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

# lusermod(1)

Modify an user

## NAME

lusermod - Modify an user

## SYNOPSIS

lusermod \[*OPTION*\]... *user*

## DESCRIPTION

Modifies the user with name *user*.

## OPTIONS

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

  Set *user*'s 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*.

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

  Change *user*'s primary group ID to *gid*. If group with ID *gid* does not exist, a warning is printed, but the operation is performed anyway.

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

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

- **-L**, **--lock**

  Lock *user*'s account. This prevents logging in using *user*'s password.

- **-l**, **--login**=*name*

  Rename *user* to *name*.

- **-m**, **--movedirectory**

  After changing *user*'s home directory (using the **-d** option), move the old home directory to the new location.

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

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

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

  Set *user*'s login shell to *shell*.

- **-U**, **--unlock**

  Unlock *user*'s account.

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

  Change *user*'s user ID to *uid*.

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

  Set *user*'s common name to *name*. 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*

  Set *user*'s given name to *name*. 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*

  Set *user*'s home telephone number to *phone*. 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*

  Set *user*'s room number to *room*. 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*

  Set *user*'s surname to *name*. 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*

  Set *user*'s telephone number to *phone*. 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.