| --backup | make a backup of each existing destination file |
| -b | like --backup but does not accept an argument |
| --debug | explain how a file is copied. Implies -v |
| --exchange | exchange source and destination |
| -f--force | do not prompt before overwriting |
| -i--interactive | prompt before overwrite |
| -n--no-clobber | do not overwrite an existing file |
| --no-copy | do not copy if renaming fails |
| --strip-trailing-slashes | remove any trailing slashes from each SOURCE argument |
| -S--suffix | override the usual backup suffix |
| -t--target-directory | move all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY |
| -T--no-target-directory | treat DEST as a normal file |
| --update | control which existing files are updated; UPDATE={all,none,none-fail,older(default)} |
| -u | equivalent to --update[=older]. See below |
| -v--verbose | explain what is being done |
| -Z--context | set SELinux security context of destination file to default type |
| --help | display this help and exit |
| --version | output version information and exit |
| none, off | never make backups (even if --backup is given) |
| numbered, t | make numbered backups |
| existing, nil | numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise |
| simple, never | always make simple backups |
NAME
mv - move (rename) files
SYNOPSIS
mv [OPTION]... [-T] SOURCE DEST mv [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY mv [OPTION]... -t DIRECTORY SOURCE...
DESCRIPTION
Rename SOURCE to DEST, or move SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY.
Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.
- --backup[=CONTROL]
make a backup of each existing destination file
- -b
like --backup but does not accept an argument
- --debug
explain how a file is copied. Implies -v
- --exchange
exchange source and destination
- -f, --force
do not prompt before overwriting
- -i, --interactive
prompt before overwrite
- -n, --no-clobber
do not overwrite an existing file
If you specify more than one of -i, -f, -n, only the final one takes effect.
- --no-copy
do not copy if renaming fails
- --strip-trailing-slashes
remove any trailing slashes from each SOURCE argument
- -S, --suffix=SUFFIX
override the usual backup suffix
- -t, --target-directory=DIRECTORY
move all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY
- -T, --no-target-directory
treat DEST as a normal file
- --update[=UPDATE]
control which existing files are updated; UPDATE={all,none,none-fail,older(default)}
- -u
equivalent to --update[=older]. See below
- -v, --verbose
explain what is being done
- -Z, --context
set SELinux security context of destination file to default type
- --help
display this help and exit
- --version
output version information and exit
UPDATE controls which existing files in the destination are replaced. 'all' is the default operation when an --update option is not specified, and results in all existing files in the destination being replaced. 'none' is like the --no-clobber option, in that no files in the destination are replaced, and skipped files do not induce a failure. 'none-fail' also ensures no files are replaced in the destination, but any skipped files are diagnosed and induce a failure. 'older' is the default operation when --update is specified, and results in files being replaced if they're older than the corresponding source file.
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
never make backups (even if --backup is given)
- numbered, t
make numbered backups
- existing, nil
numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise
- simple, never
always make simple backups
AUTHOR
Written by Mike Parker, David MacKenzie, and Jim Meyering.
REPORTING BUGS
GNU coreutils online help: <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/> Report any translation bugs to <https://translationproject.org/team/>
SEE ALSO
rename(2)
Full documentation <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/mv> or available locally via: info '(coreutils) mv invocation'
Packaged by Debian (9.7-3) Copyright © 2025 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.