OS Manuals

/usr/bin/systemctl

systemd systemctl utility

From systemd-systemctl 262.2-r1 (os), captured 2026-11-05 by running systemctl --help (exit 0). permalink

> systemctl [OPTION…] COMMAND …

Query or send control commands to the system manager.

Unit Commands:
  [list-units [PATTERN…]]             List units currently in memory
  list-automounts [PATTERN…]          List automount units currently in memory, ordered by path
  list-paths [PATTERN…]               List path units currently in memory, ordered by path
  list-sockets [PATTERN…]             List socket units currently in memory, ordered by address
  list-timers [PATTERN…]              List timer units currently in memory, ordered by next elapse
  is-active PATTERN…                  Check whether units are active
  is-failed [PATTERN…]                Check whether units are failed or system is in degraded state
  status [PATTERN…|PID…]              Show runtime status of one or more units
  show [PATTERN…|JOB…]                Show properties of one or more units/jobs or the manager
  cat PATTERN…                        Show files and drop-ins of specified units
  help PATTERN…|PID…                  Show manual for one or more units
  list-dependencies [UNIT…]           Recursively show units which are required or wanted by the
                                      units or by which those units are required or wanted
  start UNIT…                         Start (activate) one or more units
  stop UNIT…                          Stop (deactivate) one or more units
  reload UNIT…                        Reload one or more units
  restart UNIT…                       Start or restart one or more units
  try-restart UNIT…                   Restart one or more units if active
  enqueue-marked                      Enqueue jobs for all marked units
  reload-or-restart UNIT…             Reload one or more units if possible, otherwise start or
                                      restart
  try-reload-or-restart UNIT…         If active, reload one or more units, if supported, otherwise
                                      restart
  isolate UNIT                        Start one unit and stop all others
  kill UNIT…                          Send signal to processes of a unit
  clean UNIT…                         Clean runtime, cache, state, logs or configuration of unit
  freeze PATTERN…                     Freeze execution of unit processes
  thaw PATTERN…                       Resume execution of a frozen unit
  set-property UNIT PROPERTY=VALUE…   Sets one or more properties of a unit
  bind UNIT PATH [PATH]               Bind-mount a path from the host into a unit's namespace
  mount-image UNIT PATH [PATH [OPTS]] Mount an image from the host into a unit's namespace
  service-log-level SERVICE [LEVEL]   Get/set logging threshold for service
  service-log-target SERVICE [TARGET] Get/set logging target for service
  reset-failed [PATTERN…]             Reset failed state for all, one, or more units
  whoami [PID…]                       Return unit caller or specified PIDs are part of

Unit File Commands:
  list-unit-files [PATTERN…]          List installed unit files
  enable [UNIT…|PATH…]                Enable one or more unit files
  disable UNIT…                       Disable one or more unit files
  reenable UNIT…                      Reenable one or more unit files
  preset UNIT…                        Enable/disable one or more unit files based on preset
                                      configuration
  preset-all                          Enable/disable all unit files based on preset configuration
  is-enabled UNIT…                    Check whether unit files are enabled
  mask UNIT…                          Mask one or more units
  unmask UNIT…                        Unmask one or more units
  link PATH…                          Link one or more units files into the search path
  revert UNIT…                        Revert one or more unit files to vendor version
  add-wants TARGET UNIT…              Add 'Wants' dependency for the target on specified one or more
                                      units
  add-requires TARGET UNIT…           Add 'Requires' dependency for the target on specified one or
                                      more units
  edit UNIT…                          Edit one or more unit files
  get-default                         Get the name of the default target
  set-default TARGET                  Set the default target

Machine Commands:
  list-machines [PATTERN…]            List local containers and host

Job Commands:
  list-jobs [PATTERN…]                List jobs
  cancel [JOB…]                       Cancel all, one, or more jobs

Environment Commands:
  show-environment                    Dump environment
  set-environment VARIABLE=VALUE…     Set one or more environment variables
  unset-environment VARIABLE…         Unset one or more environment variables
  import-environment VARIABLE…        Import all or some environment variables

Manager State Commands:
  daemon-reload                       Reload systemd manager configuration
  daemon-reexec                       Reexecute systemd manager
  log-level [LEVEL]                   Get/set logging threshold for manager
  log-target [TARGET]                 Get/set logging target for manager
  service-watchdogs [BOOL]            Get/set service watchdog state

System Commands:
  is-system-running                   Check whether system is fully running
  default                             Enter system default mode
  rescue                              Enter system rescue mode
  emergency                           Enter system emergency mode
  halt                                Shut down and halt the system
  poweroff                            Shut down and power-off the system
  reboot                              Shut down and reboot the system
  kexec                               Shut down and reboot the system with kexec
  soft-reboot                         Shut down and reboot userspace
  exit [EXIT_CODE]                    Request user instance or container exit
  switch-root [ROOT [INIT]]           Change to a different root file system
  sleep                               Put the system to sleep (through one of the operations below)
  suspend                             Suspend the system
  hibernate                           Hibernate the system
  hybrid-sleep                        Hibernate and suspend the system
  suspend-then-hibernate              Suspend the system, wake after a period of time, and hibernate

