---
name: "motd"
section: "5"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/motd"
---

# motd(5)

file containing message(s) of the day

## NAME

**motd** – file containing message(s) of the day

## DESCRIPTION

The file */var/run/motd* is normally displayed by [login(1)](/login/1.md) after a user has logged in but before the shell is run. It is generally used for important system-wide announcements. During system startup, a line containing the kernel version string is prepended to */etc/motd.template* and the contents are written to */var/run/motd*.

*/var/run/motd* can be updated without a system reboot by manually restarting the motd service after updating */etc/motd.template*:

```
service motd restart
```

Individual users may suppress the display of this file by creating a file named “*.hushlogin*” in their home directories or through [login.conf(5)](/login.conf/5.md).

## FILES

- */etc/motd*

  Symbolic link to */var/run/motd*.

- */etc/motd.template*

  The template file that system administrators can edit.

- */var/run/motd*

  The message of the day.

- *$HOME/.hushlogin*

  Suppresses output of */var/run/motd*.

## EXAMPLES

```
FreeBSD 12.1-RELEASE (GENERIC) #0: Sun Dec 29 03:08:31 PST 2019
/home is full.  Please cleanup your directories.
```

## SEE ALSO

[login(1)](/login/1.md), [login.conf(5)](/login.conf/5.md)

## HISTORY

Prior to FreeBSD 13.0, **motd** lived in */etc*.