How to remove a swap partition in Linux

Swap partitions provide a dedicated area on your hard drive where the operating system can temporarily store data that is not actively being used in RAM. This A swap partition provides a designated space on your hard drive for the operating system to store data temporarily when the physical memory (RAM) is full. This feature helps the system manage memory more efficiently in low-memory environments. However, a swap partition may no longer be necessary if you have enough RAM or if you prefer using a swap file instead. In such cases, removing the swap partition can free up disk space.

On most modern Linux systems, the management of swap spaces is automated, but there are situations where manual adjustments are needed. If a system is configured with an oversized or unnecessary swap partition, or if you’re reorganizing your storage setup, it’s important to understand how to remove the partition correctly. Incorrect removal of a swap partition can lead to boot issues or memory errors.

Before removing the swap partition, ensure it is no longer in use by disabling it. You must also modify system configuration files like fstab to prevent the system from trying to mount the removed partition. These steps help to avoid potential errors during boot or normal operation. This process will allow you to optimize disk usage and system performance.

1. Identify the swap partition.

   $ lsblk

   The output will list all partitions. Look for the one marked as 'swap' under the 'TYPE' column.

2. Disable the swap partition.

   $ sudo swapoff /dev/sdXy

   Replace sdXy with the correct partition identifier, such as sda3.

3. Verify that the swap is disabled.

   $ free -m

   The 'Swap' row should show '0' under the 'used' column, confirming that the swap has been deactivated.

4. Edit the fstab file.

   $ sudo nano /etc/fstab

   Find the line referencing the swap partition and comment it out or delete it. Typically, it contains the word 'swap' in the third field.

5. Delete the swap partition.

   $ sudo fdisk /dev/sdX

   After running the command, enter the partition menu, select the swap partition, and delete it.

6. Reclaim disk space.

   $ sudo parted /dev/sdX resizepart

   Resize the remaining partitions to use the freed space, or create a new partition in its place.