---
name: "chroot"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "coreutils"
version: "9.12-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/chroot"
---

# chroot(1)

run command or interactive shell with special root directory

## NAME

chroot - run command or interactive shell with special root directory

## SYNOPSIS

**chroot** \[*OPTION*\]... *NEWROOT* \[*COMMAND* \[*ARG*\]...\]

## DESCRIPTION

Run COMMAND with root directory set to NEWROOT.

- **--groups=G\_LIST**

  specify supplementary groups as g1,g2,..,gN

- **--userspec=USER:GROUP**

  specify user and group (ID or name) to use

- **--skip-chdir**

  do not change working directory to '/'

- **--help**

  display this help and exit

- **--version**

  output version information and exit

If no command is given, run '"$SHELL" **-i**' (default: '/bin/sh **-i**').

### Exit status:

- 125

  if the chroot command itself fails

- 126

  if COMMAND is found but cannot be invoked

- 127

  if COMMAND cannot be found

- \-

  the exit status of COMMAND otherwise

## AUTHOR

Written by Roland McGrath.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to: \<bug-coreutils@gnu.org\>.\
 Report any translation bugs to: \<https://translationproject.org/team/\>.\
 GNU coreutils home page: \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/\>\
 General help using GNU software: \<https://www.gnu.org/gethelp/\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later \<https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html\>.\
 This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO

[**chroot**(2)](/chroot/2.md)

Full documentation \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/chroot\>\
 or available locally via: info '(coreutils) chroot invocation'