---
name: "chsh"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "util-linux"
version: "2.42.4-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/chsh"
---

# chsh(1)

change your login shell

## NAME

chsh - change your login shell

## SYNOPSIS

**chsh** \[**-s** *shell*\] \[**-l**\] \[**-h**\] \[**-V**\] \[*username*\|*UID*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**chsh** is used to change your login shell. If a shell is not given on the command line, **chsh** prompts for one.

**chsh** supports non-local entries (kerberos, LDAP, etc.) if linked with libuser, otherwise use [**ypchsh**(1)](/ypchsh/1.md), [**lchsh**(1)](/lchsh/1.md) or any other implementation for non-local entries.

## OPTIONS

- **-s**, **--shell** *shell*

  Specify your login shell.

- **-l**, **--list-shells**

  Print the list of shells listed in */etc/shells* and exit.

- **-h**, **--help**

  Display help text and exit. (Short option **-h** is used since version 2.30; older versions used the now-deprecated **-u**).

- **-V**, **--version**

  Display version and exit. (Short option **-V** is used since version 2.39; older versions used the now-deprecated **-v**).

## VALID SHELLS

**chsh** will accept the full pathname of any executable file on the system.

The default behavior for non-root users is to accept only shells listed in the */etc/shells* file, and issue a warning for root user. It can also be configured at compile-time to only issue a warning for all users.

## EXIT STATUS

Returns 0 if operation was successful, 1 if operation failed or command syntax was not valid.

## AUTHORS

*Salvatore Valente* \<svalente@mit.edu\>

## SEE ALSO

[**login**(1)](/login/1.md), [**login.defs**(5)](/login.defs/5.md), [**passwd**(5)](/passwd/5.md), [**shells**(5)](/shells/5.md)

## REPORTING BUGS

For bug reports, use the *issue tracker* \<https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/issues\>.

## AVAILABILITY

The **chsh** command is part of the util-linux package which can be downloaded from *Linux Kernel Archive* \<https://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/utils/util-linux/\>.