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Chmod 700

chmod 700 sets the permissions to rwx------: it gives the owner full access and everyone else nothing. Here is exactly what that allows on files and directories, when to use it, and the commands to apply it.

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ClassreadwriteexecuteValue
owner7
group0
others0
Common:
$ chmod 700 file.sh
$ chmod u=rwx,g=,o= file.sh
  • • The owner can read, write and execute.
  • • The group can do nothing.
  • • Everyone else can do nothing.

What chmod 700 means

WhoDigitLettersOn a fileOn a directory
owner 7 rwx Can read, modify and run Can list files, create, delete and rename files and enter it and open files
group 0 --- No access No access
others 0 --- No access No access

Each digit is the sum of read (4), write (2) and execute (1). In ls -l output it looks like this: 

$ ls -l
drwx------  2 alice  staff  4096 Oct 21 10:30 example-dir
  • The owner can read, write and execute.
  • The group can do nothing.
  • Everyone else can do nothing.

When to use 700

  • ~/.ssh
  • ~/.gnupg
  • Private scripts and directories

700 is required for ~/.ssh: OpenSSH refuses keys in a directory others can read. Use it for any private directory or script. Note that root ignores file permissions, so 700 protects from other users, not from administrators.

700 is also the default mode for new directories, with umask 077.

Is chmod 700 safe?

Yes. Nobody outside the owner can access it at all (except root).

Commands

# One file or directory
chmod 700 path

# Same thing in symbolic form
chmod u=rwx,g=,o= path

# Every directory under a tree (leaves files alone)
find /path/to/dir -type d -exec chmod 700 {} +

# Check the result
stat -c '%a %A %n' path    # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' path  # macOS

Avoid chmod -R 700 on a whole tree: it gives files and directories the same mode. The find form above changes only directories.

Compare with similar modes

ModeSymbolicDifference
770 rwxrwx--- Gives the owner and group full access, and others nothing
750 rwxr-x--- Gives the owner full access, the group read and execute, and others nothing
600 rw------- Lets only the owner read and write
500 r-x------ Lets only the owner read and execute
400 r-------- Lets only the owner read
000 --------- Gives nobody any access

Other chmod values

777 · 775 · 770 · 755 · 751 · 750 · 744 · 711 · 666 · 664 · 660 · 644 · 640 · 600 · 555 · 500 · 444 · 400 · 000 · 1777 · 2775 · 4755

Need a different combination? Use the Chmod Calculator.

Sources

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Frequently asked questions

What does chmod 700 mean?

chmod 700 sets the permissions to rwx------. The owner can read, write and execute. The group can do nothing. Everyone else can do nothing.

Is chmod 700 safe?

Yes. Nobody outside the owner can access it at all (except root).