chflags - change file flags

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chflags [-h] [ -R [-H-| -L -| -P -| -V ] ] flags

The chflags utility modifies the file flags of the listed files as specified by the flags operand.

The options are as follows:

-H	If the -R option is specified, symbolic links on the command line are followed. (Symbolic links encountered in the tree traversal are not followed.)
-h	If the file is a symbolic link, change the mode of the link itself rather than the file to which it points.
-L	If the -R option is specified, all symbolic links are followed.
-P	If the -R option is specified, no symbolic links are followed. This is the default.
-R	Change the file flags for the file hierarchies rooted in the files instead of just the files themselves.
-V	If the -R option is specified, virtual links are followed. By default, virtual links are not followed.

The flags are specified as an octal number or a comma separated list of keywords. The following keywords are currently defined:

arch, archived	set the archived flag (super-user only)
frozen	set the frozen flag (super-user only)
opaque	set the opaque flag (owner or super-user only)
nodump	set the nodump flag (owner or super-user only)
sappnd, sappend	set the system append-only flag (super-user only)
schg, schange, simmutable	set the system immutable flag (super-user only)
sunlnk, sunlink	set the system undeletable flag (super-user only)
uappnd, uappend	set the user append-only flag (owner or super-user only)
uchg, uchange, uimmutable	set the user immutable flag (owner or super-user only)
uunlnk, uunlink	set the user undeletable flag (owner or super-user only)

Putting the letters "no" before or removing the letters "no" from a keyword causes the flag to be cleared. For example:

nouchg	clear the user immutable flag (owner or super-user only)
dump	clear the nodump flag (owner or super-user only)

A few of the octal values include:

0	Clear all file flags.
1	Translates to the nodump keyword.
2	Translates to the uchg keyword.
3	Translates to the uchg, nodump keywords.
4	Translates to the uappnd keyword.
10	Translates to the opaque keyword.
20	translates to the uunlnk keyword.

Other combinations of keywords may be placed by using the octets assigned; however, these are the most notable.

Unless the -H , -L , or -h options are given, chflags on a symbolic link always succeeds and has no effect. 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.

You can use "ls -lo" to see the flags of existing files.

Note that the ability to change certain flags is dependent on the current kernel securelevel setting. See security(7) for more information on this setting.

.Ex -std

ls(1), chflags(2), stat(2), fts(3), security(7), symlink(7)

The chflags command first appeared in BSD 4.4 .

Only a limited number of utilities are chflags aware. Some of these tools include ls(1), cp(1), find(1), install(1), dump(8), and restore(8). In particular a tool which is not currently chflags aware is the pax(1) utility.

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