# chroot - run command or interactive shell with special root dir... - man - [phpMan]

> **TLDR:** Run command or interactive shell with special root directory.
>
- Run `$SHELL` in the new root directory:
  `sudo chroot {{path/to/new_root}}`
- Run command as new root directory:
  `sudo chroot {{path/to/new_root}} {{command}}`
- Use a specific user and group:
  `sudo chroot --userspec {{username_or_id}}:{{group_name_or_id}} {{path/to/new_root}}`

*Source: tldr-pages*

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[_CHROOT_(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/CHROOT/8/markdown)                                   User Commands                                  [_CHROOT_(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/CHROOT/8/markdown)

## NAME
       chroot - run command or interactive shell with special root directory

## SYNOPSIS
       **chroot **[_OPTION_] _NEWROOT_ [_COMMAND_ [_ARG_]...]
       **chroot _**OPTION_

## DESCRIPTION
       Run COMMAND with root directory set to NEWROOT.

       **--groups**=_G_LIST_
              specify supplementary groups as g1,g2,..,gN

       **--userspec**=_USER_:GROUP
              specify user and group (ID or name) to use

### --skip-chdir
              do not change working directory to '/'

       **--help **display this help and exit

### --version
              output version information and exit

       If no command is given, run '"$SHELL" **-i**' (default: '/bin/sh **-i**').

### Exit status:
       125    if the chroot command itself fails

       126    if COMMAND is found but cannot be invoked

       127    if COMMAND cannot be found

       -      the exit status of COMMAND otherwise

## AUTHOR
       Written by Roland McGrath.

## REPORTING BUGS
       GNU coreutils online help: <<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/>>
       Report any translation bugs to <<https://translationproject.org/team/>>

## COPYRIGHT
       Copyright  ©  2023 Free Software Foundation, Inc.  License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later
       <<https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>>.
       This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.  There is NO WARRANTY,  to
       the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO
       [**chroot**(2)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/chroot/2/markdown)

       Full documentation <<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/chroot>>
       or available locally via: info '(coreutils) chroot invocation'

GNU coreutils 9.4                           January 2026                                   [_CHROOT_(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/CHROOT/8/markdown)