NEWGRP(1) User Commands NEWGRP(1)

.SH "NAME" newgrp - log in to a new group

.SH "SYNOPSIS"

.HP 168u

**newgrp** \[-]  
\[*group*]

.SH "DESCRIPTION"

.PP The **newgrp** command is used to change the current group ID during a login session. If the optional **-** flag is given, the user's environment will be reinitialized as though the user had logged in, otherwise the current environment, including current working directory, remains unchanged.

.PP **newgrp** changes the current real group ID to the named group, or to the default group listed in /etc/passwd if no group name is given. **newgrp** also tries to add the group to the user groupset. If not root, the user will be prompted for a password if she does not have a password (in /etc/shadow if this user has an entry in the shadowed password file, or in /etc/passwd otherwise) and the group does, or if the user is not listed as a member and the group has a password. The user will be denied access if the group password is empty and the user is not listed as a member.

.PP If there is an entry for this group in /etc/gshadow, then the list of members and the password of this group will be taken from this file, otherwise, the entry in /etc/group is considered.

.SH "CONFIGURATION"

.PP The following configuration variables in /etc/login.defs change the behavior of this tool:

**SYSLOG\_SG\_ENAB** (boolean)

Enable "syslog" logging of **sg** activity.

.SH "FILES"

.PP /etc/passwd

User account information.

.RE  
.PP /etc/shadow

Secure user account information.

.RE  
.PP /etc/group

Group account information.

.RE  
.PP /etc/gshadow

Secure group account information.

.RE

.SH "SEE ALSO"

.PP [**id**(1)](/man/os/shadow/id.1), [**login**(1)](/man/os/shadow/login.1), [**su**(1)](/man/os/shadow/su.1), [**sg**(1)](/man/os/shadow/sg.1), [**gpasswd**(1)](/man/os/shadow/gpasswd.1), [**group**(5)](/man/os/shadow/group.5), [**gshadow**(5)](/man/os/shadow/gshadow.5).

08/29/2026 shadow-utils 4.20.2

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Document: newgrp(1) from shadow 4.20.2-r1 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://github.com/shadow-maint/shadow