Back to Commands

chage

file managementLinux/Unix
The chage command is one of the most frequently used commands in Linux/Unix-like operating systems. chage Sample fallback description for chage
See ExamplesView Syntax

Quick Reference

Command Name:

chage

Category:

file management

Platform:

Linux/Unix

Basic Usage:

chage [options] [arguments]

Common Use Cases

  • 1

    Password policy management

    Set password expiration and aging policies

  • 2

    User account security

    Configure security settings for user accounts

  • 3

    System administration

    Manage user account security policies

  • 4

    Compliance management

    Enforce password policies for regulatory compliance

Syntax

chage [OPTION]... [FILE]...

Options

Option Description
-l Use a long listing format
-a Show hidden entries starting with .
-h Human-readable sizes
-R List subdirectories recursively

Examples

How to Use These Examples

The examples below show common ways to use the chage command. Try them in your terminal to see the results. You can copy any example by clicking on the code block.

Basic Examples:

ls
List files in the current directory.
ls -l
List files in long format with details.
ls -a
List all files including hidden ones.

Advanced Examples:

ls -lah Detailed list with human-readable sizes. ls -R List directories recursively.

Try It Yourself

Practice makes perfect! The best way to learn is by trying these examples on your own system with real files.

Understanding Syntax

Pay attention to the syntax coloring: commands, options, and file paths are highlighted differently.

Notes

These are sample notes for the chage command.

Common Use Cases

Password policy management

Set password expiration and aging policies

User account security

Configure security settings for user accounts

System administration

Manage user account security policies

Compliance management

Enforce password policies for regulatory compliance

Account maintenance

Maintain and update user account security settings

Related Commands

These commands are frequently used alongside chage or serve similar purposes:

passwd
usermod
useradd
userdel
shadow
pwck
pwconv
getent
Explore All Commands

Use Cases

1

Password policy management

Set password expiration and aging policies

2

User account security

Configure security settings for user accounts

3

System administration

Manage user account security policies

4

Compliance management

Enforce password policies for regulatory compliance

5

Account maintenance

Maintain and update user account security settings

Learn By Doing

The best way to learn Linux commands is by practicing. Try out these examples in your terminal to build muscle memory and understand how the chage command works in different scenarios.

See ExamplesTry Lab Exercises
$ chage
View All Commands