How to Create and Manage Users in Linux

User management is one of the most fundamental tasks for any Linux system administrator. Whether you’re running a multi-user server or just managing your personal Linux machine, understanding how to create, modify, and remove users is essential.

In this post, we’ll walk through the basic commands and best practices for creating and managing users on a Linux system.

Why User Management Matters

User accounts help control access to resources. By assigning specific permissions and groups, you can ensure the right users have the right access — and nothing more. It’s key for:

  • Security

  • System auditing

  • Collaboration

  • Resource management

Creating Users

useradd – The Standard Way to Add Users

The most common command to add a user is useradd.

sudo useradd john

This creates a user called john but doesn’t set a password yet.

Setting a Password

sudo passwd john

You’ll be prompted to enter a password for the user.

Creating a User with a Home Directory

By default, useradd might not create a home directory on some systems. Use the -m option:

sudo useradd -m john

This creates /home/john and copies default files from /etc/skel.

Creating a User with Specific Shell

sudo useradd -m -s /bin/bash john

This assigns /bin/bash as the default shell.

Modifying Users

usermod – Modify Existing User Accounts

Change username:

sudo usermod -l newname oldname

Change home directory:

sudo usermod -d /new/home john

Add user to a group:

sudo usermod -aG sudo john

Deleting Users

userdel – Remove User Accounts

Remove a user:

sudo userdel john

Remove user and their home directory:

sudo userdel -r john

Listing Users

To view all users on the system:

cut -d: -f1 /etc/passwd

For active sessions:

who

Checking User Details

Use id to get UID, GID, and groups:

id john

To list user’s groups:

groups john

Best Practices for User Management

  • Always assign strong passwords.

  • Use groups to manage permissions efficiently.

  • Regularly audit users and remove inactive accounts.

  • Avoid logging in as root directly — use sudo.

Conclusion

Managing users in Linux is a vital skill that ensures system security and organization. With commands like useradd, usermod, and userdel, you’re fully equipped to handle users effectively on any Linux distribution.

About the Author
Richard Igwegbu is the founder of Unix Training Academy and a seasoned Linux, Cloud, and DevOps professional. He shares practical training resources and tutorials to help individuals and teams build real-world skills for IT success.

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