DevToolsmith

Chmod 744

chmod 744 sets the permissions to rwxr--r--: it gives the owner full access and everyone else read-only access. Here is exactly what that allows on files and directories, when to use it, and the commands to apply it.

Runs 100% in your browser — nothing is uploaded

ClassreadwriteexecuteValue
owner7
group4
others4
Common:
$ chmod 744 file.sh
$ chmod u=rwx,g=r,o=r file.sh
  • • The owner can read, write and execute.
  • • The group can read.
  • • Everyone else can read.

What chmod 744 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 4 r-- Can read Can list files
others 4 r-- Can read Can list files

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

$ ls -l
-rwxr--r--  1 alice  staff  1834 Oct 21 10:30 example.txt
  • The owner can read, write and execute.
  • The group can read.
  • Everyone else can read.

When to use 744

  • Scripts only the owner should run
  • Files others may read but not execute

744 lets other users read a script but not run it directly. Anyone who can read a script can still run it with bash script.sh, though, so 744 is a convention rather than a security boundary. Use 700 if the contents are sensitive.

Is chmod 744 safe?

Yes, for scripts only the owner should run. Other users can read it, but can’t change it. Don’t use it for files that contain secrets.

Commands

# One file
chmod 744 file

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

# Every file under a tree (leaves directories alone)
find /path/to/dir -type f -exec chmod 744 {} +

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

Avoid chmod -R 744 on a whole tree: it gives files and directories the same mode. The find form above changes only files.

Compare with similar modes

ModeSymbolicDifference
644 rw-r--r-- Lets the owner read and write, and everyone else only read
444 r--r--r-- Lets everyone read, but nobody write or execute

Other chmod values

777 · 775 · 770 · 755 · 751 · 750 · 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

Spotted a mistake? Email hello@devtoolsmith.com and we’ll fix it.

Frequently asked questions

What does chmod 744 mean?

chmod 744 sets the permissions to rwxr--r--. The owner can read, write and execute. The group can read. Everyone else can read.

Is chmod 744 safe?

Yes, for scripts only the owner should run. Other users can read it, but can’t change it. Don’t use it for files that contain secrets.