chmod 777 Permission Explained: Full Access for Everyone
Summary: Every user can read, write and execute.
| Class | Read (4) | Write (2) | Execute (1) | Octal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 | |||
| Group (g) | 7 | |||
| Others (o) | 7 |
chmod 777 filename
chmod 777 Breakdown
| Class | Digit | Symbolic | On a file | On a directory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (u) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
| Group (g) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
| Others (o) | 7 |
rwx |
Full access | Full access: list, enter, create, delete |
Is chmod 777 Safe?
Critical Risk
- Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
- Every member of the group can modify this file.
- Any user can read this file — never use it for secrets such as keys or .env files.
When not to use it
- Web document roots and public directories
- Uploads folders and user-submitted file destinations
- Any file or directory on a production server
Common Use Cases
- Short-lived local debugging and testing only
- Temporary test fixtures that must be discarded immediately
chmod 777 Command Examples
# Apply using octal mode
chmod 777 filename
# Apply using equivalent symbolic mode
chmod u=rwx,g=rwx,o=rwx filename
# Recursive command warning:
chmod -R 777 /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 777 {} +
# Verify permissions
stat -c '%a %A %n' filename # Linux
stat -f '%Lp %Sp %N' filename # macOS
# Example ls -l output:
-rwxrwxrwx 1 alice staff 1024 Jan 15 10:00 example.txtumask Relationship
A umask of 000 makes new directories 777. Test umask values with our interactive Umask Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chmod 777 mean?
Every user can read, write and execute. In octal notation, the owner receives 7 (read/write/execute), the group receives 7 (read/write/execute), and others receive 7 (read/write/execute).
Is chmod 777 safe?
chmod 777 is classified as Critical Risk. Anyone on the system can modify or replace this file.
What is chmod 777 in symbolic notation?
In symbolic notation, chmod 777 is represented as rwxrwxrwx. You can apply this permission using the equivalent symbolic command "chmod u=rwx,g=rwx,o=rwx filename".
Why does WordPress or my host say not to use 777?
Web hosts strictly prohibit chmod 777 because it grants write permission to everyone on the operating system. If an attacker exploits a vulnerability in another script on the same shared server, they can overwrite your files, inject malicious webshells, or alter PHP code. Standard production setups use 755 for directories and 644 for files to maintain proper isolation.
Related Permissions
Change one bit:
Often compared: chmod 777 vs 755