Guide how to increase dom0 free disk space to avoid problems with big templates and backups

Original forum link
https://forum.qubes-os.org/t/36800
Original poster
https://github.com/jamke
Created at
2025-10-19 07:56:12
Posts count
14
Likes count
8
Tags
backup, dom0, template

Guide how to increase dom0 free disk space to avoid problems with big templates and backups

This guide was checked for R4.2.

It can be done in the running Qubes R4.2 system without data-loss. But make full backups before doing anything, in case something goes wrong.

All steps are done in the dom0 Terminal:

  1. First check that you have empty space in your Volume Group qubes_dom0. Qubes OS installer keeps 10% free by default, so in most cases you will have this space $ sudo vgs qubes_dom0 Check the last column (VFree). It can say something like "<50.44g", it would mean you have a bit more than 50 GiB of free space. Note: that the less sign "<" before size (like in "<50.44g") only tells you how the value was mathematically rounded. It does not mean that the free size can be much smaller than the value (e.g. it is for sure bigger than 50 GiB in this case).

  2. Check the current size of root-pool pool logical volume just to know: $ sudo lvdisplay qubes_dom0/root-pool The "LV Size" would have something like 25.00 GiB or something in default case.

  3. Add additional space, e.g. 20 GiB to the root-pool pool logical volume. $ sudo lvextend --size +20G qubes_dom0/root-pool Remember, additional space should be smaller than VFree of Volume Group qubes_dom0.

  4. Add the same amount of space (or a bit less if you want to have reserve) to the root logical volume that is located inside root-pool pool. $ sudo lvextend --size +20G qubes_dom0/root

  5. Finally resize ext4 filesystem or root partition in dom0 to occupy the new increased size: $ sudo resize2fs /dev/mapper/qubes_dom0-root

Now the Qubes Disk Space Monitor widget in system tray, and df -h in dom0's terminal should show you the increased size of root partition (/) in dom0.