How to List Users in Linux

Managing users is an essential part of Linux system administration. Knowing how to list all users helps you monitor system access, manage permissions, and ensure security. In Linux, user information is stored in specific system files, and several commands can be used to view this data.

Check Users from the /etc/passwd File

All local users are recorded in the /etc/passwd file. To list them, use:

cat /etc/passwd

cat /etc/passwd

Each line in the output represents a user account, including both system and human users. The first field before the colon : is the username. To view only usernames, run:

cut -d: -f1 /etc/passwd

cut -d: -f1 /etc/passwd

Using the getent Command

getent retrieves entries from administrative databases, including user data. It’s a more flexible method that also includes users managed via network services like LDAP.

getent passwd

getent passwd

To display only the usernames:

getent passwd | cut -d: -f1

getent passwd | cut -d: -f1

Listing Logged-In Users

If you need to see currently active users, use:

who

who

or

w

w

These commands display who is logged in, their login time, and what they are doing.

Using compgen Command

The compgen command quickly lists all users and groups:

compgen -u

compgen -u

It outputs a simple list of usernames, making it easy to scan through accounts.

View Groups and Root User

To list all groups, use:

getent group | cut -d: -f1

getent group | cut -d: -f1

To verify if a root user exists:

grep root /etc/passwd

grep root /etc/passwd

Conclusion

Knowing how to list users in Linux helps you audit accounts and maintain secure access control. Whether through /etc/passwd, getent, or compgen, these commands are reliable for system management and troubleshooting.