Change or convert filesystem labels safely across ext4, xfs, btrfs, vfat and ntfs using concrete commands. 16.11.2025 | reading time: 2 min Need to rename a filesystem so mounts by LABEL= keep working or to give disks clearer names; do it with the right tool for each filesystem and avoid surprises by checking mounts and fstab first, then apply the specific command for ext, xfs, btrfs, vfat or ntfs. Quick example Follow this concrete session: check the label, change it, and verify the result using a simple ext4 partition example shown below as commands and outputs in sequence: ```sudo lsblk -o NAME,FSTYPE,LABEL,UUID /dev/sdb1 NAME FSTYPE LABEL UUID sdb1 ext4 OLD_BACKUP 9a1b2c3d-4e5f-6789-abcd-ef0123456789 sudo umount /dev/sdb1 || true sudo tune2fs -L backup-2025 /dev/sdb1 sudo lsblk -o NAME,FSTYPE,LABEL,UUID /dev/sdb1 NAME FSTYPE LABEL UUID sdb1 ext4 backup-2025 9a1b2c3d-4e5f-6789-abcd-ef0123456789 ``` When to be careful Unmount when required and think about fstab: xfs labels must be changed with `xfs_admin -L` on an unmounted device; ext labels can be changed with `tune2fs -L` or `e2label` but unmounting avoids corruption; btrfs supports `btrfs filesystem label <mountpoint> <label>` while mounted; dosfstools offers `dosfslabel` for vfat and ntfs-3g provides `ntfslabel` for NTFS; always update /etc/fstab if it refers to LABEL= otherwise the system may fail to mount at boot. Tools and workflows Inspect labels and types first with `blkid` or `lsblk -o NAME,FSTYPE,LABEL,UUID`, change labels with filesystem-specific utilities, then refresh udev or remount; for scripted mass changes prefer mapping by UUID then relabeling safely offline and test with `findmnt` to confirm active mounts before proceeding. Final note Relabeling is quick when you pick the right tool and remember to check mounts and fstab; practice on spare media and then consider deeper Linux study and certifications such as CompTIA Linux+ or LPIC-1, and for intensive exam prep visit bitsandbytes.academy. Join Bits & Bytes Academy First class LINUX exam preparation. filesystem utilities storage troubleshooting
