---
name: "chroot"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "coreutils"
version: "9.7-3"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/chroot/8"
---

# chroot(8)

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

## 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

GNU coreutils online help: \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/\>\
 Report any translation bugs to \<https://translationproject.org/team/\>

## SEE ALSO

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

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

Packaged by Debian (9.7-3)\
 Copyright © 2025 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.