---
name: "newaliases"
section: "8"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["linux", "openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/newaliases/8"
---

# newaliases(8)

rebuild mail aliases

## NAME

**newaliases** – rebuild mail aliases

## SYNOPSIS

**newaliases** \[**-f** *file*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **newaliases** utility makes changes to the mail aliases file visible to [smtpd(8)](/smtpd/8.md). It should be run every time the [aliases(5)](/aliases/5.md) file is changed. The location of the alias file is defined in [smtpd.conf(5)](/smtpd.conf/5.md), and defaults to */etc/mail/aliases*.

The options are as follows:

- **-f** *file*

  Use *file* as the configuration file, instead of the default */etc/mail/smtpd.conf*.

If using database (db) files, **newaliases** is equivalent to running [makemap(8)](/makemap/8.md) as follows:

```
# makemap -t aliases /etc/mail/aliases
```

If using plain text files, **newaliases** is equivalent to running [smtpctl(8)](/smtpctl/8.md) as follows:

```
# smtpctl update table aliases
```

## FILES

- */etc/mail/aliases*

  List of local user mail aliases.

- */etc/mail/virtual*

  List of virtual host aliases.

## EXIT STATUS

The **newaliases** utility exits 0 on success, and \>0 if an error occurs.

## SEE ALSO

[smtpd.conf(5)](/smtpd.conf/5.md), [makemap(8)](/makemap/8.md), [smtpctl(8)](/smtpctl/8.md), [smtpd(8)](/smtpd/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **newaliases** command first appeared in OpenBSD 4.6 as a replacement for the equivalent command shipped with sendmail.