mklost+found: Create a lost+found directory

Quick start

  • Use the command to create a lost+found directory in your current directory.
  • This is handy after rescue operations or when a filesystem needs a place to stash orphaned inodes.
# Create lost+found in the current directory
mklost+found

What it does

  • Creates a directory named exactly lost+found in the current working directory.
  • The directory is created with appropriate permissions for a typical recovery workflow (owner and permissions managed by the system, usually 700).
  • It does not repair inodes or recover files by itself; it simply provides a designated place for recovered items.

When to use it

  • After filesystem checks (fsck) or recovery operations where orphaned data might be rehomed.
  • If you need a dedicated folder to store recovered pieces temporarily during a cleanup.
  • When you’re teaching or documenting recovery procedures and want a consistent workspace.

Common pitfalls

  • If a directory named lost+found already exists, mklost+found may fail or do nothing depending on the version. Check first.
  • It does not replace a missing lost+found at a filesystem root; that is created by mkfs.ext4 or similar during filesystem creation.
  • Running in a user-writable directory might create a confusing structure; prefer a dedicated recovery workspace.
# Check if the directory exists before creating
if [ -d lost+found ]; then
  echo "lost+found already exists"
else
  mklost+found
  ls -ld lost+found
fi

Example workflow

  1. Create a recovery workspace:
mkdir -p ~/recovery/work
cd ~/recovery/work
mklost+found
ls -ld lost+found
  1. Move recovered items into the folder as you inspect them:
mv /path/to/recovered/file.png lost+found/

Troubleshooting

  • If you get a permission error, try running in a directory you own or use sudo to create the folder in a global location:
sudo mklost+found
  • If you unexpectedly see an existing lost+found, verify its contents and purpose since it may be part of another process or mount.

For more details, consult the man page: https://linux.die.net/man/8/mklost+found

See Also