% /sys/fs/cgroup /dev/sdb 20G 19G 59M 100% /data /dev/sda2 512M 7.9M 505M 2% /boot/efi tmpfs 391M 88K 391M 1% /run/user/126 tmpfs 391M 104K 391M 1% /run/user/1000
- Identify large files or specific file types that can be removed within each mount point.
$ sudo find /data -printf '%s %p\n'| sort -nr | head -10 [sudo] password for user: 19327352832 /data/file.img 471859200 /data/file2.img 3862528 /data/.cache/tracker/meta.db 380901 /data/.cache/gstreamer-1.0/registry.x86_64.bin 363086 /data/.cache/tracker/ontologies.gvdb 346716 /data/.local/share/tracker/data/tracker-store.journal 177047 /data/.cache/ibus/bus/registry 90672 /data/.cache/tracker/meta.db-wal 86016 /data/.local/share/evolution/addressbook/system/contacts.db 75913 /data/.local/share/tracker/data/tracker-store.ontology.journal
- Delete large or unnecessary files.
$ rm /data/file.img /data/file2.img rm: remove write-protected regular file '/data/file.img'? y rm: remove write-protected regular file '/data/file2.img'? y
- Review user-specific application settings and data directories for sizeable content.
$ du -hs ~/.[^.]* 4.0K /home/user/.bash_history 4.0K /home/user/.bash_logout 4.0K /home/user/.bashrc 5.1M /home/user/.cache 160K /home/user/.config 16K /home/user/.gnupg 848K /home/user/.local 452M /home/user/.npm 4.0K /home/user/.profile 4.0K /home/user/.ssh 0 /home/user/.sudo_as_admin_successful
- Remove large and unneeded user-specific application settings and data.
$ rm -rf /home/user/.npm
- Delete home directories of users who no longer exist.
$ sudo rm -rf /home/mike/
- Clean up the Download folder and other temporary directories.
$ rm -rf ~/Downloads/*
- Empty the Trash folder.
$ rm -rf ~/.local/share/Trash/files/*
- Purge old systemd logs.
$ sudo journalctl --disk-usage && sudo journalctl --vacuum-time=7d Archived and active journals take up 240.0M in the file system. Vacuuming done, freed 0B of archived journals from /var/log/journal. Deleted archived journal /var/log/journal/38fcf097cda64808aef7af32f0834151/system@852cf4a689e7473a97d0533bafae2054-0000000000000001-0005b27490a208e1.journal (24.0M). Deleted archived journal /var/log/journal/38fcf097cda64808aef7af32f0834151/user-1000@4d0d7c66ddf9410fa446a046657ab3ab-0000000000000a39-0005b274a5669f39.journal (16.0M). Deleted archived journal /var/log/journal/38fcf097cda64808aef7af32f0834151/system@852cf4a689e7473a97d0533bafae2054-0000000000006445-0005b5bf6fba6857.journal (16.0M). Deleted archived journal /var/log/journal/38fcf097cda64808aef7af32f0834151/user-1000@c60606ac0ca3455ca9492b6bd49ce2f2-0000000000006806-0005b5bf7391f30f.journal (8.0M). Deleted archived journal /var/log/journal/38fcf097cda64808aef7af32f0834151/system@852cf4a689e7473a97d0533bafae2054-000000000000a5cd-0005b856a36afa1f.journal (8.0M). Deleted archived journal /var/log/journal/38fcf097cda64808aef7af32f0834151/system@852cf4a689e7473a97d0533bafae2054-000000000000a947-0005b856a5854959.journal (24.0M). Deleted archived journal /var/log/journal/38fcf097cda64808aef7af32f0834151/user-1000@b3fc06a6233f42bb8d482453cf7a92dd-000000000000b4f6-0005b856ba685e8f.journal (16.0M). Deleted archived journal /var/log/journal/38fcf097cda64808aef7af32f0834151/system@852cf4a689e7473a97d0533bafae2054-0000000000011c87-0005baef664f0469.journal (16.0M). Deleted archived journal /var/log/journal/38fcf097cda64808aef7af32f0834151/user-1000@9b15171bb2d8475c815a99f2ddfa2506-0000000000011fc8-0005baef71f8a720.journal (16.0M). Deleted archived journal /var/log/journal/38fcf097cda64808aef7af32f0834151/system@852cf4a689e7473a97d0533bafae2054-0000000000016a5b-0005bd863fbd8a2b.journal (8.0M). Deleted archived journal /var/log/journal/38fcf097cda64808aef7af32f0834151/user-1000@0594db55f9784dd8b3521a652a2b88ec-0000000000016d41-0005bd8640bfaf3d.journal (8.0M). Deleted archived journal /var/log/journal/38fcf097cda64808aef7af32f0834151/user-1000@0594db55f9784dd8b3521a652a2b88ec-0000000000017052-0005bd8642463547.journal (8.0M). Deleted archived journal /var/log/journal/38fcf097cda64808aef7af32f0834151/system@852cf4a689e7473a97d0533bafae2054-0000000000017050-0005bd8641907c49.journal (16.0M). Vacuuming done, freed 184.0M of archived journals from /var/log/journal/38fcf097cda64808aef7af32f0834151. Vacuuming done, freed 0B of archived journals from /run/log/journal.
- List installed programs or packages.
$ sudo apt list --installed # Ubuntu and Debian derivatives Listing... accountsservice/groovy-updates,groovy-security,now 0.6.55-0ubuntu13.2 amd64 [installed,automatic] acl/groovy,now 2.2.53-8 amd64 [installed,automatic] acpi-support/groovy,now 0.143 amd64 [installed,automatic] acpid/groovy,now 1:2.0.32-1ubuntu1 amd64 [installed,automatic] adcli/groovy-updates,groovy-security,now 0.9.0-1ubuntu1.2 amd64 [installed,automatic] adduser/groovy,groovy,now 3.118ubuntu2 all [installed] adwaita-icon-theme/groovy,groovy,now 3.38.0-1ubuntu1 all [installed,automatic] aisleriot/groovy,now 1:3.22.9-1 amd64 [installed,automatic] alsa-base/groovy,groovy,now 1.0.25+dfsg-0ubuntu5 all [installed,automatic] ##### snipped
$ rpm -qa # RHEL, Fedora, CentOS and Red Hat derivatives sysstat-11.7.3-5.el8.x86_64 plymouth-scripts-0.9.4-7.20200615git1e36e30.el8.x86_64 fontpackages-filesystem-1.44-22.el8.noarch file-libs-5.33-16.el8_3.1.x86_64 ipset-libs-7.1-1.el8.x86_64 libdnf-0.48.0-5.el8.x86_64 publicsuffix-list-dafsa-20180723-1.el8.noarch systemd-239-41.el8_3.2.x86_64 python3-rpm-4.14.3-4.el8.x86_64 emacs-filesystem-26.1-5.el8.noarch ##### snipped
- Uninstall unnecessary programs or packages.
