Umask Calculator

Umask Bit	File Permissions (Default 666)	Directory Permissions (Default 777)
0	rw- (read and write)	rwx (read, write, and execute)
1	rw- (read and write, no execute)	rw- (read and write)
2	r– (read only)	r-x (read and execute)
3	r– (read only, no write or execute)	r– (read only)
4	-w- (write only)	-wx (write and execute)
5	-w- (write only, no read or execute)	-w- (write only)
6	— (no permissions)	–x (execute only)
7	— (no permissions)	— (no permissions)

Using the Umask Command in Linux

The umask command in Linux is used to set default permissions for newly created files and directories.

Here’s how to use it:

See also: Mastering the Linux Command Line — Your Complete Free Training Guide

1. Check Current Umask Value

To see the current umask value, simply type:

umask

This will display the umask in octal format (e.g., 0022).

2. Set a New Umask Value

To set a new umask value, use the command:

umask [value]

For example, to set the umask to 0022:

umask 0022

This means:

• Owner can read and write (rw-)
• Group can read (r–)
• Others can read (r–)

3. Using Umask in a Shell Session

If you want to make a temporary change for the duration of the current shell session, simply set it as shown above. Once you close the session, it will revert to the default value.

4. Making Umask Changes Permanent

To make umask changes permanent:

1. 1. Open your shell configuration file (e.g., ~/.bashrc, ~/.bash_profile, or ~/.profile) in a text editor.
   2. Add the line:

umask 0022

1. 1. Save the file and reload it using:

source ~/.bashrc

5. Understanding Umask Values

Umask values are typically specified in octal:

• The default permissions for files are 666 (rw-rw-rw-) and for directories are 777 (rwxrwxrwx).
• The umask value is subtracted from these defaults. For example, a umask of 0022 will result in:
  • Files: 666 – 022 = 644 (rw-r–r–)
  • Directories: 777 – 022 = 755 (rwxr-xr-x)

Example Usage

Setting umask to 007

umask 007

This means:

• Owner can read, write, execute (rwx)
• Group can read, write, execute (rwx)
• Others have no permissions (—)

Creating a Directory

After setting umask 007, any new directory created will have rwxrwx— permissions by default.

