# man > gio(1)

> **TLDR:** Handle local and virtual files (GVfs).
>
- Open a file with the default application (e.g. PDF, image):
  `gio open {{path/to/file}}`
- List files in a directory:
  `gio list {{path/to/directory}}`
- Show information about a file:
  `gio info {{path/to/file}}`
- Copy a file:
  `gio copy {{path/to/source}} {{path/to/destination}}`
- Send a file to the trash (reversible):
  `gio trash {{path/to/file}}`
- Empty the trash:
  `gio trash --empty`
- Launch an application from a `.desktop` file:
  `gio launch {{path/to/file}}.desktop`
- Mark a `.desktop` file as trusted, allowing it to be executed:
  `gio set {{path/to/file}}.desktop metadata::trusted true`

*Source: tldr-pages*

---

_GIO_()                                                                                          _GIO_()

## NAME
       gio - GIO commandline tool

## SYNOPSIS
       **gio **help [_COMMAND_]
       **gio **version
       **gio **cat _LOCATION_…
       **gio **copy [_OPTION_…] _SOURCE_… _DESTINATION_
       **gio **info [_OPTION_…] _LOCATION_…
       **gio **launch _DESKTOP-FILE_ [_FILE-ARG_…]
       **gio **list [_OPTION_…] [_LOCATION_…]
       **gio **mime _MIME-TYPE_ [_HANDLER_]
       **gio **mkdir [_OPTION_…] _LOCATION_…
       **gio **monitor [_OPTION_…] [_LOCATION_…]
       **gio **mount [_OPTION_…] [_LOCATION_…]
       **gio **move [_OPTION_…] _SOURCE_… _DESTINATION_
       **gio **open _LOCATION_…
       **gio **rename _LOCATION_ _NAME_
       **gio **remove [_OPTION_…] _LOCATION_…
       **gio **save [_OPTION_…] _DESTINATION_
       **gio **set [_OPTION_…] _LOCATION_ _ATTRIBUTE_ _VALUE_…
       **gio **trash [_OPTION_…] [_LOCATION_…]
       **gio **tree [_OPTION_…] [_LOCATION_…]


## DESCRIPTION
       **gio **is a utility that makes many of the GIO features available from the commandline. In doing
       so, it provides commands that are similar to traditional utilities, but let you use GIO loca‐
       tions  instead  of  local  files:  for  example  you  can use something like **smb://server/re‐**
       **source/file.txt **as a location.

       Plain filenames which contain a colon will be interpreted as URIs with an  unknown  protocol.
       To avoid this, prefix them with a path such as **./**, or with the **file: **protocol.

## COMMANDS
       **help _**COMMAND_
          Displays  a  short  synopsis of the available commands or provides detailed help on a spe‐
          cific command.

### version
          Prints the GLib version to which **gio **belongs.

       **cat _**LOCATION_…
          Concatenates the given files and prints them to the standard output.

          The **cat **command works just like the traditional **cat **utility.

          Mote: just pipe through **cat **if you need its formatting options like **-n**, **-T **or other.

       **copy **[_OPTION_…] _SOURCE_… _DESTINATION_
          Copies one or more files from **SOURCE **to **DESTINATION**. If more than one source is specified,
          the destination must be a directory.

          The **copy **command is similar to the traditional **cp **utility.

          **Options**

          **-T**, **--no-target-directory**
              Don’t copy into **DESTINATION **even if it is a directory.

          **-p**, **--progress**
              Show progress.

          **-i**, **--interactive**
              Prompt for confirmation before overwriting files.

          **--preserve**
              Preserve all attributes of copied files.

          **-b**, **--backup**
              Create backups of existing destination files.

          **-P**, **--no-dereference**
              Never follow symbolic links.

          **--default-permissions**
              Use the default permissions of the current process for the  destination  file,  rather
              than copying the permissions of the source file.

       **info **[_OPTION_…] _LOCATION_…
          Shows information about the given locations.

          The **info **command is similar to the traditional **ls **utility.

          **Options**

          **-w**, **--query-writable**
              List writable attributes.

          **-f**, **--filesystem**
              Show information about the filesystem that the given locations reside on.

          **-a**, **--attributes=<ATTRIBUTES>**
              The attributes to get.

              Attributes can be specified with their GIO name, e.g. [**standard::icon**](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/perldoc/standard%3A%3Aicon/markdown), or just by name‐
              space,  e.g. **unix**, or by *****, which matches all attributes. Several attributes or groups
              of attributes can be specified, separated by commas.

              By default, all attributes are listed.

          **-n**, **--nofollow-symlinks**
              Don’t follow symbolic links.

       **launch _**DESKTOP-FILE_ [_FILE-ARG_…]
          Launch a desktop file from any location given.

          The **launch **command extends the behavior of the **open **command by allowing any  desktop  file
          to be launched, not only those registered as file handlers.

