Command to change the default home directory of a user [closed]

I would like to know whether there is any simple shell command to change the user home directory in Linux/Unix (one similar to chsh which changes the default login shell of an existing valid user) without touching the /etc/passwd file. Thanks

Solution 1:

Ibrahim's comment on the other answer is the correct way to alter an existing user's home directory.

Change the user's home directory:

usermod -d /newhome/username username

usermod is the command to edit an existing user.
-d (abbreviation for --home) will change the user's home directory.

Change the user's home directory + Move the contents of the user's current directory:

usermod -m -d /newhome/username username

-m (abbreviation for --move-home) will move the content from the user's current directory to the new directory.

Solution 2:

From Linux Change Default User Home Directory While Adding A New User:

Simply open this file using a text editor, type:
vi /etc/default/useradd
The default home directory defined by HOME variable, find line that read as follows:
HOME=/home
Replace with:
HOME=/iscsi/user
Save and close the file. Now you can add user using regular useradd command:
# useradd vivek
# passwd vivek
Verify user information:
# finger vivek

Solution 3:

The accepted answer is faulty, since the contents from the initial user folder are not moved using it. I am going to add another answer to correct it:

sudo usermod -d /newhome/username -m username

You don't need to create the folder with username and this will also move your files from the initial user folder to /newhome/username folder.

Solution 4:

In case other readers look for information on the adduser command.

Edit /etc/adduser.conf

Set DHOME variable

Solution 5:

You can do it with:

/etc/passwd

Edit the user home directory and then move the required files and directories to it:

cp/mv -r /home/$user/.bash* /home/newdir

.bash_profile
.ssh/

Set the correct permission

chmod -R $user:$user /home/newdir/.bash*