chmod 546 Permission Explained
Summary: chmod 546 gives the owner read/execute, the group read, and everyone else read/write.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 5 | |||
| Group (g) | 4 | |||
| Others (o) | 6 |
chmod 546 filename
chmod 546 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 5 |
r-x |
Read and execute | Can list and enter |
| 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 546 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.
- Even the owner cannot modify this file without changing permissions first.
- Unusual: a lower class has permissions the class above it lacks.
Common Use Cases
546 is uncommon in standard Linux setups. The closest widely used permission is chmod 444.
chmod 546 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 546 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rx,g=r,o=rw filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 546 /path/to/dir
# Note: -R applies the same mode to files and directories. Use find to treat them separately:
find /path/to/dir -type d -exec chmod 546 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-r-xr--rw- 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 231 makes new directories 546. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 546 mean?
chmod 546 gives the owner read/execute, the group read, and everyone else read/write. In octal notation, the owner receives 5 (read/execute), the group receives 4 (read), and others receive 6 (read/write).
Is chmod 546 safe?
chmod 546 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 546 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 546 is represented as r-xr--rw-. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rx,g=r,o=rw filename".
Related Permissions
Change one bit: