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Chmod 750

chmod 750 sets the permissions to rwxr-x---: it gives the owner full access, the group read and execute, and others 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
group5
others0
Common:
$ chmod 750 file.sh
$ chmod u=rwx,g=rx,o= file.sh
  • • The owner can read, write and execute.
  • • The group can read and execute.
  • • Everyone else can do nothing.

What chmod 750 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 5 r-x Can read and run Can list files and enter it and open files
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
drwxr-x---  2 alice  staff  4096 Oct 21 10:30 example-dir
  • The owner can read, write and execute.
  • The group can read and execute.
  • Everyone else can do nothing.

When to use 750

  • Application directories readable by a service group
  • Home directories (Ubuntu 21.04+ default)

750 keeps a directory or program away from everyone outside the group. Ubuntu switched new home directories to 750 in 21.04 for exactly this reason. It is also a good fit for apps where a service runs as one user but reads its code through a shared group.

750 is also the default mode for new directories, with umask 027.

Is chmod 750 safe?

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

Commands

# One file or directory
chmod 750 path

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

# Every directory under a tree (leaves files alone)
find /path/to/dir -type d -exec chmod 750 {} +

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

Avoid chmod -R 750 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
755 rwxr-xr-x Lets the owner do everything and everyone else read and execute
751 rwxr-x--x Lets the owner do everything, the group read and execute, and others only execute
700 rwx------ Gives the owner full access and everyone else nothing

Other chmod values

777 · 775 · 770 · 755 · 751 · 744 · 711 · 700 · 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 750 mean?

chmod 750 sets the permissions to rwxr-x---. The owner can read, write and execute. The group can read and execute. Everyone else can do nothing.

Is chmod 750 safe?

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