Yes, Pop OS might require a distinct EFI partition.
Yes, Pop OS might require a distinct EFI partition.
You're exploring Pop OS and setting up a dual-boot configuration with Windows. It's great you're thinking carefully about the setup. The requirement for a 1GB EFI partition is mainly to ensure enough space for the bootloader (Grub) and any essential files, especially if you plan to run it alongside Windows. While some tutorials suggest a single EFI partition, having extra space helps avoid issues with file system operations and keeps your boot process stable. It's not about destroying your Windows Boot Manager or NTFS drives—it's just about reliability and performance. If you're concerned, you can always create a larger partition or use a different layout that fits your needs.
It's actually the case. They're only requesting that size for safety. My EFI partition is presently under 200MB, running two kernels (my primary and a LTS backup). You can definitely stick with one partition just in case. As I mentioned earlier, this helps avoid problems during upgrades or when installing various kernels.