ldconfig(8)                 System Manager's Manual                ldconfig(8)

NAME
       ldconfig - configure dynamic linker run-time bindings

SYNOPSIS
       /sbin/ldconfig [-nNvVX] [-C cache] [-f conf] [-r root] [-t tunconf]
                      directory ...

       /sbin/ldconfig -l [-v] library ...

       /sbin/ldconfig -p

DESCRIPTION
       ldconfig creates the necessary links and cache to the most recent
       shared libraries found in the directories specified on the command
       line, in the file /etc/ld.so.conf, and in the trusted directories, /lib
       and /usr/lib.  On some 64-bit architectures such as x86-64, /lib and
       /usr/lib are the trusted directories for 32-bit libraries, while /lib64
       and /usr/lib64 are used for 64-bit libraries.

       The cache is used by the run-time linker, ld.so or ld-linux.so.
       ldconfig checks the header and filenames of the libraries it encounters
       when determining which versions should have their links updated.
       ldconfig should normally be run by the superuser as it may require
       write permission on some root owned directories and files.

       ldconfig will look only at files that are named lib*.so* (for regular
       shared objects) or ld-*.so* (for the dynamic loader itself).  Other
       files will be ignored.  Also, ldconfig expects a certain pattern to how
       the symbolic links are set up, like this example, where the middle file
       (libfoo.so.1 here) is the SONAME for the library:

           libfoo.so -> libfoo.so.1 -> libfoo.so.1.12

       Failure to follow this pattern may result in compatibility issues after
       an upgrade.

       If the file /etc/tunables.conf exists, it contains tunables to be
       applied to all processes.  These tunables are stored in the cache and
       applied to every process at its startup.

OPTIONS
       --format=fmt
       -c fmt (Since glibc 2.2) Use cache format fmt, which is one of old,
              new, or compat.  Since glibc 2.32, the default is new.  Before
              that, it was compat.

       -C cache
              Use cache instead of /etc/ld.so.cache.

       -f conf
              Use conf instead of /etc/ld.so.conf.

       --ignore-aux-cache
       -i     (Since glibc 2.7) Ignore auxiliary cache file.

       -l     (Since glibc 2.2) Interpret each operand as a library name and
              configure its links.  Intended for use only by experts.

       -n     Process only the directories specified on the command line;
              don't process the trusted directories, nor those specified in
              /etc/ld.so.conf.  Implies -N.

       -N     Don't rebuild the cache.  Unless -X is also specified, links are
              still updated.

       --print-cache
       -p     Print the lists of directories and candidate libraries stored in
              the current cache.

       -r root
              Change to and use root as the root directory.

       -t tunconf
              Use tunconf instead of /etc/tunables.conf.

       --verbose
       -v     Verbose mode.  Print current version number, the name of each
              directory as it is scanned, and any links that are created.
              Overrides quiet mode.

       --version
       -V     Print program version.

       -X     Don't update links.  Unless -N is also specified, the cache is
              still rebuilt.

FILES
       /lib/ld.so
              is the run-time linker/loader.
       /etc/ld.so.conf
              See ld.so.conf(5).
       /etc/tunables.conf
              See tunables.conf(5).
       /etc/ld.so.cache
              contains an ordered list of libraries found in the directories
              specified in /etc/ld.so.conf, as well as those found in the
              trusted directories, and any tunables listed in
              /etc/tunables.conf.

SEE ALSO
       ldd(1), ld.so(8), ld.so.conf(5)

Linux man-pages 6.19              2026-08-03                       ldconfig(8)