Web Server Tools

chmod Calculator

Convert Linux file permissions between checkboxes, numbers like 755 and symbols like rwxr-xr-x, and get the chmod command.

Free & instant No signup How to use FAQ

Owner

Read

Write

Execute

Group

Read

Write

Execute

Others

Read

Write

Execute

Numeric (e.g. 755)

Symbolic (e.g. rwxr-xr-x)

chmod command:

File or Directory Path (optional, for the command above)

Not sure what to enter?

Tick read, write and execute for owner, group and others - or type a number like 644 - and get the matching chmod command.

How do Linux file permissions work?

Every file has three sets of permissions - for its owner, its group and everyone else - and each set can allow reading, writing and executing. They are written as numbers (644, 755) or symbols (rw-r--r--). This calculator converts between the two and gives you the chmod command.

How to calculate chmod permissions

Tick read, write and execute for owner, group and others - or type a number such as 644.
Read the numeric and symbolic forms, which update as you go.
Optionally enter the file or folder path.
Copy the chmod command and run it on your server.

Related checks

If a page shows 403 Forbidden after a change, confirm it with the HTTP Status Checker.
To create an .htaccess file with security rules, use the .htaccess Generator.

Wrong permissions are a common cause of "403 Forbidden" pages and of hacked websites. After changing them, re-check the page with the HTTP Status Checker, and never leave configuration files such as .env or wp-config.php readable by everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

A safe default is 644 for files (owner can edit, everyone can read) and 755 for folders. Files with passwords, such as .env or wp-config.php, should be 640 or 600.

Almost never on a web server. 777 lets any user or process on the server change the file, which is how many sites are compromised. Fix the file owner (chown) instead of opening permissions to everyone.

They are owner, group and others. Each digit adds read (4), write (2) and execute (1): 7 = read + write + execute, 6 = read + write, 5 = read + execute, 4 = read only.

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