chflags
change file flags
chflags [-fhv] [-R [-H | -L | -P]] [no]flags file …
Changes the archived, opaque, nodump, sappend, uappend, simmutable, uimmutable and hidden
flags.
-f forge-ahead, i.e do not display a diagnostic message if chflags could not modify the flags for file, nor modify the exit status to reflect such failures.
| -v -vv verbose showing filenames as the flags are modified.
Specify more
than once, old and new flags are output in numeric notation.
| -R recurse, Change the flags for the file hierarchies rooted in the files instead of just the files themselves.
|
Links
| -h symbolic link: change the file flags of the link itself not than the file to which it points.
| -R -H | symbolic links on the command line are followed. (Symbolic links encountered in the tree traversal are not followed.)
| -R -L all symbolic links are followed.
| -R -P Prevent symbolic links from being followed. default.
| | | | | | |
To set the flags specify a numeric or a comma separated list of keywords.
arch archived 002000000 | archived (super-user only)
| opaque 000000010 | . [Directory is opaque when viewed through a union mount]
| nodump 000000001 |
| sappnd sappend 010000000 | system append-only (super-user only)
| uappnd uappend 000000004 | user append-only
| schg schange simmutable 004000000 | system immutable (super-user only)
makes the file/folder Locked/Protected and is equivalent to locking the file in Finder's Show Info box.
| uchg uchange uimmutable 000000002 | user immutable
Prevents even root from updating owner via chown
| hidden 001000000 | hidden [Hide item from GUI]
| | | | | | | | |
The sappnd
and schg
flags may only be unset when the system is in single-user mode.
As discussed in chflags(2), as of Darwin Mountain Lion 11/5/12
The no
prefix causes the flag to be cleared. For example:
nouchg clear the user immutable flag
| dump clear the nodump flag
| | |
Example:
chflags -v -v nouchg DSCN0608.JPG
DSCN0608.JPG: 02 -> 00
Unless -H
or -L
are given, chflags on a symbolic link always succeeds and has no effect.
The -H
, -L
and -P
options are ignored unless -R
is specified, override each other and the actions are determined by the last one specified.
Use ls -lO†
to see the flags .
-rwxrwxrwx 1 dgerman staff - 7888853 Feb 17 09:21 DSCN0672.JPG*
-rwxrwxrwx 1 dgerman staff uchg 8209104 Feb 17 09:21 DSCN0673.JPG*
-rwxrwxrwx@ 1 dgerman staff - 3575147 Mar 11 17:59 DSCN0675.JPG
Exit status
1: invalid flags or No such file or directory
See
ls, chflags, stat, fts, symlink
exceptions
Only a limited number of utilities are chflags aware. These include ls, cp, find, install,
dump and restore. In particular pax( a backup utility) is NOT aware .