Can't change shell from zsh to bash?
I've just installed zsh on Ubuntu 20.04 and decided to change it back to bash. I tried common way which is chsh
but it doesn't work.
Reference: changing shell from zsh to bash
Current shell
wolf@linux:/home/wolf $ echo $SHELL
/bin/zsh
wolf@linux:/home/wolf $
1st attempt
wolf@linux:/home/wolf $ sudo chsh -s /bin/bash
wolf@linux:/home/wolf $ echo $SHELL
/bin/zsh
wolf@linux:/home/wolf $
2nd attempt
wolf@linux:~$ sudo chsh --shell=/bin/bash $USER
wolf@linux:~$ echo $SHELL
/bin/zsh
wolf@linux:~$
3rd attempt
wolf@linux:~$ chsh -s $(which bash)
Password:
wolf@linux:~$ echo $SHELL
/bin/zsh
wolf@linux:~$
Even bash and exec bash do not work
wolf@linux:/home/wolf $ bash
wolf@linux:~$ echo $SHELL
/bin/zsh
wolf@linux:~$ exec bash
wolf@linux:~$ echo $SHELL
/bin/zsh
wolf@linux:~$
Solution 1:
chsh
changes the shell field in the password database, which is read on login. To see the effect of the change, you need to start a new login session - for example with su -
:
Ex. confirm current login shell is bash:
steeldriver@DESKTOP:~$ getent passwd steeldriver
steeldriver:x:1000:1000:,,,:/home/steeldriver:/bin/bash
steeldriver@DESKTOP:~$ echo $SHELL
/bin/bash
Change the shell - the password database is updated immediately but the value of $SHELL
doesn't change
steeldriver@DESKTOP:~$ chsh -s /usr/bin/zsh
Password:
steeldriver@DESKTOP:~$ getent passwd steeldriver
steeldriver:x:1000:1000:,,,:/home/steeldriver:/usr/bin/zsh
steeldriver@DESKTOP:~$ echo $SHELL
/bin/bash
Now start a new login session:
steeldriver@DESKTOP:~$ su - steeldriver
Password:
steeldriver@DESKTOP-SPDO14V ~ % echo $SHELL
/usr/bin/zsh
Solution 2:
-
chsh -s /bin/bash
(enter password when prompted) - Log out
- Log back in
-
echo $SHELL
to confirm