---
name: "mkfile"
section: "8"
platform: "macos"
package: "system_cmds"
version: "1042.120.1"
release: "macOS 26.5"
platforms: ["macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/mkfile"
---

# mkfile(8)

create a file

## NAME

**mkfile** – create a file

## SYNOPSIS

**mkfile** \[**-nv**\] *size\[**b**\|**k**\|**m**\|**g**\]* *file ...*

## DESCRIPTION

**mkfile** creates one or more files that are suitable for use as NFS-mounted swap areas. The sticky bit is set, and the file is padded with zeroes by default. Non-root users must set the sticky bit using [chmod(1)](/chmod/1.md). The default size unit is bytes, but the following suffixes may be used to multiply by the given factor: **b** (512), **k** (1024), **m** (1048576), and **g** (1073741824).

## OPTIONS

- **-n**

  Create an empty *filename*. The size is noted, but disk blocks aren't allocated until data is written to them.

- **-v**

  Verbose. Report the names and sizes of created files.

## WARNING

If a client's swap file is removed and recreated, it must be re-exported before the client will be able to access it. This action may only be done when the client is not running.

## SEE ALSO

[chmod(2)](/chmod/2.md), [stat(2)](/stat/2.md), [sticky(7)](/sticky/7.md)