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6.3. Resizing a btrfs File System

It is not possible to resize a btrfs file system but it is possible to resize each of the devices it uses. If there is only one device in use then this works the same as resizing the file system. If there are multiple devices in use then they must be manually resized to achieve the desired result.

Note

The unit size is not case specific; it accepts both G or g for GiB.
The command does not accept t for terabytes or p for petabytes. It only accepts k, m, and g.

Enlarging a btrfs File System

To enlarge the file system on a single device, use the command:
# btrfs filesystem resize amount /mount-point
For example:
# btrfs filesystem resize +200M /btrfssingle
Resize '/btrfssingle' of '+200M'
To enlarge a multi-device file system, the device to be enlarged must be specified. First, show all devices that have a btrfs file system at a specified mount point:
# btrfs filesystem show /mount-point
For example:
# btrfs filesystem show /btrfstest
Label: none  uuid: 755b41b7-7a20-4a24-abb3-45fdbed1ab39
	Total devices 4 FS bytes used 192.00KiB
	devid    1 size 1.00GiB used 224.75MiB path /dev/vdc
	devid    2 size 524.00MiB used 204.75MiB path /dev/vdd
	devid    3 size 1.00GiB used 8.00MiB path /dev/vde
	devid    4 size 1.00GiB used 8.00MiB path /dev/vdf

Btrfs v3.16.2
Then, after identifying the devid of the device to be enlarged, use the following command:
# btrfs filesystem resize devid:amount /mount-point
For example:
# btrfs filesystem resize 2:+200M /btrfstest
Resize '/btrfstest/' of '2:+200M'

Note

The amount can also be max instead of a specified amount. This will use all remaining free space on the device.

Shrinking a btrfs File System

To shrink the file system on a single device, use the command:
# btrfs filesystem resize amount /mount-point
For example:
# btrfs filesystem resize -200M /btrfssingle
Resize '/btrfssingle' of '-200M'
To shrink a multi-device file system, the device to be shrunk must be specified. First, show all devices that have a btrfs file system at a specified mount point:
# btrfs filesystem show /mount-point
For example:
# btrfs filesystem show /btrfstest
Label: none  uuid: 755b41b7-7a20-4a24-abb3-45fdbed1ab39
	Total devices 4 FS bytes used 192.00KiB
	devid    1 size 1.00GiB used 224.75MiB path /dev/vdc
	devid    2 size 524.00MiB used 204.75MiB path /dev/vdd
	devid    3 size 1.00GiB used 8.00MiB path /dev/vde
	devid    4 size 1.00GiB used 8.00MiB path /dev/vdf

Btrfs v3.16.2
Then, after identifying the devid of the device to be shrunk, use the following command:
# btrfs filesystem resize devid:amount /mount-point
For example:
# btrfs filesystem resize 2:-200M /btrfstest
Resize '/btrfstest' of '2:-200M'

Set the File System Size

To set the file system to a specific size on a single device, use the command:
# btrfs filesystem resize amount /mount-point
For example:
# btrfs filesystem resize 700M /btrfssingle
Resize '/btrfssingle' of '700M'
To set the file system size of a multi-device file system, the device to be changed must be specified. First, show all devices that have a btrfs file system at the specified mount point:
# btrfs filesystem show /mount-point
For example:
# btrfs filesystem show /btrfstest
Label: none  uuid: 755b41b7-7a20-4a24-abb3-45fdbed1ab39
	Total devices 4 FS bytes used 192.00KiB
	devid    1 size 1.00GiB used 224.75MiB path /dev/vdc
	devid    2 size 724.00MiB used 204.75MiB path /dev/vdd
	devid    3 size 1.00GiB used 8.00MiB path /dev/vde
	devid    4 size 1.00GiB used 8.00MiB path /dev/vdf

Btrfs v3.16.2
Then, after identifying the devid of the device to be changed, use the following command:
# btrfs filesystem resize devid:amount /mount-point
For example:
# btrfs filesystem resize 2:300M /btrfstest
Resize '/btrfstest' of '2:300M'