---
name: "luseradd"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "libuser"
version: "1:0.56.9.dfsg.1-1.2"
release: "Debian 7 (Wheezy)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/luseradd/8"
---

# luseradd(8)

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 (500 by default). 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.

## EXIT STATUS

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