chmod 246 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 246 gives the owner write, the group read, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 2 | |||
| Group (g) | 4 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 246 filename
chmod 246 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 2 |
-w- |
Write only (rarely useful) | No practical effect without x |
| Group (g) | 4 |
r-- |
Read only | Can list names, but not enter |
| Others (o) | 6 |
rw- |
Read and write | Can list names, cannot enter |
Is chmod 246 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Any user can read this file — never use it for secrets such as keys or .env files.
- Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
Common Use Cases
246 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 644.
chmod 246 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 246 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=w,g=r,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 246 /path/to/dir
# Note: -R applies the same mode to files and directories. Use find to treat them separately:
find /path/to/dir -type f -exec chmod 246 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
--w-r--rw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 531 makes new directories 246 and new files 246. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 246 mean?
chmod 246 gives the owner write, the group read, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 2 (write), the group receives 4 (read), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 246 safe?
chmod 246 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 246 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 246 is represented as -w-r--rw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=w,g=r,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: