newgrp

Linux · Users and permissions · reference only

What it does

Changes the current session's primary group to another group you already belong to, opening a new shell.

Syntax

newgrp [-] [grupo]

Options and parameters

• grupo

  Group to switch to; you must be a member or know its password.

• -

  Resets the environment as in a fresh login.

• (sin argumentos)

  Goes back to the primary group listed in /etc/passwd.

Usage examples

• newgrp devs

  Files you create from now on will belong to the devs group.

• id -gn

  Shows the active primary group to check the change.

• newgrp

  Returns to your account's original primary group.

Notes and common mistakes

• It opens a new shell: leave with exit to return to the previous one.
• It is the way to apply a membership just added with gpasswd without logging out.

Related commands

• addgroup
• adduser
• chgrp
• chmod
• chown
• delgroup