---
name: "capng_update"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "libcap-ng"
version: "0.9.6-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/capng_update"
---

# capng\_update(3)

update the stored capabilities settings

## NAME

capng\_update - update the stored capabilities settings

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<cap-ng.h\>**

int capng\_update(capng\_act\_t action, capng\_type\_t type,unsigned int capability);

## DESCRIPTION

capng\_update will update the internal POSIX capabilities settings based on the options passed to it. The action should be either CAPNG\_DROP to set the capability bit to 0, or CAPNG\_ADD to set the capability bit to 1. The operation is performed on the capability set specified in the type parameter. The values are: CAPNG\_EFFECTIVE, CAPNG\_PERMITTED, CAPNG\_INHERITABLE, CAPNG\_BOUNDING\_SET, or CAPNG\_AMBIENT. The values may be or'ed together to perform the same operation on multiple sets. The last parameter, capability, is the capability define as given in linux/capability.h.

## RETURN VALUE

This returns 0 on success and -1 on failure.

## SEE ALSO

[**capng\_updatev**(3)](/capng_updatev/3.md), [**capabilities**(7)](/capabilities/7.md)

## AUTHOR

Steve Grubb