login - macOS
Overview
The login
command provides a secure login interface for users to access the macOS system. It prompts users for their username and password, verifies credentials, and initiates a login session.
Syntax
login [-hvr8] [-c command] [-f user] [-l username] [-p] [-t type]
Options/Flags
-h
,--help
: Display help information.-v
,--verbose
: Print verbose output during the login process.-r
,--reboot
: Reboot the system after a successful login.8
,--single
: Start the system in single-user mode.-c command
,--command command
: Execute the specified command after successful login.-f user
,--full-name user
: Login with the full username instead of the abbreviated version.-l username
,--login username
: Specify the username to log in as.-p
,--password-stdin
: Read the password from standard input.-t type
,--type type
: Specify the login type (e.g., user, remote, local). Default:user
.
Examples
- Login as the current user without prompting for a password:
login -p
- Login as a specific user and execute a command:
login -l user -c ls
- Reboot the system after login:
login -r
Common Issues
- Incorrect username or password: Ensure you are entering the correct credentials.
- Login loop: Check if the home directory permissions are correct or if there are any filesystem issues.
- Failed login attempt: Verify if the user account is enabled and not locked.
Integration
- Combine with
sudo
to elevate privileges:
sudo login -l root
- Use in scripts to automate login processes:
#!/bin/bash
login -c "cd ~/Documents && open file.txt"
Related Commands
sudo
: Execute commands with elevated privileges.reboot
: Reboot the system.shutdown
: Shut down the system.