---
name: "clri"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd", "openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/clri"
---

# clri(8)

clear an inode

## NAME

**clri** – clear an inode

## SYNOPSIS

**clri** *special\_device* *inode\_number* *...*

## DESCRIPTION

The **clri** utility is obsoleted for normal file system repair work by [fsck(8)](/fsck/8.md).

The **clri** utility zeroes out the inodes with the specified inode number(s) on the file system residing on the given *special\_device*. The [fsck(8)](/fsck/8.md) utility is usually run after **clri** to reclaim the zeroed inode(s) and the blocks previously claimed by those inode(s). Both read and write permission are required on the specified *special\_device*.

The primary purpose of this routine is to remove a file which for some reason is not being properly handled by [fsck(8)](/fsck/8.md). Once removed, it is anticipated that [fsck(8)](/fsck/8.md) will be able to clean up the resulting mess.

## SEE ALSO

[fsck(8)](/fsck/8.md), [fsdb(8)](/fsdb/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **clri** utility first appeared in Version 6 AT&T UNIX.

## BUGS

If the file is open, the work of **clri** will be lost when the inode is written back to disk from the inode cache.