---
obj: application
arch-wiki: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Udisks
website: https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/udisks
repo: https://github.com/storaged-project/udisks
---

# udisks

udisks provides a daemon `udisksd`, that implements D-Bus interfaces used to query and manipulate storage devices, and a command-line tool `udisksctl`, used to query and use the daemon.

## Configuration
### Permissions
Actions a user can perform using udisks are restricted with `polkit`. If the user session is not activated or present (for example, when controlling udisks from a systemd/User service), adjust `polkit` rules accordingly.

See https://github.com/coldfix/udiskie/wiki/Permissions for common udisks permissions for the `storage` group.

### Default mount options
It is possible to define default mount options in `/etc/udisks2/mount_options.conf`. Create the file if it does not already exist. The built-in defaults and some examples can be seen in `/etc/udisks2/mount_options.conf.example`.

The options can target specific filesystem types. For example, mount btrfs filesystems with zstd compression enabled:
```
# /etc/udisks2/mount_options.conf
[defaults]
btrfs_defaults=compress=zstd
```

> *Note*: Lines override the corresponding built-in defaults. Make sure not to accidentally remove mount options this way.

## Usage
### Information

Show information about an object.

Usage: `udisksctl info [OPTION …]`

| Option               | Description                           |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| `-p, --object-path`  | Object to get information about       |
| `-b, --block-device` | Block device to get information about |
| `-d, --drive`        | Drive to get information about        |

To show info on all elements: `udisksctl dump`

For a high-level status: `udisksctl status`

To monitor for changes: `udisksctl monitor`

### Mounting

Mount a filesystem.

Usage: `udisksctl mount [OPTION …]`

| Option                  | Description                            |
| ----------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| `-p, --object-path`     | Object to get information about        |
| `-b, --block-device`    | Block device to get information about  |
| `-t, --filesystem-type` | Filesystem type to use                 |
| `-o, --options`         | Mount options                          |
| `--no-user-interaction` | Do not authenticate the user if needed |

Unmount a filesystem.

Usage: `udisksctl unmount [OPTION …]`

| Option                  | Description                            |
| ----------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| `-p, --object-path`     | Object to get information about        |
| `-b, --block-device`    | Block device to get information about  |
| `-f, --force`           | Force/lazy unmount                     |
| `--no-user-interaction` | Do not authenticate the user if needed |

### Encryption

Unlock an encrypted device.

Usage: `udisksctl unlock [OPTION …]`

| Option                  | Description                            |
| ----------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| `-p, --object-path`     | Object to get information about        |
| `-b, --block-device`    | Block device to get information about  |
| `--no-user-interaction` | Do not authenticate the user if needed |
| `--key-file`            | Keyfile for unlocking                  |
| `--read-only`           | Unlock the device as read-only         |

Lock an encrypted device.

Usage: `udisksctl lock [OPTION …]`

| Option                  | Description                            |
| ----------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| `-p, --object-path`     | Object to get information about        |
| `-b, --block-device`    | Block device to get information about  |
| `--no-user-interaction` | Do not authenticate the user if needed |

### Loop Devices

Set up a loop device.

Usage: `udisksctl loop-setup [OPTION …]`


| Option                  | Description                                |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| `-f, --file`            | File to set-up a loop device for           |
| `-r, --read-only`       | Setup read-only device                     |
| `-o, --offset`          | Start at `<num>` bytes into file           |
| `-s, --size`            | Limit size to `<num>` bytes                |
| `--no-partition-scan`   | Do not scan the loop device for partitions |
| `--no-user-interaction` | Do not authenticate the user if needed     |

Delete a loop device.

Usage: `udisksctl loop-delete [OPTION …]`

| Option                  | Description                            |
| ----------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| `-p, --object-path`     | Object to get information about        |
| `-b, --block-device`    | Block device to get information about  |
| `--no-user-interaction` | Do not authenticate the user if needed |

### Power Off

Safely power off a drive.

Usage: `udisksctl power-off [OPTION …]`

| Option                  | Description                            |
| ----------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| `-p, --object-path`     | Object to get information about        |
| `-b, --block-device`    | Block device to get information about  |
| `--no-user-interaction` | Do not authenticate the user if needed |