How to Move a Folder to Another Directory in Ubuntu

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Summary: Learn how to move a folder to a different directory in Ubuntu using the `mv` command in the terminal. This guide covers the steps to relocate directories efficiently in Ubuntu Linux.
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When using Ubuntu or any Linux-based system, moving a folder from one directory to another can be easily accomplished using the command line. The primary tool for this task is the mv command, which stands for “move.” This command allows you to relocate folders and files within the file system.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to move a folder in Ubuntu:

Moving a Folder

Open Terminal:

Launch the Terminal application. You can do this by searching for “Terminal” in the Applications menu or by using the shortcut Ctrl+Alt+T.

Navigate to the Current Directory:

Use the cd command to change to the directory where the folder you want to move is located. For example:

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Use the mv Command:

Once you’re in the current directory containing the folder you wish to move, use the mv command followed by the name of the folder you want to move and then specify the destination directory. For instance, to move a folder named myfolder to another directory:

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Replace /path/to/destination/directory with the path to the directory where you want to move the folder. If you want to move the folder to a location within the current directory, specify a relative path (e.g., subdirectory/).

Confirm the Move:

Press Enter after entering the mv command. The folder myfolder will be moved to the specified destination.

Example:

Let’s say you have a folder named documents located in your home directory (/home/username). If you want to move this folder to a directory named archive within the same home directory, you would use:

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Tips:

Absolute vs. Relative Paths: Ensure you specify the correct paths when using the mv command. Absolute paths start from the root directory (/), while relative paths are based on your current directory.

Permissions: Depending on the destination directory’s permissions, you may need administrative privileges (sudo) to move folders into certain locations.

Using the mv command is a straightforward way to rearrange directories and files within Ubuntu’s file system. It’s efficient for both moving items within the same drive or to a different drive altogether.

Remember to use caution when moving important directories to avoid accidental data loss or unintended file operations.

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