       **list **[_OPTION_…] [_LOCATION_…]
          Lists  the  contents  of the given locations. If no location is given, the contents of the
          current directory are shown.

          The **list **command is similar to the traditional **ls **utility.

          **Options**

          **-a**, **--attributes=<ATTRIBUTES>**
              The attributes to get.

              Attributes can be specified with their GIO name, e.g. [**standard::icon**](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/perldoc/standard%3A%3Aicon/markdown), or just by name‐
              space, e.g. **unix**, or by *****, which matches all attributes.  Several attributes or groups
              of attributes can be specified, separated by commas.

              By default, all attributes are listed.

          **-h**, **--hidden**
              Show hidden files.

          **-l**, **--long**
              Use a long listing format.

          **-n**, **--nofollow-symlinks**
              Don’t follow symbolic links.

          **-d**, **--print-display-names**
              Print display names.

          **-u**, **--print-uris**
              Print full URIs.

       **mime _**MIME-TYPE_ [_HANDLER_]
          If no handler is given, the **mime **command lists the registered and recommended applications
          for the MIME type. If a handler is given, it is set as the default handler  for  the  MIME
          type.

          Handlers  must  be specified by their desktop file name, including the extension. Example:
          **org.gnome.gedit.desktop**.

       **mkdir **[_OPTION_…] _LOCATION_…
          Creates directories.

          The **mkdir **command is similar to the traditional **mkdir **utility.

          **Options**

          **-p**, **--parent**
              Create parent directories when necessary.

       **monitor **[_OPTION_…] [_LOCATION_…]
          Monitors files or directories for changes, such as  creation  deletion,  content  and  at‐
          tribute changes, and mount and unmount operations affecting the monitored locations.

          The **monitor **command uses the GIO file monitoring APIs to do its job. GIO has different im‐
          plementations  for  different platforms. The most common implementation on Linux uses ino‐
          tify.

          **Options**

          **-d**, **--dir=<LOCATION>**
              Monitor the given location as a directory. Normally, the file type is used  to  deter‐
              mine whether to monitor as a file or as a directory.

          **-f**, **--file=<LOCATION>**
              Monitor  the  given  location  as a file. Normally, the file type is used to determine
              whether to monitor as a file or as a directory.

          **-D**, **--direct=<LOCATION>**
              Monitor the file directly. This allows changes made via hardlinks to be captured.

          **-s**, **--silent=<LOCATION>**
              Monitor the file directly, but don’t report changes.

          **-n**, **--no-moves**
              Report moves and renames as simple deleted/created events.

          **-m**, **--mounts**
              Watch for mount events.

       **mount **[_OPTION_…] [_LOCATION_…]
          Provides commandline access to various aspects of GIO’s mounting functionality.

          Mounting refers to the traditional concept of arranging multiple file systems and  devices
          in  a single tree, rooted at **/**. Classical mounting happens in the kernel and is controlled
          by the mount utility. GIO expands this concept by introducing mount daemons that can  make
          file systems available to GIO applications without kernel involvement.

          GIO  mounts  can require authentication, and the **mount **command may ask for user IDs, pass‐
          words, and so on, when required.

          **Options**

          **-m**, **--mountable**
              Mount as mountable.

          **-d**, **--device=<ID>**
              Mount volume with device file, or other identifier.

          **-u**, **--unmount**
              Unmount the location.

          **-e**, **--eject**
              Eject the location.

          **-t**, **--stop=<DEVICE>**
              Stop drive with device file.

          **-s**, **--unmount-scheme=<SCHEME>**
              Unmount all mounts with the given scheme.

          **-f**, **--force**
              Ignore outstanding file operations when unmounting or ejecting.

          **-a**, **--anonymous**
              Use an anonymous user when authenticating.

          **-l**, **--list**
              List all GIO mounts.

          **-o**, **--monitor**
              Monitor mount-related events.

          **-i**, **--detail**
              Show extra information.

          **--tcrypt-pim**
              The numeric PIM when unlocking a VeraCrypt volume.

          **--tcrypt-hidden**
              Mount a TCRYPT hidden volume.

          **--tcrypt-system**
              Mount a TCRYPT system volume.

       **move **[_OPTION_…] _SOURCE_… _DESTINATION_
          Moves one or more files from **SOURCE **to **DESTINATION**. If more than one source is  specified,
          the destination must be a directory.

          The **move **command is similar to the traditional **mv **utility.

