The chown command in Linux explained
The chown command changes the owner of a file or folder. It is one of the most useful commands for anyone using a live USB drive or a fresh Linux install.
Syntax
sudo chown user:group file
Examples
sudo chown alex:alex notes.txt: give the file to alex
Tip
It needs sudo because only an administrator can hand files to another user.
Keep learning
New to the terminal? Start with Linux terminal basics. You can try every command safely from a live session: see how to try Linux without installing it. Run man chown in a terminal for the full manual.
Frequently asked questions
How do I see every option for chown?
Run man chown for the full manual, or try chown --help for a short summary.
Do I need sudo to run chown?
Usually yes, because only an administrator can give files to another user.
Is it safe to practise chown on a live USB drive?
Mostly yes, because a live session starts fresh each time. Be careful with commands that write to your internal disk, such as rm on a mounted drive or dd.