Windows
Linux
PowerShell Equivalents
Users & Groups
Windows PowerShell New-LocalUser equivalent in Linux
Creates a new local Linux user and optionally a home directory and login shell.
Windows
→
PowerShell New-LocalUser
Linux equivalents
sudo useradd -m USER
sudo useradd -m USER
sudo useradd -m USER
Overview
What this command does
Creates a new local Linux user and optionally a home directory and login shell.
Migration tip:
adduser is an interactive helper on Debian-based systems. useradd is the lower-level command available broadly.Practical tasks
Common use cases
Create a user account
Creates a new local Linux user and optionally a home directory and login shell.
sudo useradd -m -s /bin/bash alice
Create a user with home and Bash
sudo passwd alice
Set the password
sudo adduser alice
Use the interactive Debian helper
Ready to run
Copyable Linux commands
Review paths, device names, package names and permissions before running any command.
sudo useradd -m -s /bin/bash alice
sudo passwd alice
sudo adduser alice
Walkthrough
Examples with explanations
sudo useradd -m -s /bin/bash alice # create a user and home directory
sudo passwd alice # set the user password
sudo adduser alice # create a user interactivelyReference
Common options and variations
| Command or option | Use |
|---|---|
sudo useradd -m -s /bin/bash alice | Create a user with home and Bash |
sudo passwd alice | Set the password |
sudo adduser alice | Use the interactive Debian helper |
Distro differences
Debian/Ubuntu vs Fedora vs Arch
This command is the same on Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch Linux when the relevant tool is installed.
| Distribution | Package manager / base | Equivalent command | Difference to notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu | same command | sudo useradd -m USER |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Fedora | same command | sudo useradd -m USER |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Arch | same command | sudo useradd -m USER |
Same command on this distribution. |
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