umask	file Permissions	directory Permissions
000	rw-rw-rw-	rwxrwxrwx
001	rw-rw-rw-	rwxrwxrw-
002	rw-rw-r–	rwxrwxr-x
003	rw-rw-r–	rwxrwxr–
004	rw-rw–w-	rwxrwx-wx
005	rw-rw–w-	rwxrwx-w-
006	rw-rw—-	rwxrwx–x
007	rw-rw—-	rwxrwx—
010	rw-rw-rw-	rwxrw-rwx
011	rw-rw-rw-	rwxrw-rw-
012	rw-rw-r–	rwxrw-r-x
013	rw-rw-r–	rwxrw-r–
014	rw-rw–w-	rwxrw–wx
015	rw-rw–w-	rwxrw–w-
016	rw-rw—-	rwxrw—x
017	rw-rw—-	rwxrw—-
020	rw-r–rw-	rwxr-xrwx
021	rw-r–rw-	rwxr-xrw-
022	rw-r–r–	rwxr-xr-x
023	rw-r–r–	rwxr-xr–
024	rw-r—w-	rwxr-x-wx
025	rw-r—w-	rwxr-x-w-
026	rw-r—–	rwxr-x–x
027	rw-r—–	rwxr-x—
030	rw-r–rw-	rwxr–rwx
031	rw-r–rw-	rwxr–rw-
032	rw-r–r–	rwxr–r-x
033	rw-r–r–	rwxr–r–
034	rw-r—w-	rwxr—wx
035	rw-r—w-	rwxr—w-
036	rw-r—–	rwxr—-x
037	rw-r—–	rwxr—–
040	rw–w-rw-	rwx-wxrwx
041	rw–w-rw-	rwx-wxrw-
042	rw–w-r–	rwx-wxr-x
043	rw–w-r–	rwx-wxr–
044	rw–w–w-	rwx-wx-wx
045	rw–w–w-	rwx-wx-w-
046	rw–w—-	rwx-wx–x
047	rw–w—-	rwx-wx—
050	rw–w-rw-	rwx-w-rwx
051	rw–w-rw-	rwx-w-rw-
052	rw–w-r–	rwx-w-r-x
053	rw–w-r–	rwx-w-r–
054	rw–w–w-	rwx-w–wx
055	rw–w–w-	rwx-w–w-
056	rw–w—-	rwx-w—x
057	rw–w—-	rwx-w—-
060	rw—-rw-	rwx–xrwx
061	rw—-rw-	rwx–xrw-
062	rw—-r–	rwx–xr-x
063	rw—-r–	rwx–xr–
064	rw—–w-	rwx–x-wx
065	rw—–w-	rwx–x-w-
066	rw——-	rwx–x–x
067	rw——-	rwx–x—
070	rw—-rw-	rwx—rwx
071	rw—-rw-	rwx—rw-
072	rw—-r–	rwx—r-x
073	rw—-r–	rwx—r–
074	rw—–w-	rwx—-wx
075	rw—–w-	rwx—-w-
076	rw——-	rwx—–x
077	rw——-	rwx——
100	rw-rw-rw-	rw-rwxrwx
101	rw-rw-rw-	rw-rwxrw-
102	rw-rw-r–	rw-rwxr-x
103	rw-rw-r–	rw-rwxr–
104	rw-rw–w-	rw-rwx-wx
105	rw-rw–w-	rw-rwx-w-
106	rw-rw—-	rw-rwx–x
107	rw-rw—-	rw-rwx—
110	rw-rw-rw-	rw-rw-rwx
111	rw-rw-rw-	rw-rw-rw-
112	rw-rw-r–	rw-rw-r-x
113	rw-rw-r–	rw-rw-r–
114	rw-rw–w-	rw-rw–wx
115	rw-rw–w-	rw-rw–w-
116	rw-rw—-	rw-rw—x
117	rw-rw—-	rw-rw—-
120	rw-r–rw-	rw-r-xrwx
121	rw-r–rw-	rw-r-xrw-
122	rw-r–r–	rw-r-xr-x
123	rw-r–r–	rw-r-xr–
124	rw-r—w-	rw-r-x-wx
125	rw-r—w-	rw-r-x-w-
126	rw-r—–	rw-r-x–x
127	rw-r—–	rw-r-x—
130	rw-r–rw-	rw-r–rwx
131	rw-r–rw-	rw-r–rw-
132	rw-r–r–	rw-r–r-x
133	rw-r–r–	rw-r–r–
134	rw-r—w-	rw-r—wx
135	rw-r—w-	rw-r—w-
136	rw-r—–	rw-r—-x
