{"id":4241,"date":"2019-10-25T04:21:16","date_gmt":"2019-10-25T04:21:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/?p=4241"},"modified":"2026-03-10T10:24:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T10:24:56","slug":"how-to-list-users-in-linux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/in\/tutorials\/how-to-list-users-in-linux","title":{"rendered":"How to list users in Linux: Commands, tools, and automation tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

To list users in Linux, the most common method is to read the \/etc\/passwd<\/strong> file, which stores essential information about every account on the system.<\/p>

Listing users is a basic system administration task. It helps you check who’s logged in, filter accounts by ID, and automate audits to maintain strong system security.<\/p>

Here’s a summary of the commands you can use to list Linux users:<\/p>

    \n
  1. cat<\/strong>. Best for a quick, raw view of all local users.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. getent<\/strong>. Ideal for listing users from both local and network databases like LDAP.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. compgen<\/strong>. Useful for generating a clean list of usernames for scripting and autocompletion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. awk<\/strong> and cut<\/strong>. Best for filtering output to show only usernames.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. who<\/strong> and users<\/strong>. Used to check which users are currently logged in.<\/li>\n<\/ol>

    \n\n\n\n<\/p>

    Prerequisites for listing Linux users<\/h2>

    Before listing users in Linux, make sure you have a terminal connection. This requirement applies whether you’re working on a local machine or managing a remote system like a virtual private server (VPS).<\/p>

    If you’re managing a VPS, connect through an SSH client using the following syntax:<\/p>

    ssh username@your_server_ip<\/pre>
    Any user can read the \/etc\/passwd<\/strong> file and run basic listing commands. But administrative actions, such as creating, modifying, or deleting users, require root<\/strong> or sudo<\/strong> access.<\/p>
    How to list users using the cat command<\/h2>
    The simplest way to list all users is to output the contents of the \/etc\/passwd<\/strong> file using the cat<\/strong> command. This file contains attributes for every user in the system, including system accounts and regular users.<\/p>
    Run the following command to display the file:<\/p>
    cat \/etc\/passwd<\/pre>
    The output shows one line per user account.<\/p>
    \"Terminal