# info > CHAGE

---
type: CommandReference
command: chage
mode: man
section: 1
source: man-pages
---

## Quick Reference

- `chage -l LOGIN` — Show account aging information
- `chage -d LAST_DAY LOGIN` — Set last password change date (days since 1970-01-01 or YYYY-MM-DD)
- `chage -E EXPIRE_DATE LOGIN` — Set account expiration date (-1 removes expiration)
- `chage -I INACTIVE LOGIN` — Set days of inactivity after password expiry before locking (-1 removes)
- `chage -m MIN_DAYS LOGIN` — Set minimum days between password changes
- `chage -M MAX_DAYS LOGIN` — Set maximum password validity days (-1 removes checking)
- `chage -W WARN_DAYS LOGIN` — Set days of warning before password expiry
- `chage [options] LOGIN` — Interactive mode if no options given

## Name

`chage` — change user password expiry information

## Synopsis

`chage [options] LOGIN`

## Options

- `-d, --lastday LAST_DAY` — Set the number of days since January 1st, 1970 when the password was last changed. Date may also be YYYY-MM-DD (or local format).
- `-E, --expiredate EXPIRE_DATE` — Set account expiration date (days since 1970-01-01 or YYYY-MM-DD). Use `-1` to remove expiration.
- `-h, --help` — Display help and exit.
- `-i, --iso8601` — Print dates in YYYY-MM-DD format.
- `-I, --inactive INACTIVE` — Set days of inactivity after password expiry before locking. Use `-1` to remove.
- `-l, --list` — Show account aging information.
- `-m, --mindays MIN_DAYS` — Set minimum days between password changes. `0` allows any time.
- `-M, --maxdays MAX_DAYS` — Set maximum password validity days. When `MAX_DAYS + LAST_DAY` < current day, user must change password. Use `-1` to remove checking.
- `-R, --root CHROOT_DIR` — Apply changes in given chroot directory using its config files.
- `-W, --warndays WARN_DAYS` — Set days of warning before password expiry.

If no options are given, `chage` runs interactively, prompting with current values (shown between `[ ]`). Enter new value or blank to keep current.

## Notes

- Requires a shadow password file (`/etc/shadow`).
- Only `-l` can be used by unprivileged users to check their own password/account expiry.

## Files

- `/etc/passwd` — User account information.
- `/etc/shadow` — Secure user account information.

## Exit Codes

- `0` — Success
- `1` — Permission denied
- `2` — Invalid command syntax
- `15` — Cannot find shadow password file

## See Also

- [passwd(5)](https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man5/passwd.5.html)
- [shadow(5)](https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man5/shadow.5.html)