---
name: "who"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "coreutils"
version: "9.12-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/who"
---

# who(1)

show who is logged on

## NAME

who - show who is logged on

## SYNOPSIS

**who** \[*OPTION*\]... \[ *FILE \| ARG1 ARG2* \]

## DESCRIPTION

Print information about users who are currently logged in.

- **-a, --all**

  same as **-b** **-d** **--login** **-p** **-r** **-t** **-T** **-u**

- **-b, --boot**

  time of last system boot

- **-d, --dead**

  print dead processes

- **-H, --heading**

  print line of column headings

- **-l, --login**

  print system login processes

- **--lookup**

  attempt to canonicalize hostnames via DNS

- **-m**

  only hostname and user associated with standard input

- **-p, --process**

  print active processes spawned by init

- **-q, --count**

  all login names and number of users logged on

- **-r, --runlevel**

  print current runlevel

- **-s, --short**

  print only name, line, and time (default)

- **-t, --time**

  print last system clock change

- **-T, -w, --mesg**

  add user's message status as +, - or ?

- **-u, --users**

  list users logged in, including idle time

- **--message**

  same as **-T**

- **--writable**

  same as **-T**

- **--help**

  display this help and exit

- **--version**

  output version information and exit

If FILE is not specified, use */var/run/utmp*.  */var/log/wtmp* as FILE is common. If ARG1 ARG2 given, **-m** presumed: 'am i' or 'mom likes' are usual.

## AUTHOR

Written by Joseph Arceneaux, David MacKenzie, and Michael Stone.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to: \<bug-coreutils@gnu.org\>.\
 Report any translation bugs to: \<https://translationproject.org/team/\>.\
 GNU coreutils home page: \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/\>\
 General help using GNU software: \<https://www.gnu.org/gethelp/\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later \<https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html\>.\
 This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO

Full documentation \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/who\>\
 or available locally via: info '(coreutils) who invocation'