Options:
  -h --help                           Show this help
     --version                        Show package version
     --system                         Connect to the system service manager
     --user                           Connect to the user service manager
  -C --capsule=NAME                   Connect to service manager of specified capsule
  -H --host=[USER@]HOST               Operate on remote host
  -M --machine=CONTAINER              Operate on local container
  -t --type=TYPE                      List units of a particular type
     --state=STATE                    List units with particular LOAD or SUB or ACTIVE state
     --failed                         Shortcut for --state=failed
  -p --property=NAME                  Show only properties by this name
  -P NAME                             Equivalent to --value --property=NAME
  -a --all                            Show all properties/all units currently in memory, including
                                      dead/empty ones. To list all units installed on the system,
                                      use 'list-unit-files' instead
  -l --full                           Don't ellipsize unit names on output
  -r --recursive                      Show unit list of host and local containers
     --reverse                        Show reverse dependencies with 'list-dependencies'
     --before                         Show units ordered before with 'list-dependencies'
     --after                          Show units ordered after with 'list-dependencies'
     --with-dependencies              Show unit dependencies with 'status', 'cat', 'list-units', and
                                      'list-unit-files'
     --job-mode=MODE                  Specify how to deal with already queued jobs, when queueing a
                                      new job
  -T --show-transaction               When enqueuing a unit job, show full transaction
     --show-types                     When showing sockets, explicitly show their type
     --value                          When showing properties, only print the value
     --check-inhibitors=MODE          Whether to check inhibitors before shutting down, sleeping, or
                                      hibernating
  -i                                  Shortcut for --check-inhibitors=no
  -s --signal=SIGNAL                  Which signal to send
     --kill-whom=WHOM                 Whom to send signal to
     --kill-value=INT                 Signal value to enqueue
     --kill-subgroup=PATH             Send signal to sub-control group only
     --what=RESOURCES                 Which types of resources to remove
     --now                            Start or stop unit after enabling or disabling it
     --dry-run                        Only print what would be done. Currently supported by verbs:
                                      halt, poweroff, reboot, kexec, soft-reboot, suspend,
                                      hibernate, suspend-then-hibernate, hybrid-sleep, default,
                                      rescue, emergency, and exit.
  -q --quiet                          Suppress output
  -v --verbose                        Show unit logs while executing operation
     --no-warn                        Suppress several warnings shown by default
     --wait                           For (re)start, wait until service stopped again. For
                                      is-system-running, wait until startup is completed. For kill,
                                      wait until service stopped.
     --no-block                       Do not wait until operation finished
     --no-wall                        Don't send wall message before halt/power-off/reboot
     --message=MESSAGE                Specify human-readable reason for system shutdown
     --no-reload                      Don't reload daemon after en-/dis-abling unit files
     --legend=BOOL                    Enable/disable the legend (column headers and hints)
     --no-pager                       Do not start a pager
     --no-ask-password                Do not prompt for password
     --global                         Edit/enable/disable/mask default user unit files globally
     --runtime                        Edit/enable/disable/mask unit files temporarily until next
                                      reboot
  -f --force                          When enabling unit files, override existing symlinks. When
                                      shutting down, execute action immediately.
     --preset-mode=MODE               Apply only enable, only disable, or all presets
     --root=PATH                      Edit/enable/disable/mask unit files in the specified root
                                      directory
     --image=PATH                     Edit/enable/disable/mask unit files in the specified disk
                                      image
     --image-policy=POLICY            Specify disk image dissection policy
  -n --lines=INTEGER                  Number of journal entries to show
  -o --output=STRING                  Change journal output mode (short, short-precise, short-iso,
                                      short-iso-precise, short-full, short-monotonic, short-unix,
                                      short-delta, verbose, export, json, json-pretty, json-sse,
                                      cat)
     --firmware-setup                 Tell the firmware to show the setup menu on next boot
     --boot-loader-menu=TIME          Boot into boot loader menu on next boot
     --boot-loader-entry=NAME         Boot into a specific boot loader entry on next boot
     --reboot-argument=ARG            Specify argument string to pass to reboot()
     --kernel-cmdline=CMDLINE         Append to the kernel command line when loading the kernel from
                                      the booted boot loader entry
     --kernel-cmdline-reuse           Like --kernel-cmdline=, but reuse the current kernel command
                                      line
     --plain                          Print unit dependencies as a list instead of a tree
     --timestamp=FORMAT               Change format of printed timestamps (pretty, unix, us, utc,
                                      us+utc)
     --read-only                      Create read-only bind mount
     --mkdir                          Create directory before mounting, if missing
     --marked                         Restart/reload previously marked units
     --drop-in=NAME                   Edit unit files using the specified drop-in file name
     --when=TIME                      Schedule halt/power-off/reboot/kexec action after a certain
                                      timestamp
     --stdin                          Read new contents of edited file from stdin

