chmod 644 meaning

644 rw-r--r--

The owner can read and write; the group and everyone else can read.

When to use 644

Normal files on web servers: PHP files, HTML, CSS, JavaScript and images. You change them, everyone can read them.

What each digit allows

Read = 4, write = 2, execute = 1. Each digit is the sum for one group of users.

Who	Digit	Symbolic	Read	Write	Execute
Owner (u)	6	rw-	Yes	Yes	No
Group (g)	4	r--	Yes	No	No
Others (o)	4	r--	Yes	No	No

On a folder, read lists its contents, write adds or deletes files in it, and execute lets you open it (cd into it).

Commands

One file or folder, a folder with everything inside it, or only the files inside a folder:

chmod 644 file.php
chmod -R 644 folder/
find folder/ -type f -exec chmod 644 {} +

In cPanel: File Manager → right-click → Change Permissions, and tick the boxes until the number shows 644.

Try other permissions

Tick or untick the boxes to see the number, the symbolic form and the command.

	Read	Write	Execute
Owner
Group
Everyone else

Special bits (setuid, setgid, sticky)

setuid setgid sticky

Common values

Octal

Symbolic

Command

-R

Compare

Frequently asked questions

What does chmod 644 mean?

Each digit is the sum of read (4), write (2) and execute (1), for the owner, the group and everyone else. 644 = 6 / 4 / 4, so the owner can read and write; the group and everyone else can read (rw-r--r--).

Should I use 644 for files or for folders?

644 suits files. A folder needs execute before anyone can open it, so folders usually get 755 (or 775 when your group must write).

How do I set 644 in cPanel?

In File Manager, right-click the file or folder, choose Change Permissions, and tick the boxes so the number shows 644. Over SSH: chmod 644 path (add -R to include everything inside a folder).