$ sudo apt remove --assume-yes libreoffice-* # Ubuntu and Debian derivatives Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done Note, selecting 'libreoffice-wiki-publisher' for glob 'libreoffice-*' Note, selecting 'libreoffice-style-breeze' for glob 'libreoffice-*' Note, selecting 'libreoffice-math' for glob 'libreoffice-*' Note, selecting 'libreoffice-report-builder-bin-nogui' for glob 'libreoffice-*' Note, selecting 'libreoffice-l10n-gug' for glob 'libreoffice-*' Note, selecting 'libreoffice-script-provider-js' for glob 'libreoffice-*' Note, selecting 'libreoffice-report-builder-bin' for glob 'libreoffice-*' Note, selecting 'libreoffice-grammarcheck' for glob 'libreoffice-*' Note, selecting 'libreoffice-mysql-connector' for glob 'libreoffice-*' ##### snipped The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required: gstreamer1.0-gtk3 libabw-0.1-1 libboost-date-time1.71.0 libboost-filesystem1.71.0 libboost-iostreams1.71.0 libboost-locale1.71.0 libcdr-0.1-1 libclucene-contribs1v5 libclucene-core1v5 libcmis-0.5-5v5 libcolamd2 libe-book-0.1-1 libeot0 libepubgen-0.1-1 libetonyek-0.1-1 libexttextcat-2.0-0 libexttextcat-data libfreehand-0.1-1 libgpgmepp6 libjuh-java libjurt-java liblangtag-common liblangtag1 liblibreoffice-java libmhash2 libmspub-0.1-1 libmwaw-0.3-3 libmythes-1.2-0 libneon27-gnutls libodfgen-0.1-1 liborcus-0.15-0 liborcus-parser-0.15-0 libpagemaker-0.0-0 libraptor2-0 librasqal3 librdf0 librevenge-0.0-0 libridl-java libsuitesparseconfig5 libuno-cppu3 libuno-cppuhelpergcc3-3 libuno-purpenvhelpergcc3-3 libuno-sal3 libuno-salhelpergcc3-3 libunoloader-java libvisio-0.1-1 libwpd-0.10-10 libwpg-0.3-3 libwps-0.4-4 libxmlsec1-nss libyajl2 lp-solve uno-libs-private ure Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove them. The following packages will be REMOVED: libreoffice-base-core libreoffice-calc libreoffice-common libreoffice-core libreoffice-draw libreoffice-gnome libreoffice-gtk3 libreoffice-help-common libreoffice-help-en-us libreoffice-impress libreoffice-math libreoffice-ogltrans libreoffice-pdfimport libreoffice-style-breeze libreoffice-style-colibre libreoffice-style-elementary libreoffice-style-yaru libreoffice-writer python3-uno 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 19 to remove and 24 not upgraded. After this operation, 360 MB disk space will be freed. ##### snipped
$ sudo yum remove --assumeyes nmap # RHEL, Fedora, CentOS and Red Hat derivatives Dependencies resolved. ============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================ Package Architecture Version Repository Size ============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================ Removing: nmap x86_64 2:7.70-5.el8 @appstream 24 M Transaction Summary ============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================ Remove 1 Package Freed space: 24 M Running transaction check Transaction check succeeded. Running transaction test Transaction test succeeded. Running transaction Preparing : 1/1 Erasing : nmap-2:7.70-5.el8.x86_64 1/1 Running scriptlet: nmap-2:7.70-5.el8.x86_64 1/1 Verifying : nmap-2:7.70-5.el8.x86_64 1/1 Installed products updated. Removed: nmap-2:7.70-5.el8.x86_64 Complete!
- Eliminate unused package dependencies.
$ sudo apt autoremove # Ubuntu and Debian derivatives Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done The following packages will be REMOVED: gstreamer1.0-gtk3 libabw-0.1-1 libboost-date-time1.71.0 libboost-filesystem1.71.0 libboost-iostreams1.71.0 libboost-locale1.71.0 libcdr-0.1-1 libclucene-contribs1v5 libclucene-core1v5 libcmis-0.5-5v5 libcolamd2 libe-book-0.1-1 libeot0 libepubgen-0.1-1 libetonyek-0.1-1 libexttextcat-2.0-0 libexttextcat-data libfreehand-0.1-1 libgpgmepp6 libjuh-java libjurt-java liblangtag-common liblangtag1 liblibreoffice-java libmhash2 libmspub-0.1-1 libmwaw-0.3-3 libmythes-1.2-0 