See the systemctl(1) man page for details.
Options (66)
OptionDescriptionSource
-h --helpShow this helphelp
--versionShow package versionhelp
--systemConnect to the system service managerhelp
--userConnect to the user service managerhelp
-C --capsule=NAMEConnect to service manager of specified capsulehelp
-H --host=[USER@]HOSTOperate on remote hosthelp
-M --machine=CONTAINEROperate on local containerhelp
-t --type=TYPEList units of a particular typehelp
--state STATEList units with particular LOAD or SUB or ACTIVE statehelp
--failedShortcut for --state=failedhelp
-p --property=NAMEShow only properties by this namehelp
-P NAMEEquivalent to --value --property=NAMEhelp
-a --allShow all properties/all units currently in memory, including dead/empty ones.help
-l --fullDon't ellipsize unit names on outputhelp
-r --recursiveShow unit list of host and local containershelp
--reverseShow reverse dependencies with 'list-dependencies'help
--beforeShow units ordered before with 'list-dependencies'help
--afterShow units ordered after with 'list-dependencies'help
--with-dependenciesShow unit dependencies with 'status', 'cat', 'list-units', and 'list-unit-files'help
--job-mode MODESpecify how to deal with already queued jobs, when queueing a new jobhelp
-T --show-transactionWhen enqueuing a unit job, show full transactionhelp
--show-typesWhen showing sockets, explicitly show their typehelp
--valueWhen showing properties, only print the valuehelp
--check-inhibitors MODEWhether to check inhibitors before shutting down, sleeping, or hibernatinghelp
-iShortcut for --check-inhibitors=nohelp
-s --signal=SIGNALWhich signal to sendhelp
--kill-whom WHOMWhom to send signal tohelp
--kill-value INTSignal value to enqueuehelp
--kill-subgroup PATHSend signal to sub-control group onlyhelp
--what RESOURCESWhich types of resources to removehelp
--nowStart or stop unit after enabling or disabling ithelp
--dry-runOnly print what would be done.help
-q --quietSuppress outputhelp
-v --verboseShow unit logs while executing operationhelp
--no-warnSuppress several warnings shown by defaulthelp
--waitFor (re)start, wait until service stopped again.help
--no-blockDo not wait until operation finishedhelp
--no-wallDon't send wall message before halt/power-off/reboothelp
--message MESSAGESpecify human-readable reason for system shutdownhelp
--no-reloadDon't reload daemon after en-/dis-abling unit fileshelp
--legend BOOLEnable/disable the legend (column headers and hints)help
--no-pagerDo not start a pagerhelp
--no-ask-passwordDo not prompt for passwordhelp
--globalEdit/enable/disable/mask default user unit files globallyhelp
--runtimeEdit/enable/disable/mask unit files temporarily until next reboothelp
-f --forceWhen enabling unit files, override existing symlinks.help
--preset-mode MODEApply only enable, only disable, or all presetshelp
--root PATHEdit/enable/disable/mask unit files in the specified root directoryhelp
--image PATHEdit/enable/disable/mask unit files in the specified disk imagehelp
--image-policy POLICYSpecify disk image dissection policyhelp
-n --lines=INTEGERNumber of journal entries to showhelp
-o --output=STRINGChange journal output mode (short, short-precise, short-iso, short-iso-precise, short-full, short-monotonic, short-unix, short-delta, verbose, export, json, json-pretty, json-sse, cat)help
--firmware-setupTell the firmware to show the setup menu on next boothelp
--boot-loader-menu TIMEBoot into boot loader menu on next boothelp
--boot-loader-entry NAMEBoot into a specific boot loader entry on next boothelp
--reboot-argument ARGSpecify argument string to pass to reboot()help
--kernel-cmdline CMDLINEAppend to the kernel command line when loading the kernel from the booted boot loader entryhelp
--kernel-cmdline-reuseLike --kernel-cmdline=, but reuse the current kernel command linehelp
--plainPrint unit dependencies as a list instead of a treehelp
--timestamp FORMATChange format of printed timestamps (pretty, unix, us, utc, us+utc)help
--read-onlyCreate read-only bind mounthelp
--mkdirCreate directory before mounting, if missinghelp
--markedRestart/reload previously marked unitshelp
--drop-in NAMEEdit unit files using the specified drop-in file namehelp
--when TIMESchedule halt/power-off/reboot/kexec action after a certain timestamphelp
--stdinRead new contents of edited file from stdinhelp

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.