---
name: "swaplabel"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "util-linux"
version: "2.42.4-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/swaplabel"
---

# swaplabel(8)

print or change the label or UUID of a swap area

## NAME

swaplabel - print or change the label or UUID of a swap area

## SYNOPSIS

**swaplabel** \[**-L** *label*\] \[**-U** *UUID*\] *device*

## DESCRIPTION

**swaplabel** will display or change the label or UUID of a swap partition located on *device* (or regular file).

If the optional arguments **-L** and **-U** are not given, **swaplabel** will simply display the current swap-area label and UUID of *device*.

If an optional argument is present, then **swaplabel** will change the appropriate value on *device*. These values can also be set during swap creation using [**mkswap**(8)](/mkswap/8.md). The **swaplabel** utility allows changing the label or UUID on an actively used swap device.

## OPTIONS

- **-L**, **--label** *label*

  Specify a new *label* for the device. Swap partition labels can be at most 16 characters long. If *label* is longer than 16 characters, **swaplabel** will truncate it and print a warning message.

- **-U**, **--uuid** *UUID*

  Specify a new *UUID* for the device. The *UUID* must be in the standard 8-4-4-4-12 character format, such as is output by [**uuidgen**(1)](/uuidgen/1.md).

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

  Display help text and exit.

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

  Display version and exit.

## ENVIRONMENT

LIBBLKID\_DEBUG=all

enables libblkid debug output.

## AUTHORS

**swaplabel** was written by *Jason Borden* \<jborden@bluehost.com\> and *Karel Zak* \<kzak@redhat.com\>.

## SEE ALSO

[**uuidgen**(1)](/uuidgen/1.md), [**mkswap**(8)](/mkswap/8.md), [**swapon**(8)](/swapon/8.md)

## REPORTING BUGS

For bug reports, use the *issue tracker* \<https://github.com/util-linux/util-linux/issues\>.

## AVAILABILITY

The **swaplabel** command is part of the util-linux package which can be downloaded from *Linux Kernel Archive* \<https://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/utils/util-linux/\>.