---
name: "ntfsls"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "ntfsprogs"
version: "2026.9.28-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ntfsls"
---

# ntfsls(8)

list directory contents on an NTFS filesystem

## NAME

ntfsls - list directory contents on an NTFS filesystem

## SYNOPSIS

**ntfsls** \[*options*\] *device*

**ntfsls** \[ **-a** \| **--all** \] \[ **-F** \| **--classify** \] \[ **-f** \| **--force** \] \[ **-h** \| **--help** \] \[ **-i** \| **--inode** \] \[ **-l** \| **--long** \] \[ **-p** \| **--path** *PATH* \] \[ **-q** \| **--quiet** \] \[ **-s** \| **--system** \] \[ **-V** \| **--version** \] \[ **-v** \| **--verbose** \] \[ **-x** \| **--dos** \] *device*

## DESCRIPTION

**ntfsls** is used to list information about the files specified by the *PATH* option (the root directory by default). *DEVICE* is the special file corresponding to the device (e.g */dev/hdXX*) or an NTFS image file.

## OPTIONS

Below is a summary of all the options that **ntfsls** accepts.  Nearly all options have two equivalent names.  The short name is preceded by **-** and the long name is preceded by **--**. Any single letter options, that don't take an argument, can be combined into a single command, e.g. **-fv** is equivalent to **-f -v**. Long named options can be abbreviated to any unique prefix of their name.

- **-a**, **--all**

  Display all files.  If this option is not specified file names in the POSIX namespace will not be displayed.

- **-F**, **--classify**

  Append indicator (one of \*/=@\|) to entries.

- **-f**, **--force**

  Force execution.  For example necessary to run on an NTFS partition stored in a normal file.

- **-h**, **--help**

  Print the usage information of **ntfsls** and exit.

- **-i**, **--inode**

  Print inode number of each file.  This is the MFT reference number in NTFS terminology.

- **-l**, **--long**

  Use a long listing format.

- **-p**, **--path** PATH

  The directory whose contents to list or the file (including the path) about which to display information.

- **-q**, **--quiet**

  Suppress some debug/warning/error messages.

- **-R**, **--recursive**

  Show the contents of all directories beneath the specified directory.

- **-s**, **--system**

  Unless this options is specified, all files beginning with a dollar sign character will not be listed as these files are usually system files.

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  Display more debug/warning/error messages.

- **-V**, **--version**

  Print the version number of **ntfsls** and exit.

- **-x**, **--dos**

  Display short file names, i.e. files in the DOS namespace, instead of long file names, i.e. files in the WIN32 namespace.

## BUGS

There are no known problems with **ntfsls**. If you find a bug please send an email describing the problem to the development team:\
 ntfs-3g-devel@lists.sf.net

## AUTHORS

This version of **ntfsls** was written by Lode Leroy, Anton Altaparmakov, Richard Russon, Carmelo Kintana and Giang Nguyen. It was ported to ntfs-3g by Erik Larsson.

## AVAILABILITY

**ntfsls** is part of the **ntfs-3g** package and is available from:\
 https://github.com/tuxera/ntfs-3g/wiki/

## SEE ALSO

[**ntfsprogs**(8)](/ntfsprogs/8.md)