137	rw-r—–	rw-r—–
140	rw–w-rw-	rw–wxrwx
141	rw–w-rw-	rw–wxrw-
142	rw–w-r–	rw–wxr-x
143	rw–w-r–	rw–wxr–
144	rw–w–w-	rw–wx-wx
145	rw–w–w-	rw–wx-w-
146	rw–w—-	rw–wx–x
147	rw–w—-	rw–wx—
150	rw–w-rw-	rw–w-rwx
151	rw–w-rw-	rw–w-rw-
152	rw–w-r–	rw–w-r-x
153	rw–w-r–	rw–w-r–
154	rw–w–w-	rw–w–wx
155	rw–w–w-	rw–w–w-
156	rw–w—-	rw–w—x
157	rw–w—-	rw–w—-
160	rw—-rw-	rw—xrwx
161	rw—-rw-	rw—xrw-
162	rw—-r–	rw—xr-x
163	rw—-r–	rw—xr–
164	rw—–w-	rw—x-wx
165	rw—–w-	rw—x-w-
166	rw——-	rw—x–x
167	rw——-	rw—x—
170	rw—-rw-	rw—-rwx
171	rw—-rw-	rw—-rw-
172	rw—-r–	rw—-r-x
173	rw—-r–	rw—-r–
174	rw—–w-	rw—–wx
175	rw—–w-	rw—–w-
176	rw——-	rw——x
177	rw——-	rw——-
200	r–rw-rw-	r-xrwxrwx
201	r–rw-rw-	r-xrwxrw-
202	r–rw-r–	r-xrwxr-x
203	r–rw-r–	r-xrwxr–
204	r–rw–w-	r-xrwx-wx
205	r–rw–w-	r-xrwx-w-
206	r–rw—-	r-xrwx–x
207	r–rw—-	r-xrwx—
210	r–rw-rw-	r-xrw-rwx
211	r–rw-rw-	r-xrw-rw-
212	r–rw-r–	r-xrw-r-x
213	r–rw-r–	r-xrw-r–
214	r–rw–w-	r-xrw–wx
215	r–rw–w-	r-xrw–w-
216	r–rw—-	r-xrw—x
217	r–rw—-	r-xrw—-
220	r–r–rw-	r-xr-xrwx
221	r–r–rw-	r-xr-xrw-
222	r–r–r–	r-xr-xr-x
223	r–r–r–	r-xr-xr–
224	r–r—w-	r-xr-x-wx
225	r–r—w-	r-xr-x-w-
226	r–r—–	r-xr-x–x
227	r–r—–	r-xr-x—
230	r–r–rw-	r-xr–rwx
231	r–r–rw-	r-xr–rw-
232	r–r–r–	r-xr–r-x
233	r–r–r–	r-xr–r–
234	r–r—w-	r-xr—wx
235	r–r—w-	r-xr—w-
236	r–r—–	r-xr—-x
237	r–r—–	r-xr—–
240	r—w-rw-	r-x-wxrwx
241	r—w-rw-	r-x-wxrw-
242	r—w-r–	r-x-wxr-x
243	r—w-r–	r-x-wxr–
244	r—w–w-	r-x-wx-wx
245	r—w–w-	r-x-wx-w-
246	r—w—-	r-x-wx–x
247	r—w—-	r-x-wx—
250	r—w-rw-	r-x-w-rwx
251	r—w-rw-	r-x-w-rw-
252	r—w-r–	r-x-w-r-x
253	r—w-r–	r-x-w-r–
254	r—w–w-	r-x-w–wx
255	r—w–w-	r-x-w–w-
256	r—w—-	r-x-w—x
257	r—w—-	r-x-w—-
260	r—–rw-	r-x–xrwx
261	r—–rw-	r-x–xrw-
262	r—–r–	r-x–xr-x
263	r—–r–	r-x–xr–
264	r——w-	r-x–x-wx
265	r——w-	r-x–x-w-
266	r——–	r-x–x–x
267	r——–	r-x–x—
270	r—–rw-	r-x—rwx
271	r—–rw-	r-x—rw-
272	r—–r–	r-x—r-x
273	r—–r–	r-x—r–
274	r——w-	r-x—-wx
275	r——w-	r-x—-w-
276	r——–	r-x—–x
277	r——–	r-x——
300	r–rw-rw-	r–rwxrwx
301	r–rw-rw-	r–rwxrw-
302	r–rw-r–	r–rwxr-x
303	r–rw-r–	r–rwxr–
304	r–rw–w-	r–rwx-wx
305	r–rw–w-	r–rwx-w-
306	r–rw—-	r–rwx–x
307	r–rw—-	r–rwx—
310	r–rw-rw-	r–rw-rwx
311	r–rw-rw-	r–rw-rw-
312	r–rw-r–	r–rw-r-x
313	r–rw-r–	r–rw-r–
314	r–rw–w-	r–rw–wx
315	r–rw–w-	r–rw–w-
316	r–rw—-	r–rw—x
317	r–rw—-	r–rw—-
320	r–r–rw-	r–r-xrwx
321	r–r–rw-	r–r-xrw-
322	r–r–r–	r–r-xr-x
323	r–r–r–	r–r-xr–
324	r–r—w-	r–r-x-wx
325	r–r—w-	r–r-x-w-
326	r–r—–	r–r-x–x
327	r–r—–	r–r-x—
330	r–r–rw-	r–r–rwx
331	r–r–rw-	r–r–rw-
332	r–r–r–	r–r–r-x
333	r–r–r–	r–r–r–
334	r–r—w-	r–r—wx
335	r–r—w-	r–r—w-
336	r–r—–	r–r—-x
337	r–r—–	r–r—–
340	r—w-rw-	r—wxrwx
341	r—w-rw-	r—wxrw-
342	r—w-r–	r—wxr-x
343	r—w-r–	r—wxr–
344	r—w–w-	r—wx-wx
345	r—w–w-	r—wx-w-
346	r—w—-	r—wx–x
347	r—w—-	r—wx—
350	r—w-rw-	r—w-rwx
351	r—w-rw-	r—w-rw-
352	r—w-r–	r—w-r-x
353	r—w-r–	r—w-r–
354	r—w–w-	r—w–wx
355	r—w–w-	r—w–w-
356	r—w—-	r—w—x
357	r—w—-	r—w—-
360	r—–rw-	r—-xrwx
361	r—–rw-	r—-xrw-
362	r—–r–	r—-xr-x
363	r—–r–	r—-xr–
364	r——w-	r—-x-wx
365	r——w-	r—-x-w-
366	r——–	r—-x–x
367	r——–	r—-x—
370	r—–rw-	r—–rwx
371	r—–rw-	r—–rw-
372	r—–r–	r—–r-x
373	r—–r–	r—–r–
374	r——w-	r——wx
375	r——w-	r——w-
376	r——–	r——-x
377	r——–	r——–
400	-w-rw-rw-	-wxrwxrwx
401	-w-rw-rw-	-wxrwxrw-
402	-w-rw-r–	-wxrwxr-x
403	-w-rw-r–	-wxrwxr–
404	-w-rw–w-	-wxrwx-wx
405	-w-rw–w-	-wxrwx-w-
406	-w-rw—-	-wxrwx–x
407	-w-rw—-	-wxrwx—
410	-w-rw-rw-	-wxrw-rwx
411	-w-rw-rw-	-wxrw-rw-
412	-w-rw-r–	-wxrw-r-x
413	-w-rw-r–	-wxrw-r–
414	-w-rw–w-	-wxrw–wx
415	-w-rw–w-	-wxrw–w-
416	-w-rw—-	-wxrw—x
417	-w-rw—-	-wxrw—-
420	-w-r–rw-	-wxr-xrwx
421	-w-r–rw-	-wxr-xrw-
422	-w-r–r–	-wxr-xr-x
423	-w-r–r–	-wxr-xr–
424	-w-r—w-	-wxr-x-wx
425	-w-r—w-	-wxr-x-w-
426	-w-r—–	-wxr-x–x
427	-w-r—–	-wxr-x—
430	-w-r–rw-	-wxr–rwx
431	-w-r–rw-	-wxr–rw-
432	-w-r–r–	-wxr–r-x
433	-w-r–r–	-wxr–r–
434	-w-r—w-	-wxr—wx
435	-w-r—w-	-wxr—w-
436	-w-r—–	-wxr—-x
437	-w-r—–	-wxr—–
440	-w–w-rw-	-wx-wxrwx
441	-w–w-rw-	-wx-wxrw-
442	-w–w-r–	-wx-wxr-x
443	-w–w-r–	-wx-wxr–
444	-w–w–w-	-wx-wx-wx
445	-w–w–w-	-wx-wx-w-
446	-w–w—-	-wx-wx–x
447	-w–w—-	-wx-wx—
450	-w–w-rw-	-wx-w-rwx
451	-w–w-rw-	-wx-w-rw-
452	-w–w-r–	-wx-w-r-x
453	-w–w-r–	-wx-w-r–
454	-w–w–w-	-wx-w–wx
455	-w–w–w-	-wx-w–w-
456	-w–w—-	-wx-w—x
457	-w–w—-	-wx-w—-
