Linux - add user to specific group

In this article, we're going to have a look at how to add user to specific group in Linux.

Simplest way is to use usermod command as super user (user with special permissions).

Quick solution:

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usermod -a -G new-group some-user

Where:

• -a - adding new group,
• -G - other user groups modification (not main user group),
• new-group - new group assigned to some-user,
• some-user - name of user that we modify.

Check following example to know how to do it:

In this section we would like to show how add some user to avaialble group - in this example sudo group.

Note be sure you are logged-in as user with special permissions, e.g. super user / root.

1. If you are not, login to root account with command:
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   su

   It will ask you to type root password and press enter key:

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   john@ubuntu-pc:~$ su

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   Password: 
2. Then add user to group with command:
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   usermod -a -G sudo john

   Note: sudo group can be replaced with any existing group name.

3. Then check if the user has been attached to the group with command:
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   groups john

   It should return something similar:

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   root@ubuntu-pc:/home/john# groups john

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   john : john cdrom sudo

   If sudo group name is printed it means we are in the group.