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CHFLAGS(1) FreeBSD General Commands Manual CHFLAGS(1) NAME chflags - change file flags SYNOPSIS chflags [-h] [-R [-H | -L | -P]] flags file ... DESCRIPTION The chflags utility modifies the file flags of the listed files as specified by the flags operand. The flags of a file dictate special restrictions beyond those enforced by its mode/permissions. Only the superuser can change the user flags on block and character devices. You can use ls -lo to see the flags of existing files. The options are as follows: -H If the -R option is also specified, symbolic links on the command line are followed. Symbolic links encountered in the tree traversal are not followed. -h Treat symbolic links like other files: modify links instead of following them. The -h and -R options are mutually exclusive. -L If the -R option is also specified, all symbolic links are followed. -P If the -R option is also specified, no symbolic links are followed. -R Recurse. Where file is a directory, change the flags of the directory and all the files and directories in the file hierarchy below it. Flags are a comma separated list of keywords. The following keywords are currently defined: arch set the archived flag (superuser only) nodump set the nodump flag (owner or superuser only) sappnd set the system append-only flag (superuser only) schg set the system immutable flag (superuser only) uappnd set the user append-only flag (owner or superuser only) uchg set the user immutable flag (owner or superuser only) The arch flag is for compatibility only, and currently has no effect. A file with the nodump flag set will by default only be backed up by dump(8) during full backups. The -h option of dump(8) can be used to alter this. An immutable file may not be changed, moved, or deleted. An append-only file is immutable except that data may be appended to it. The superuser-settable sappnd and schg flags can be set at any time, but may only be cleared when the system is running at security level 0 or -1 (insecure or permanently insecure mode, respectively). For more information on setting the system security level, see securelevel(7). Putting the letters no before a flag name causes the flag to be turned off. For example: nouchg the immutable bit should be cleared The -H, -L, and -P options are ignored unless the -R option is specified. In addition, these options override each other and the command's actions are determined by the last one specified. EXIT STATUS The chflags utility exits 0 on success, and >0 if an error occurs. SEE ALSO ls(1), chflags(2), stat(2), fts_open(3), securelevel(7), symlink(7), dump(8) HISTORY The chflags command first appeared in 4.4BSD. FreeBSD 14.1-RELEASE-p8 September 2, 2019 FreeBSD 14.1-RELEASE-p8