460	-w—-rw-	-wx–xrwx
461	-w—-rw-	-wx–xrw-
462	-w—-r–	-wx–xr-x
463	-w—-r–	-wx–xr–
464	-w—–w-	-wx–x-wx
465	-w—–w-	-wx–x-w-
466	-w——-	-wx–x–x
467	-w——-	-wx–x—
470	-w—-rw-	-wx—rwx
471	-w—-rw-	-wx—rw-
472	-w—-r–	-wx—r-x
473	-w—-r–	-wx—r–
474	-w—–w-	-wx—-wx
475	-w—–w-	-wx—-w-
476	-w——-	-wx—–x
477	-w——-	-wx——
500	-w-rw-rw-	-w-rwxrwx
501	-w-rw-rw-	-w-rwxrw-
502	-w-rw-r–	-w-rwxr-x
503	-w-rw-r–	-w-rwxr–
504	-w-rw–w-	-w-rwx-wx
505	-w-rw–w-	-w-rwx-w-
506	-w-rw—-	-w-rwx–x
507	-w-rw—-	-w-rwx—
510	-w-rw-rw-	-w-rw-rwx
511	-w-rw-rw-	-w-rw-rw-
512	-w-rw-r–	-w-rw-r-x
513	-w-rw-r–	-w-rw-r–
514	-w-rw–w-	-w-rw–wx
515	-w-rw–w-	-w-rw–w-
516	-w-rw—-	-w-rw—x
517	-w-rw—-	-w-rw—-
520	-w-r–rw-	-w-r-xrwx
521	-w-r–rw-	-w-r-xrw-
522	-w-r–r–	-w-r-xr-x
523	-w-r–r–	-w-r-xr–
524	-w-r—w-	-w-r-x-wx
525	-w-r—w-	-w-r-x-w-
526	-w-r—–	-w-r-x–x
527	-w-r—–	-w-r-x—
530	-w-r–rw-	-w-r–rwx
531	-w-r–rw-	-w-r–rw-
532	-w-r–r–	-w-r–r-x
533	-w-r–r–	-w-r–r–
534	-w-r—w-	-w-r—wx
535	-w-r—w-	-w-r—w-
536	-w-r—–	-w-r—-x
537	-w-r—–	-w-r—–
540	-w–w-rw-	-w–wxrwx
541	-w–w-rw-	-w–wxrw-
542	-w–w-r–	-w–wxr-x
543	-w–w-r–	-w–wxr–
544	-w–w–w-	-w–wx-wx
545	-w–w–w-	-w–wx-w-
546	-w–w—-	-w–wx–x
547	-w–w—-	-w–wx—
550	-w–w-rw-	-w–w-rwx
551	-w–w-rw-	-w–w-rw-
552	-w–w-r–	-w–w-r-x
553	-w–w-r–	-w–w-r–
554	-w–w–w-	-w–w–wx
555	-w–w–w-	-w–w–w-
556	-w–w—-	-w–w—x
557	-w–w—-	-w–w—-
560	-w—-rw-	-w—xrwx
561	-w—-rw-	-w—xrw-
562	-w—-r–	-w—xr-x
563	-w—-r–	-w—xr–
564	-w—–w-	-w—x-wx
565	-w—–w-	-w—x-w-
566	-w——-	-w—x–x
567	-w——-	-w—x—
570	-w—-rw-	-w—-rwx
571	-w—-rw-	-w—-rw-
572	-w—-r–	-w—-r-x
573	-w—-r–	-w—-r–
574	-w—–w-	-w—–wx
575	-w—–w-	-w—–w-
576	-w——-	-w——x
577	-w——-	-w——-
600	—rw-rw-	–xrwxrwx
601	—rw-rw-	–xrwxrw-
602	—rw-r–	–xrwxr-x
603	—rw-r–	–xrwxr–
604	—rw–w-	–xrwx-wx
605	—rw–w-	–xrwx-w-
606	—rw—-	–xrwx–x
607	—rw—-	–xrwx—
610	—rw-rw-	–xrw-rwx
611	—rw-rw-	–xrw-rw-
612	—rw-r–	–xrw-r-x
613	—rw-r–	–xrw-r–
614	—rw–w-	–xrw–wx
615	—rw–w-	–xrw–w-
616	—rw—-	–xrw—x
617	—rw—-	–xrw—-
620	—r–rw-	–xr-xrwx
621	—r–rw-	–xr-xrw-
622	—r–r–	–xr-xr-x
623	—r–r–	–xr-xr–
624	—r—w-	–xr-x-wx
625	—r—w-	–xr-x-w-
626	—r—–	–xr-x–x