          **Options**

          **-T**, **--no-target-directory**
              Don’t copy into **DESTINATION **even if it is a directory.

          **-p**, **--progress**
              Show progress.

          **-i**, **--interactive**
              Prompt for confirmation before overwriting files.

          **-b**, **--backup**
              Create backups of existing destination files.

          **-C**, **--no-copy-fallback**
              Don’t use copy and delete fallback.

       **open _**LOCATION_…
          Opens files with the default application that is registered to handle files of this type.

          GIO  obtains  this information from the shared-mime-info database, with per-user overrides
          stored in **$XDG_DATA_HOME/applications/mimeapps.list**.

          The **mime **command can be used to change the default handler for a MIME type.

          Environment variables will not be set on the application, as it may be an existing process
          which is activated to handle the new file.

       **rename _**LOCATION_ _NAME_
          Renames a file.

          The **rename **command is similar to the traditional **rename **utility.

       **remove **[_OPTION_…] _LOCATION_…
          Deletes each given file.

          This command removes files irreversibly. If you want a reversible way to remove files, see
          the **trash **command.

          Note that not all URI schemes that are supported by GIO may allow deletion of files.

          The **remove **command is similar to the traditional **rm **utility.

          **Options**

          **-f**, **--force**
              Ignore non-existent and non-deletable files.

       **save **[_OPTION_…] _DESTINATION_
          Reads from standard input and saves the data to the given location.

          This is similar to just redirecting output to a file using traditional shell  syntax,  but
          the **save **command allows saving to location that GIO can write to.

          **Options**

          **-b**, **--backup**
              Back up existing destination files.

          **-c**, **--create**
              Only create the destination if it doesn’t exist yet.

          **-a**, **--append**
              Append to the end of the file.

          **-p**, **--private**
              When creating, restrict access to the current user.

          **-u**, **--unlink**
              When replacing, replace as if the destination did not exist.

          **-v**, **--print-etag**
              Print the new ETag in the end.

          **-e**, **--etag=<ETAG>**
              The ETag of the file that is overwritten.

       **set **[_OPTION_…] _LOCATION_ _ATTRIBUTE_ _VALUE_…
          Sets a file attribute on a file.

          File  attributes  can be specified with their GIO name, e.g [**standard::icon**](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/perldoc/standard%3A%3Aicon/markdown).  Note that not
          all GIO file attributes are writable. Use the **--query-writable **option of the **info  **command
          to list writable file attributes.

          If  the **TYPE **is unset, **VALUE **does not have to be specified. If the **TYPE **is **stringv**, multi‐
          ple values can be given.

          **Options**

          **-t**, **--type=<TYPE>**
              Specifies the type of the attribute. Supported types are **string**, **stringv**,  **bytestring**,
              **boolean**, **uint32**, **int32**, **uint64**, **int64 **and **unset**.

              If the type is not specified, **string **is assumed.

          **-d**, **--delete**
              Unsets an attribute (same as setting its type to **unset**).

          **-n**, **--nofollow-symlinks**
              Don’t follow symbolic links.

       **trash **[_OPTION_…] [_LOCATION_…]
          Sends files or directories to the ‘Trashcan’ or restore them from ‘Trashcan’.  This can be
          a  different  folder depending on where the file is located, and not all file systems sup‐
          port this concept. In the common case that the file lives inside a user’s home  directory,
          the trash folder is **$XDG_DATA_HOME/Trash**.

          Note  that  moving  files to the trash does not free up space on the file system until the
          ‘Trashcan’ is emptied. If you are interested in deleting a file irreversibly, see the  **re‐**
          **move **command.

          Inspecting  and  emptying  the ‘Trashcan’ is normally supported by graphical file managers
          such as Nautilus, but you can also see the trash with the command: **gio trash --list **or **gio**
          **list trash://**.

          **Options**

          **-f**, **--force**
              Ignore non-existent and non-deletable files.

          **--empty**
              Empty the trash.

          **--list**
              List files in the trash with their original locations.

          **--restore**
              Restore a file from trash to its original location. A URI beginning with  **trash://  **is
              expected here. If the original directory doesn’t exist, it will be recreated.

       **tree **[_OPTION_…] [_LOCATION_…]
          Lists the contents of the given locations recursively, in a tree-like format.  If no loca‐
          tion is given, it defaults to the current directory.

          The **tree **command is similar to the traditional **tree **utility.

          **Options**

          **-h**, **--hidden**
              Show hidden files.

          **-l**, **--follow-symlinks**
              Follow symbolic links.

## EXIT STATUS
       On success, **0 **is returned, a non-zero failure code otherwise.

## SEE ALSO
       [_cat(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/cat/1/markdown)_, [_cp(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/cp/1/markdown)_, [_ls(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/ls/1/markdown)_, [_mkdir(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mkdir/1/markdown)_, [_mv(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mv/1/markdown)_, [_rm(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/rm/1/markdown)_, [_tree(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/tree/1/markdown)_


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