How to Find Large Files in Linux
Locate large files without crossing into other mounted filesystems.
find can filter files by type and size. Use -xdev to keep the scan on one filesystem.
Step by step
1 Find large files
$ find / -xdev -type f -size +500M -print 2>/dev/nullSearches regular files above 500 MB and hides permission errors.
2 Show readable sizes
$ find / -xdev -type f -size +500M -exec ls -lh {} + 2>/dev/nullls -lh adds familiar units.
3 Narrow the search
$ find /var/log -type f -size +100M -exec ls -lh {} +A smaller starting path is faster and usually more useful.
Tips worth knowing
- Use du for directory usage.
- Use `lsof +L1` for deleted-but-open files.
- Narrow the search path whenever possible.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find files larger than 1 GB?
Use `find / -xdev -type f -size +1G` with an appropriate starting path.
Why do I see permission denied?
Some directories are not readable by your user; use appropriate privileges or suppress stderr.
If it goes wrong
The commands behind it
Locate files anywhere in a directory tree by name, type, size, date — and act on them.
df & duSee free space per filesystem and find what is eating your disk, directory by directory.
Concepts involved: Inode · Mount
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