---
name: "clri"
section: "8"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["freebsd", "openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/clri"
---

# clri(8)

clear inodes

## NAME

**clri** – clear inodes

## SYNOPSIS

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

## DESCRIPTION

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

**clri** zeros out the inodes with the specified inode numbers on the filesystem residing on the given *special\_device*. The [fsck(8)](/fsck/8.md) utility is usually run after **clri** to reclaim the zero'ed inodes and the blocks previously claimed by those inodes. 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

[inode(5)](/inode/5.md), [fsck(8)](/fsck/8.md), [fsdb(8)](/fsdb/8.md), ncheck(8)

## 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.