Windows PowerShell Get-LocalGroup equivalent in Linux
Lists local and directory-backed groups known to the system.
PowerShell Get-LocalGroup
getent group
getent group
getent group
Overview
What this command does
On Windows, "PowerShell Get-LocalGroup" is used to list groups. On Linux, the closest practical mapping shown here is "getent group". Lists local and directory-backed groups known to the system. This reference is grouped under PowerShell Equivalents → Users & Groups.
Windows → Linux context
What changes when you use this on Linux?
Equivalent task, different tool
Windows PowerShell Get-LocalGroup maps to getent group for this task. Treat this as a workflow mapping rather than a character-for-character syntax translation.
Portable across the compared distros
The Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch rows use the same command in this mapping. Package availability or defaults can still vary, so check the installed tool version when an option behaves differently.
For the broader concept behind this mapping, read PowerShell vs Bash.
Practical tasks
Common use cases
List groups
Lists local and directory-backed groups known to the system.
getent group
List known groups
getent group wheel
Inspect one group
groups kris
Show one user’s memberships
Ready to run
Copyable Linux commands
Review paths, device names, package names and permissions before running any command.
getent group
getent group wheel
groups kris
Walkthrough
Examples with explanations
getent group # list groups
getent group wheel # inspect one group
groups kris # show a user’s group membershipsReference
Common options and variations
| Command or option | Use |
|---|---|
getent group | List known groups |
getent group wheel | Inspect one group |
groups kris | Show one user’s memberships |
Distro differences
Debian/Ubuntu vs Fedora vs Arch
Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch all use "getent group" for this mapping. The command syntax shown here is portable across the three rows, although installed versions and system defaults can still vary.
| Distribution | Package manager / base | Equivalent command | Difference to notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian/Ubuntu | same command | getent group |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Fedora | same command | getent group |
Same command on this distribution. |
| Arch | same command | getent group |
Same command on this distribution. |
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