Skip to main content

Modifying accounts

Modifying user accounts in a Linux system often requires the use of various commands and utilities.

1. Changing User Password:

  • To change a user's password, use the passwd command followed by the username:

    sudo passwd username
  • Replace username with the name of the user whose password you want to change. You'll be prompted to enter and confirm the new password.

2. Modifying User Account Details:

  • To modify user account details such as the full name or contact information, you can use the usermod command with appropriate options. For example, to change a user's full name:

    sudo usermod -c "New Full Name" username

    Replace "New Full Name" with the updated full name and username with the user's name.

3. Changing User Shell:

  • To change a user's default shell, use the chsh command:

    sudo chsh -s /path/to/newshell username

    Replace /path/to/newshell with the path to the desired shell (e.g., /bin/bash, /bin/zsh) and username with the user's name.

4. Adding Users to Groups:

  • To add a user to one or more groups, you can use the usermod command with the -aG option:

    sudo usermod -aG group1,group2 username

    Replace group1 and group2 with the names of the groups you want to add the user to, separated by commas.

5. Modifying Home Directory:

  • To change a user's home directory, it's recommended to create a new user account with the desired settings, including the home directory path. However, if you need to move an existing user's home directory, use the usermod command with the -m option:

    sudo usermod -m -d /new/home/directory username

    Replace /new/home/directory with the new path to the home directory and username with the user's name.

6. Locking and Unlocking User Accounts:

  • You can lock a user account to prevent login using the passwd command:

    sudo passwd -l username
  • To unlock a locked account, use the -u option:

    sudo passwd -u username

7. Expire or Disable User Accounts:

  • To expire or disable a user account, use the chage command:

    • To set an expiration date for an account:

      sudo chage -E YYYY-MM-DD username
    • To disable an account (no login allowed):

      sudo chage -E -1 username

8. Delete User Accounts:

  • To delete a user account and remove their home directory, use the userdel command:

    sudo userdel -r username
  • The -r option ensures that the user's home directory and mail spool (if present) are also removed.