`mv` command

Move or rename files and directories.

Files & directories
Package coreutils
6 options · 6 examples

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Syntax
Common options
Examples
Guides
Related commands

Syntax

mv [options] source… destination

Provided by the coreutils package. Run man mv for the full manual.

Common options

Option	What it does
`-i`	Ask before overwriting
`-n`	Never overwrite existing files
`-f`	Overwrite without asking
`-u`	Move only when the source is newer
`-v`	Print each file moved
`-t DIR`	Move all sources into DIR

Examples

Rename a file
```
mv old.txt new.txt
```
Move a file into a directory
```
mv report.pdf ~/Documents/
```
Move several files
```
mv *.log /var/log/archive/
```
Ask before overwriting
```
mv -i file.txt /backup/
```
Rename a directory
```
mv project project-old
```

Move with find results

find . -name "*.tmp" -exec mv -t /tmp/old {} +

mv guides

mv command in Linux with Useful Example Linux Commands · Updated Apr 2025
(Resolved) -bash: /bin/mv: Argument list too long Shell Scripting · Updated Apr 2025

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