NTFSLS(8) System Manager's Manual NTFSLS(8)

# [NAME](#NAME)

ntfsls - list directory contents on an NTFS filesystem

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

**ntfsls** \[*options*] *device*

**ntfsls** \[ **-a** | **--all** ] \[ **-F** | **--classify** ] \[ **-f** | **--force** ] \[ **-h** | **--help** ] \[ **-i** | **--inode** ] \[ **-l** | **--long** ] \[ **-p** | **--path** *PATH* ] \[ **-q** | **--quiet** ] \[ **-s** | **--system** ] \[ **-V** | **--version** ] \[ **-v** | **--verbose** ] \[ **-x** | **--dos** ] *device*

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

**ntfsls** is used to list information about the files specified by the *PATH* option (the root directory by default). *DEVICE* is the special file corresponding to the device (e.g */dev/hdXX*) or an NTFS image file.

# [OPTIONS](#OPTIONS)

Below is a summary of all the options that **ntfsls** accepts. Nearly all options have two equivalent names. The short name is preceded by **-** and the long name is preceded by **--**. Any single letter options, that don't take an argument, can be combined into a single command, e.g. **-fv** is equivalent to **-f -v**. Long named options can be abbreviated to any unique prefix of their name.

[**-a**, **--all**](#a)

Display all files. If this option is not specified file names in the POSIX namespace will not be displayed.

[**-F**, **--classify**](#F)

Append indicator (one of \*/=@|) to entries.

[**-f**, **--force**](#f)

Force execution. For example necessary to run on an NTFS partition stored in a normal file.

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

Print the usage information of **ntfsls** and exit.

[**-i**, **--inode**](#i)

Print inode number of each file. This is the MFT reference number in NTFS terminology.

[**-l**, **--long**](#l)

Use a long listing format.

[**-p**, **--path** PATH](#p)

The directory whose contents to list or the file (including the path) about which to display information.

[**-q**, **--quiet**](#q)

Suppress some debug/warning/error messages.

[**-R**, **--recursive**](#R)

Show the contents of all directories beneath the specified directory.

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

Unless this options is specified, all files beginning with a dollar sign character will not be listed as these files are usually system files.

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

Display more debug/warning/error messages.

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

Print the version number of **ntfsls** and exit.

[**-x**, **--dos**](#x)

Display short file names, i.e. files in the DOS namespace, instead of long file names, i.e. files in the WIN32 namespace.

# [BUGS](#BUGS)

There are no known problems with **ntfsls**. If you find a bug please send an email describing the problem to the development team:  
ntfs-3g-devel@lists.sf.net

# [AUTHORS](#AUTHORS)

This version of **ntfsls** was written by Lode Leroy, Anton Altaparmakov, Richard Russon, Carmelo Kintana and Giang Nguyen. It was ported to ntfs-3g by Erik Larsson.

# [AVAILABILITY](#AVAILABILITY)

**ntfsls** is part of the **ntfs-3g** package and is available from:  
https://github.com/tuxera/ntfs-3g/wiki/

# [SEE ALSO](#SEE_ALSO)

[**ntfsprogs**(8)](/man/os/ntfs-3g/ntfsprogs.8)

November 2005 ntfs-3g 2026.9.28

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Document: ntfsls(8) from ntfs-3g 2026.9.28-r0 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://github.com/tuxera/ntfs-3g