# mv(1) - man - phpman

> **TLDR:** Move or rename files and directories.
>
- Rename a file or directory when the target is not an existing directory:
  `mv {{path/to/source}} {{path/to/target}}`
- Move a file or directory into an existing directory:
  `mv {{path/to/source}} {{path/to/existing_directory}}`
- Move multiple files into an existing directory, keeping the filenames unchanged:
  `mv {{path/to/source1 path/to/source2 ...}} {{path/to/existing_directory}}`
- Do not prompt for confirmation before overwriting existing files:
  `mv {{-f|--force}} {{path/to/source}} {{path/to/target}}`
- Prompt for confirmation interactively before overwriting existing files, regardless of file permissions:
  `mv {{-i|--interactive}} {{path/to/source}} {{path/to/target}}`
- Do not overwrite existing files at the target:
  `mv {{-n|--no-clobber}} {{path/to/source}} {{path/to/target}}`
- Move files in verbose mode, showing files after they are moved:
  `mv {{-v|--verbose}} {{path/to/source}} {{path/to/target}}`
- Specify target directory so that you can use external tools to gather movable files:
  `{{find /var/log -type f -name '*.log' -print0}} | {{xargs -0}} mv {{-t|--target-directory}} {{path/to/target_directory}}`

*Source: tldr-pages*

---

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## NAME
       mv - move (rename) files

## SYNOPSIS
       **mv** [_OPTION_]... [_-T_] _SOURCE_ _DEST_
       **mv** [_OPTION_]... _SOURCE_... _DIRECTORY_
       **mv** [_OPTION_]... _-t_ _DIRECTORY_ _SOURCE_...

## DESCRIPTION
       Rename SOURCE to DEST, or move SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.

       Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.

       **--backup**[=_CONTROL_]
              make a backup of each existing destination file

### -b --backup

### -f --force
              do not prompt before overwriting

### -i --interactive
              prompt before overwrite

### -n --no-clobber
              do not overwrite an existing file

       If you specify more than one of **-i**, **-f**, **-n**, only the final one takes effect.

### --strip-trailing-slashes
              remove any trailing slashes from each SOURCE argument

### -S --suffix
              override the usual backup suffix

### -t --target-directory
              move all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY

### -T --no-target-directory
              treat DEST as a normal file

### -u --update
              move only when the SOURCE file is newer than the destination file or when the destina‐
              tion file is missing

### -v --verbose
              explain what is being done

### -Z --context
              set SELinux security context of destination file to default type

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

### --version
              output version information and exit

       The backup suffix is '~', unless set with **--suffix** or SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX.  The version con‐
       trol  method  may be selected via the **--backup** option or through the VERSION_CONTROL environ‐
       ment variable.  Here are the values:

       none, off
              never make backups (even if **--backup** is given)

       numbered, t
              make numbered backups

       existing, nil
              numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise

       simple, never
              always make simple backups

## AUTHOR
       Written by Mike Parker, David MacKenzie, and Jim Meyering.

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

## COPYRIGHT
       Copyright © 2020 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
       [rename(2)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/rename/2/markdown)

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



GNU coreutils 8.32                          January 2026                                       [MV(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/MV/1/markdown)