cp command in Ubuntu does not overwrite the existing file

Question

I'm running the following command:

sudo cp /srv/site/pro/config/test.env /srv/site/.env

However, if the file /srv/site/.env already exists it does not seem to overwrite.

How can I make sure the command overwrites the existing file?

I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it's not about programming. It might be a better fit for unix.stackexchange.com — Keith Thompson
– Keith Thompson, Commented Mar 5, 2015 at 16:55

quark · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-05 16:33:07Z

4

cp --force or cp -f Please read the man page for cp as well: http://unixhelp.ed.ac.uk/CGI/man-cgi?cp

answered Mar 5, 2015 at 16:33

quark

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2 Comments

Garglesoap Over a year ago

This one isn't working for me. I'm trying sudo cp -f -r /home/ubuntu/production/ /srv/shiny-server/ and the files just do not show up

Joe Colburn Over a year ago

I'm encountering the same. With -r -f it is still not overwriting. In my situation, it's also not copying over new files. I should note that I'm using sudo -u (not that I'm sure it matters) and if I try to copy the file with the full path and not -r, it works fine.

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