libneon27-gnutls libodfgen-0.1-1 liborcus-0.15-0 liborcus-parser-0.15-0 libpagemaker-0.0-0 libraptor2-0 librasqal3 librdf0 librevenge-0.0-0 libridl-java libsuitesparseconfig5 libuno-cppu3 libuno-cppuhelpergcc3-3 libuno-purpenvhelpergcc3-3 libuno-sal3 libuno-salhelpergcc3-3 libunoloader-java libvisio-0.1-1 libwpd-0.10-10 libwpg-0.3-3 libwps-0.4-4 libxmlsec1-nss libyajl2 linux-headers-5.8.0-44 linux-headers-5.8.0-44-generic linux-image-5.8.0-44-generic linux-modules-5.8.0-44-generic linux-modules-extra-5.8.0-44-generic lp-solve uno-libs-private ure 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 59 to remove and 29 not upgraded. After this operation, 435 MB disk space will be freed. Do you want to continue? [Y/n] ##### snipped
$ sudo yum autoremove --assumeyes # RHEL, Fedora, CentOS and Red Hat derivatives Last metadata expiration check: 0:00:39 ago on Thu 15 Apr 2021 10:20:13 PM EDT. Dependencies resolved. ============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================ Package Architecture Version Repository Size ============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================ Removing: fipscheck x86_64 1.5.0-4.el8 @anaconda 47 k fipscheck-lib x86_64 1.5.0-4.el8 @anaconda 12 k grub2-tools-efi x86_64 1:2.02-90.el8_3.1 @baseos 2.0 M libdnet x86_64 1.12-26.el8 @AppStream 79 k mozjs52 x86_64 52.9.0-2.el8 @BaseOS 23 M oci-systemd-hook x86_64 1:0.1.15-2.git2d0b8a3.module_el8.1.0+237+63e26edc @AppStream 74 k ostree-libs x86_64 2020.5-4.el8 @AppStream 1.0 M yajl x86_64 2.1.0-10.el8 @AppStream 85 k Transaction Summary ============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================ Remove 8 Packages Freed space: 26 M Running transaction check Transaction check succeeded. Running transaction test Transaction test succeeded. ##### snipped
- Delete unused package installer files.
$ sudo apt clean # Ubuntu and Debian derivatives
$ sudo yum clean all # RHEL, Fedora, CentOS and Red Hat derivatives 36 files removed
- Search for outdated system and application logs.
$ ls /var/log/ alternatives.log boot.log.5 dpkg.log.3.gz private vmware-network.4.log alternatives.log.1 boot.log.6 dpkg.log.4.gz speech-dispatcher vmware-network.5.log alternatives.log.2.gz boot.log.7 dpkg.log.5.gz sssd vmware-network.6.log alternatives.log.3.gz bootstrap.log faillog syslog vmware-network.7.log alternatives.log.4.gz btmp fontconfig.log syslog.1 vmware-network.8.log alternatives.log.5.gz btmp.1 gdm3 syslog.2.gz vmware-network.9.log apt cups gpu-manager.log syslog.3.gz vmware-network.log auth.log dist-upgrade hp syslog.4.gz vmware-vmsvc-root.1.log auth.log.1 dmesg installer syslog.5.gz vmware-vmsvc-root.2.log auth.log.2.gz dmesg.0 journal syslog.6.gz vmware-vmsvc-root.3.log auth.log.3.gz dmesg.1.gz kern.log syslog.7.gz vmware-vmsvc-root.log auth.log.4.gz dmesg.2.gz kern.log.1 sysstat vmware-vmtoolsd-root.log boot.log dmesg.3.gz kern.log.2.gz ubuntu-advantage.log wtmp boot.log.1 dmesg.4.gz kern.log.3.gz unattended-upgrades boot.log.2 dpkg.log kern.log.4.gz vmware-network.1.log boot.log.3 dpkg.log.1 lastlog vmware-network.2.log boot.log.4 dpkg.log.2.gz openvpn vmware-network.3.log
- Remove old and unneeded system and application logs.
$ sudo rm /var/log/*[3-9].*
Author: Mohd
Shakir Zakaria
Mohd Shakir Zakaria is an experienced cloud architect with a strong development and open-source advocacy background. He boasts multiple certifications in AWS, Red Hat, VMware, ITIL, and Linux, underscoring his expertise in cloud architecture and system administration.
Mohd Shakir Zakaria is an experienced cloud architect with a strong development and open-source advocacy background. He boasts multiple certifications in AWS, Red Hat, VMware, ITIL, and Linux, underscoring his expertise in cloud architecture and system administration.
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