---
name: "telinit"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "systemd-sysv"
version: "257.13-1~deb13u1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/telinit"
---

# telinit(8)

Change SysV runlevel

## NAME

telinit - Change SysV runlevel

## SYNOPSIS

**telinit** \[OPTIONS...\] {COMMAND}

## DESCRIPTION

**telinit** may be used to change the SysV system runlevel. Since the concept of SysV runlevels is obsolete the runlevel requests will be transparently translated into systemd unit activation requests.

## OPTIONS

The following options are understood:

- **--help**

  Print a short help text and exit.

- **--no-wall**

  Do not send wall message before reboot/halt/power-off.

The following commands are understood:

**0**

Power-off the machine. This is translated into an activation request for poweroff.target and is equivalent to **systemctl poweroff**.

**6**

Reboot the machine. This is translated into an activation request for reboot.target and is equivalent to **systemctl reboot**.

**2**, **3**, **4**, **5**

Change the SysV runlevel. This is translated into an activation request for runlevel2.target, runlevel3.target, ... and is equivalent to **systemctl isolate runlevel2.target**, **systemctl isolate runlevel3.target**, ...

**1**, **s**, **S**

Change into system rescue mode. This is translated into an activation request for rescue.target and is equivalent to **systemctl rescue**.

**q**, **Q**

Reload daemon configuration. This is equivalent to **systemctl daemon-reload**.

**u**, **U**

Serialize state, reexecute daemon and deserialize state again. This is equivalent to **systemctl daemon-reexec**.

## EXIT STATUS

On success, 0 is returned, a non-zero failure code otherwise.

## NOTES

This is a legacy command available for compatibility only. It should not be used anymore, as the concept of runlevels is obsolete.

## SEE ALSO

[**systemd**(1)](/systemd/1.md), [**systemctl**(1)](/systemctl/1.md), [**wall**(1)](/wall/1.md)