Dual Booting Mac/Linux Mint on iMac (2017 27") - How to Delete Linux Partitions

Introduction

Dual-booting macOS and Linux on an iMac (2017 27") can be a great way to have the best of both worlds. However, if you find yourself running low on space and want to remove Linux Mint, you may need to delete its partitions. In this article, we will walk you through the process of deleting Linux partitions using Disk Utility on your iMac.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, it is important to note that deleting Linux partitions will permanently erase all data on those partitions. Make sure to back up any important data before proceeding. Additionally, you will need to boot into macOS to access Disk Utility.

Booting into macOS

To boot into macOS, restart your iMac and press the Apple key (⌘) during startup. This will bring up the Startup Manager, which will allow you to select which operating system to boot into. Select macOS and press Enter.

Deleting Linux Partitions

Once you are booted into macOS, open Disk Utility. You can find it in your Applications > Utilities folder or by using Spotlight search.

open /Applications/Utilities/Disk\ Utility.app

Identifying Linux Partitions

In Disk Utility, you should see a list of all the disks and partitions on your iMac. Identify the partition(s) that contain(s) Linux Mint. They will likely be labeled something like "Linux" or "Linux Mint".

Deleting Swap Partition

Before deleting the Linux partition(s), you should delete the swap partition first. Swap partitions are used for virtual memory and are not necessary for booting into Linux. To delete the swap partition:

1. Select the partition in Disk Utility.
2. Click the Erase button.
3. Give the partition a name (e.g., "Mac OS X Swap") and choose a format (e.g., "Mac OS Extended Journaled").
4. Click Erase.

Deleting Linux Partition

Now that the swap partition is deleted, you can delete the Linux partition(s). To delete the Linux partition:

1. Select the partition in Disk Utility.
2. Click the Erase button.
3. Give the partition a name (e.g., "Free Space") and choose a format (e.g., "Mac OS Extended Journaled").
4. Click Erase.

In this article, we covered the process of deleting Linux partitions on an iMac (2017 27") using Disk Utility. We first booted into macOS, identified the Linux partitions, and deleted the swap partition. We then deleted the Linux partition(s) and gave the freed-up space a new name.