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GPT fdisk
What it is
GPT fdisk is a free set of text-mode utilities for creating and managing partition tables on Linux, macOS, and Windows, with availability also described for FreeBSD. The package contains gdisk, cgdisk, sgdisk, and FixParts. Gdisk interactively edits GPT structures and converts MBR tables or BSD disklabels to GPT. Cgdisk provides a curses-based interface, while sgdisk targets scripts and quick command-line jobs. FixParts repairs certain MBR damage and can switch partition types between primary and logical. The tools back up partition data and provide GPT recovery functions. Gdisk’s verification command can identify bad CRCs and mismatches between main and backup data, but usually does not repair them. New disks are aligned to 1 MiB boundaries by default. Sgdisk can work with raw disk images, not compressed or advanced image formats. The maker warns that sgdisk performs minimal checking and does not request confirmation.
For and against
For
- Free on Linux, macOS, and Windows
- Includes interactive and script-focused tools
- Converts MBR or BSD labels to GPT
- Backs up partition data
- Supports GPT recovery functions
Against
- Text-mode tools require technical knowledge
- sgdisk performs minimal error checking
- macOS blocks system-disk repartitioning
- Does not merge or move partitions
The verdict
GPT fdisk provides focused partition-table editors, scripting tools, and repair utilities across major desktop platforms. Use caution with changes, especially when working directly with disks or images.
Who it suits
GPT fdisk suits technically experienced users managing GPT or MBR partition structures, backups, conversions, and repairs. Its text interfaces also support scripted disk tasks.
On the record
- Backup and recovery
- The tools provide options to back up partition data and access GPT data recovery functions.rodsbooks.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Conversion
- gdisk can read an MBR partition table or BSD disklabel and convert it to GPT without damaging partition contents.rodsbooks.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Disk image limitation
- sgdisk can operate on raw disk image files but does not support compressed or other advanced disk image formats.rodsbooks.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Distribution packages
- GPT fdisk is included in most major Linux distributions’ standard package repositories, though some distributions may provide outdated versions.rodsbooks.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The download page lists Linux RPM and Debian packages, Windows and macOS binaries, and source files; it says the EFI binary is available only through version 1.0.4.rodsbooks.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Download version
- The download page identifies GPT fdisk version 1.0.10 and was last updated February 19, 2024.rodsbooks.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- FreeBSD limitation
- The FreeBSD version normally cannot save partition-table changes when a partition on the disk is mounted.rodsbooks.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- GPT support
- gdisk, cgdisk, and sgdisk work with GUID Partition Table (GPT) disks.rodsbooks.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Included tools
- The package consists of gdisk, cgdisk, sgdisk, and FixParts.rodsbooks.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Interactive editor
- gdisk provides an interactive interface for manipulating GPT data structures, including advanced settings such as partition-table size.rodsbooks.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Interfaces
- gdisk is interactive and text-mode, sgdisk is a command-line tool suited to scripts, and cgdisk is curses-based and interactive.rodsbooks.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- macOS limitation
- The project says System Integrity Protection in macOS 10.11 and later blocks low-level access needed to repartition the system disk, while USB flash drives remain accessible.rodsbooks.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The GPT fdisk pages identify Roderick W. Smith as the primary author.rodsbooks.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- MBR repair
- FixParts repairs certain types of MBR disk damage and can change partition types between primary and logical.rodsbooks.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Origin
- Rod Smith says he first wrote GPT fdisk in 2009, initially focusing on MBR-to-GPT conversion.rodsbooks.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Partition alignment
- On new disks, GPT fdisk attempts to align partitions on 1 MiB boundaries by default.rodsbooks.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- GPT fdisk is a set of text-mode tools for creating and manipulating partition tables.rodsbooks.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Repair and backup
- GPT fdisk can help recover damaged GPT data structures, and gdisk, sgdisk, and cgdisk can save partition data to a backup file.rodsbooks.com · read 4 Oct 2026
