The usermod command is used by system administrators to change users’ account settings, similar to the passwd command.
The usermod command is a useful tool for system administrators who must manage and modify user accounts on Ubuntu Linux. It allows you to change various settings associated with user accounts, such as the account’s home directory, login name, and group membership, among other things.
Using usermod, you can quickly and easily modify user accounts without creating new accounts or manually changing settings in configuration files.
Overall, the usermod command is essential for managing user accounts on Ubuntu Linux, and it can save system administrators a lot of time and effort.
When you’re ready to learn how to use the usermod commands, follow the guide below:
About usermod command:
The usermod command is used by system administrators to change users’ account settings, similar to the passwd command. Like using your mouse and keyboard to change account settings in the GUI., the usermod is the way to do it on the command line.
Syntax:
The syntax is the rule and format of how the usermod command can be used. The syntax options can be reordered. But a straight format must be followed.
Below is an example syntax of how to use the usermod command.
usermod [OPTION]. LOGIN.
Options:
The command line options are switches or flags that determine how the commands are executed or controlled. They modify the behavior of the command. They are separated by spaces and followed after the command’s options.
Below are some options for the usermod command:
| LOGIN. | Replace LOGIN .. with the account’s name if you want to change its settings. If the account doesn’t already exist, the command will fail and not execute. |
| -c, –comment COMMENT | Use the -c or –command COMMENT option to set or change the user’s account comment field. |
| -d, –home HOME_DIR | Use the -d or –home HOME_DIR option to change or set a new home directory for the user account. |
| -f, –inactive INACTIVE | Use the -f or –inactive INACTIVE option to set password inactive after expiration to INACTIVE |
| -g, –gid GROUP | Use the -g or –gid GROUP option to force use GROUP as new primary group |
| -G, –groups GROUPS | Use the -G or –groups GROUP option to set new list of supplementary GROUPS |
| -a, –append | Use the -a or –append option to append the user to the supplemental GROUPS |
| -l, –login NEW_LOGIN | Use the -l or –login NEW_LOGIN option to create new value of the login name |
| -h, –help | Display help message and exit. |
| -L, –lock | Use the -L or –lock option to lock the user account |
Examples:
Below are some examples of how to run and use the usermod on Ubuntu Linux.
If you want to add an account name, John, to the sudo group, run the commands below.
usermod -a -G sudo john
If you wish to change John’s account’s full name or comment field, run the usermod command and specify John’s account name. In this case, it’s called John.
usermod -c "John Doe" john
If you’re not logged in as a root account, you may have to use the sudo command.
sudo usermod -c "John Doe" john
To change John’s account login name to paul, run the commands below.
sudo usermod -l paul john
To unlock John’s account, run the command below
sudo usermod -U john
To lock John’s account, run the commands below.
sudo usermod -L john
To change John’s home directory, run the commands below
sudo usermod -d /home/newHomeDir -m johnNewHome
When you run usermod with the –help option, you’ll see the help text below:
Usage: usermod [options] LOGIN
Options:
-c, --comment COMMENT new value of the GECOS field
-d, --home HOME_DIR new home directory for the user account
-e, --expiredate EXPIRE_DATE set account expiration date to EXPIRE_DATE
-f, --inactive INACTIVE set password inactive after expiration
to INACTIVE
-g, --gid GROUP force use GROUP as new primary group
-G, --groups GROUPS new list of supplementary GROUPS
That’s it!
I hope you like it, and please come back soon for more Ubuntu Linux commands!
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