---
name: "iceauth"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "xorg-iceauth"
version: "1.0.11-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/iceauth"
---

# iceauth(1)

ICE authority file utility

## NAME

iceauth - ICE authority file utility

## SYNOPSIS

**iceauth** \[**-f** *authfile*\] \[**-vqibuV**\] \[*command arg ...*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **iceauth** program is used to edit and display the authorization information used in connecting with ICE (the X11 Inter-Client Exchange protocol). This program is usually used to extract authorization records from one machine and merge them in on another (as is the case when using remote logins or granting access to other users). Commands (described below) may be entered interactively, on the **iceauth** command line, or in scripts.

## OPTIONS

- **-f** *authfile*

  Name of the authority file to use. Will default to the file currently in use by the session.

- **-v**

  Turns on extra messages (verbose mode)

- **-q**

  Turns off extra messages (quiet mode)

- **-i**

  Ignore the locks on the authority file

- **-b**

  Break the locks on the authority file

- **-u**

  Print basic usage instructions

- **--help**

  Print basic usage instructions

- **-V**

  Print version and exit

- **--version**

  Print version and exit

## USAGE

When **iceauth** is run it will allow the following set of commands to be entered interactively or in scripts. Remember that arguments given on the shell command line will be displayed in shell histories and may be visible to other users via tools such as [**ps**(1)](/ps/1.md), thus exposing the value of any cookies or other authentication secrets provided on the shell command line.

- **?**

  List available commands.

- **help**

  Print help information. You may supply a command name to *help* to get specific information about it.

- **info**

  Print information about the entries in the authority file.

- **list** \[*protocol\_name*\] \[*protocol\_data*\] \[*netid*\] \[*authname*\]

  List (print) entries in the authority file. You may specify optional modifiers to specify which entries are listed.

- **add** *protocol\_name* *protocol\_data* *netid* *authname* *authdata*

  Add an entry to the authority file.

- **remove** \[*protocol\_name*\] \[*protocol\_data*\] \[*netid*\] \[*authname*\]

  Remove entries from the authority file.

- **extract** *filename* \[*protocol\_name*\] \[*protocol\_data*\] \[*netid*\] \[*authname*\]

  Extract entries from the authority file in to a destination file. You must supply the path to the destination file. Optional specifiers allow you to narrow which entries are extracted.

- **merge** *filename1* \[*filename2* \[*filename3*\]\]...

  Merge entries from other files in to the authority file selected by the program. You may supply any number of file paths to this command.

- **exit**

  Save changes and exit the program.

- **quit**

  Abort changes and exit the program without saving.

- **source** *filename*

  Read and execute commands from a file.

## AUTHOR

Ralph Mor, X Consortium