627	—r—–	–xr-x—
630	—r–rw-	–xr–rwx
631	—r–rw-	–xr–rw-
632	—r–r–	–xr–r-x
633	—r–r–	–xr–r–
634	—r—w-	–xr—wx
635	—r—w-	–xr—w-
636	—r—–	–xr—-x
637	—r—–	–xr—–
640	—-w-rw-	–x-wxrwx
641	—-w-rw-	–x-wxrw-
642	—-w-r–	–x-wxr-x
643	—-w-r–	–x-wxr–
644	—-w–w-	–x-wx-wx
645	—-w–w-	–x-wx-w-
646	—-w—-	–x-wx–x
647	—-w—-	–x-wx—
650	—-w-rw-	–x-w-rwx
651	—-w-rw-	–x-w-rw-
652	—-w-r–	–x-w-r-x
653	—-w-r–	–x-w-r–
654	—-w–w-	–x-w–wx
655	—-w–w-	–x-w–w-
656	—-w—-	–x-w—x
657	—-w—-	–x-w—-
660	——rw-	–x–xrwx
661	——rw-	–x–xrw-
662	——r–	–x–xr-x
663	——r–	–x–xr–
664	——-w-	–x–x-wx
665	——-w-	–x–x-w-
666	———	–x–x–x
667	———	–x–x—
670	——rw-	–x—rwx
671	——rw-	–x—rw-
672	——r–	–x—r-x
673	——r–	–x—r–
674	——-w-	–x—-wx
675	——-w-	–x—-w-
676	———	–x—–x
677	———	–x——
700	—rw-rw-	—rwxrwx
701	—rw-rw-	—rwxrw-
702	—rw-r–	—rwxr-x
703	—rw-r–	—rwxr–
704	—rw–w-	—rwx-wx
705	—rw–w-	—rwx-w-
706	—rw—-	—rwx–x
707	—rw—-	—rwx—
710	—rw-rw-	—rw-rwx
711	—rw-rw-	—rw-rw-
712	—rw-r–	—rw-r-x
713	—rw-r–	—rw-r–
714	—rw–w-	—rw–wx
715	—rw–w-	—rw–w-
716	—rw—-	—rw—x
717	—rw—-	—rw—-
720	—r–rw-	—r-xrwx
721	—r–rw-	—r-xrw-
722	—r–r–	—r-xr-x
723	—r–r–	—r-xr–
724	—r—w-	—r-x-wx
725	—r—w-	—r-x-w-
726	—r—–	—r-x–x
727	—r—–	—r-x—
730	—r–rw-	—r–rwx
731	—r–rw-	—r–rw-
732	—r–r–	—r–r-x
733	—r–r–	—r–r–
734	—r—w-	—r—wx
735	—r—w-	—r—w-
736	—r—–	—r—-x
737	—r—–	—r—–
740	—-w-rw-	—-wxrwx
741	—-w-rw-	—-wxrw-
742	—-w-r–	—-wxr-x
743	—-w-r–	—-wxr–
744	—-w–w-	—-wx-wx
745	—-w–w-	—-wx-w-
746	—-w—-	—-wx–x
747	—-w—-	—-wx—
750	—-w-rw-	—-w-rwx
751	—-w-rw-	—-w-rw-
752	—-w-r–	—-w-r-x
753	—-w-r–	—-w-r–
754	—-w–w-	—-w–wx
755	—-w–w-	—-w–w-
756	—-w—-	—-w—x
757	—-w—-	—-w—-
760	——rw-	—–xrwx
761	——rw-	—–xrw-
762	——r–	—–xr-x
763	——r–	—–xr–
764	——-w-	—–x-wx
765	——-w-	—–x-w-
766	———	—–x–x
767	———	—–x—
770	——rw-	——rwx
771	——rw-	——rw-
772	——r–	——r-x
773	——r–	——r–
774	——-w-	——-wx
775	——-w-	——-w-
776	———	——–x
777	———	———

Summary

• Use umask to control default permissions for new files and directories.
• You can set it for the current session or make it permanent in configuration files.
• Understanding the octal values helps in determining effective permissions.