INSTALL(1) User Commands INSTALL(1)

# [NAME](#NAME)

install - copy files and set attributes

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

**install** \[*OPTION*]... \[*-T*] *SOURCE DEST*  
**install** \[*OPTION*]... *SOURCE*... *DIRECTORY*  
**install** \[*OPTION*]... *-t DIRECTORY SOURCE*...  
**install** \[*OPTION*]... *-d DIRECTORY*...

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

This install program copies files (often just compiled) into destination locations you choose. If you want to download and install a ready-to-use package on a GNU/Linux system, you should instead be using a package manager like [**yum**(1)](/man/os/coreutils/yum.1) or [**apt-get**(1)](/man/os/coreutils/apt-get.1).

In the first three forms, copy SOURCE to DEST or multiple SOURCE(s) to the existing DIRECTORY, while setting permission modes and owner/group. In the 4th form, create all components of the given DIRECTORY(ies).

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

[**--backup\[=CONTROL\]**](#backup_=CONTROL_)

make a backup of each existing destination file

[**-b**](#b)

like **--backup** but does not accept an argument

[**-c**](#c)

(ignored)

[**-C, --compare**](#C,)

compare content of source and destination files, and if no change to content, ownership, and permissions, do not modify the destination at all

[**-d, --directory**](#d,)

treat all arguments as directory names; create all components of the specified directories

[**-D**](#D)

create all leading components of DEST except the last, or all components of **--target-directory**, then copy SOURCE to DEST

[**--debug**](#debug)

explain how a file is copied. Implies **-v**

[**-g, --group=GROUP**](#g,)

set group ownership, instead of process' current group

[**-m, --mode=MODE**](#m,)

set permission mode (as in chmod), instead of rwxr-xr-x

[**-o, --owner=OWNER**](#o,)

set ownership (super-user only)

[**-p, --preserve-timestamps**](#p,)

apply access/modification times of SOURCE files to corresponding destination files

[**-s, --strip**](#s,)

strip symbol tables

[**--strip-program=PROGRAM**](#strip)

program used to strip binaries

[**-S, --suffix=SUFFIX**](#S,)

override the usual backup suffix

[**-t, --target-directory=DIRECTORY**](#t,)

copy all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY

[**-T, --no-target-directory**](#T,)

treat DEST as a normal file

[**-v, --verbose**](#v,)

print the name of each created file or directory

[**--preserve-context**](#preserve)

preserve SELinux security context

[**-Z**](#Z)

set SELinux security context of destination file and each created directory, to default type

[**--context\[=CTX\]**](#context_=CTX_)

like **-Z**, or if CTX is specified then set the SELinux or SMACK security context to CTX

[**--help**](#help)

display this help and exit

[**--version**](#version)

output version information and exit

The backup suffix is '~', unless set with **--suffix** or SIMPLE\_BACKUP\_SUFFIX. The version control method may be selected via the **--backup** option or through the VERSION\_CONTROL environment variable. Here are the values:

[none, off](#none,)

never make backups (even if **--backup** is given)

[numbered, t](#numbered,)

make numbered backups

[existing, nil](#existing,)

numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise

[simple, never](#simple,)

always make simple backups

# [AUTHOR](#AUTHOR)

Written by David MacKenzie.

# [REPORTING BUGS](#REPORTING_BUGS)

Report bugs to: <bug-coreutils@gnu.org>.  
Report any translation bugs to: <https://translationproject.org/team/>.  
GNU coreutils home page: <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/>  
General help using GNU software: <https://www.gnu.org/gethelp/>

# [COPYRIGHT](#COPYRIGHT)

Copyright © 2026 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](#SEE_ALSO)

[**cp**(1)](/man/os/coreutils/cp.1)

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

October 2026 GNU coreutils 9.12

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Document: install(1) from coreutils 9.12-r6 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://git.savannah.gnu.org/git/coreutils.git