600
Octal
rw-------
Symbolic
Safe
Security
What does chmod 600 mean?
chmod 600 gives owner can read and write. Private files: only the owner can read or change them. Use 600 for secrets — .env files, ~/.ssh/config, authorized_keys, database credentials, wp-config.php on hardened servers and certificate private keys.
| Who | Digit | Symbolic | Permissions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner (user) | 6 | rw- | read, write |
| Group | 0 | --- | no access |
| Others | 0 | --- | no access |
Each digit is the sum of read (4), write (2) and execute (1). In ls -l the file shows as -rw-------.
How to use chmod 600
# one file or directory
chmod 600 filename
# the same permissions in symbolic form
chmod u=rw,g=,o= filename
# a directory and everything inside it
chmod -R 600 directory/
# only regular files
find path/ -type f -exec chmod 600 {} +Need a different combination? Tick the boxes in the chmod calculator to get the octal and symbolic values instantly.
Chmod calculatorToggle read, write and execute for owner, group and others to build any permission.
Open the calculator Frequently asked questions
What does chmod 600 do?
It sets the permissions to rw-------: the owner gets read, write, the group no access and others no access.
What is 600 in symbolic notation?
rw-------, or chmod u=rw,g=,o= as a symbolic chmod command.Is chmod 600 safe?
Yes, 600 does not give write access to other users.