---
extends: _layouts.post
section: content
title: Adding a User in Arch Linux
date: 2020-06-15
description: Use the command line to add a user in Arch Linux
tags: [Arch]
---

In a [previous post](/posts/2020-05-25/installing_arch_linux_on_a_x220_thinkpad) I installed Arch Linux on my Thinkpad X220. Since it was a very minimal install there are no user accounts except for the root user. So to add myself as a user I need to use the *useradd* command.

```shell
$ useradd -m -s /bin/bash david
```

I used the below options with the command.

- *-m* Create the home directory for this account.
- *-s /bin/bash* Make *bash* the login shell for this account.
- *david* The name of the new user. 

This creates a new account for me and also ensures that a home directory is created as */home/david*. 

The new account will require a password so assign one with the *passwd* command.

```shell
$ passwd

New password:
Retype new password:
passwd: password updated successfully
```