---
name: "luseradd"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "libuser"
version: "1:0.64+git20241106~dfsg-3"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/luseradd"
---

# luseradd(1)

Add an user

## NAME

luseradd - Add an user

## SYNOPSIS

luseradd \[*OPTION*\]... *user*

## DESCRIPTION

Adds an user with name *user*.

## OPTIONS

- **-c**, **--gecos**=*gecos*

  Set the GECOS field to *gecos*. The GECOS field is traditionally used to store user's real name and other information.

- **-d**, **--directory**=*directory*

  Set user's home directory to *directory*. If this option is not present, a default specified by **libuser** configuration is used.

- **-g**, **--gid**=*group*

  Set user's primary group to *group*. *group* can either be a group ID of an existing group, or a group name; if *group* is a group name and the group does not exist, it is created. If the **--gid** option is not specified, the default group name is *user*.

- **-i**, **--interactive**

  Ask all questions when connecting to the user database, even if default answers are set up in **libuser** configuration.

- **-k**, **--skeleton**=*directory*

  Populate the newly created user's home directory with a copy of *directory*. If this option is not present, a default directory specified by  **libuser** configuration, or **/etc/skel** if **libuser** configuration does not specify a default, is used.

- **-M**, **--nocreatehome**

  Don't create a home directory and a mail spool for the newly created user.

- **-n**, **--nocreategroup**

  If a group is not specified using **-g**, use group name "users" instead of *user*. Note that despite the name of the option, the group will still be created if it does not exist.

- **-P**, **--plainpassword**=*password*

  Set *user*'s password to *password*. Note that the password can be viewed while running **luseradd** using tools such as [**ps**(1)](/ps/1.md).

- **-p**, **--password**=*encrypted*

  Set *user*'s password to the password represented by the hash *encrypted*. Note that the hash can be viewed while running **luseradd** using tools such as [**ps**(1)](/ps/1.md).

- **-r**, **--reserved**

  The user is a system user. Users that are not marked as system user usually have automatically selected user IDs above a certain value (configured as **LU\_UIDNUMBER** in [**libuser.conf**(5)](/libuser.conf/5.md)). This information is also passed to the **libuser** backends. This option implies the **-M** option.

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

  Set user's login shell to *shell*. If this option is not present, a default specified by **libuser** configuration is used.

- **-u**, **--uid**=*uid*

  Use user ID *uid* for the newly created user. An user ID is selected automatically if this option is not present.

- **--commonname**=*name*

  Use common name *name* for the newly created user. This attribute is only supported in some backends (e.g.LDAP), and its support may have further limitations (e.g. LDAP schema rules).

- **--givenname**=*name*

  Use given name *name* for the newly created user. This attribute is only supported in some backends (e.g.LDAP), and its support may have further limitations (e.g. LDAP schema rules).

- **--homephone**=*phone*

  Use home telephone number *phone* for the newly created user. This attribute is only supported in some backends (e.g.LDAP), and its support may have further limitations (e.g. LDAP schema rules).

- **--roomnumber**=*room*

  Use room number *room* for the newly created user. This attribute is only supported in some backends (e.g.LDAP), and its support may have further limitations (e.g. LDAP schema rules).

- **--surname**=*name*

  Use surname *name* for the newly created user. This attribute is only supported in some backends (e.g.LDAP), and its support may have further limitations (e.g. LDAP schema rules).

- **--telephonenumber**=*phone*

  Use telephone number *phone* for the newly created user. This attribute is only supported in some backends (e.g.LDAP), and its support may have further limitations (e.g. LDAP schema rules).

## EXIT STATUS

The exit status is 0 on success, nonzero on error.