ntfslabel

ntfslabel [options] device [new-label]

device: The path to the NTFS partition (e.g., /dev/sda1).
[new-label]: The optional new volume label to set. If omitted, the current label is displayed.

-f, --force
    Force operation. Overrides some checks, such as if the volume is mounted. Use with extreme caution as it can lead to data loss if the filesystem is in use.

-q, --quiet
    Quiet mode. Suppresses most output messages.

-v, --verbose
    Verbose mode. Displays more detailed information about the operation.

-n, --no-action
    Test mode. Performs a dry run without actually writing any changes to the device. Useful for verifying the command's behavior.

-U, --uuid
    Display or set UUID. When used alone, it displays the current UUID. When combined with an argument, it attempts to set the UUID to the provided value.

--new-uuid
    Generate new UUID. Generates a new random UUID for the volume.

--set-uuid UUID
    Set specific UUID. Sets the volume's UUID to the specified UUID string.

--help
    Display help. Shows a summary of command usage and options.

--version
    Display version. Shows the version information for ntfslabel.

ntfslabel is a command-line utility used to display or modify the volume label of an NTFS (New Technology File System) partition. It is part of the ntfsprogs suite, which provides various tools for managing NTFS filesystems on Linux, often bundled with or built upon the ntfs-3g user-space driver. The primary purpose of ntfslabel is to provide a human-readable name for an NTFS volume, making it easier to identify in various contexts, such as file managers, mount points, or boot menus. This is particularly useful in multi-boot environments or when dealing with external USB drives.

When invoked without a new label, ntfslabel reads and displays the current label assigned to the specified device. If a new label is provided as an argument, the command attempts to write this new label directly to the NTFS boot sector of the partition. This operation requires root privileges, as it directly modifies a critical part of the filesystem structure. It's crucial to unmount the NTFS partition before attempting to change its label to prevent data corruption, although a --force option exists to bypass this check (use with extreme caution). In addition to setting a textual label, ntfslabel can also display or manage the Universal Unique Identifier (UUID) of an NTFS volume, offering another persistent method for identifying the filesystem. Understanding and utilizing ntfslabel is fundamental for effective management of NTFS volumes on Linux systems.

Root Privileges: ntfslabel requires root (superuser) privileges to modify the volume label or UUID, as it directly alters the filesystem's metadata.
Unmount Before Modifying: It is highly recommended to unmount the NTFS partition before attempting to change its label or UUID. Modifying a mounted filesystem can lead to data corruption or loss. The --force option should only be used as a last resort and with a clear understanding of the risks.
Label Length: NTFS volume labels are Unicode and have a maximum length of 32 characters. Longer labels will be truncated.
Character Set: While NTFS supports Unicode, certain special characters or encodings might not display correctly across all operating systems or locales.
UUIDs vs. Labels: UUIDs provide a truly unique, immutable identifier for a filesystem, whereas labels are human-readable names that can be changed. For scripting or system-level identification (e.g., in /etc/fstab), UUIDs are generally preferred for their robustness.

To read an NTFS volume's label or UUID, read access to the device file (e.g., /dev/sda1) is sufficient, though typically only root has direct access.
To write a new label or UUID, root privileges are strictly required.

If the specified device is not an NTFS filesystem, ntfslabel will return an error.
Attempts to write to a mounted filesystem without --force will also result in an error, prompting the user to unmount the volume first.

ntfslabel originated as part of the ntfsprogs project, a collection of open-source tools developed to enable Linux systems to interact with Microsoft's proprietary NTFS filesystem. Initially, Linux had limited native NTFS support, primarily read-only. The ntfsprogs suite, which later became integrated with and heavily relies on the ntfs-3g project, was crucial in providing robust read/write capabilities for NTFS. ntfslabel specifically addressed the need for users to easily identify and manage their NTFS volumes by assigning meaningful names, a common feature in other filesystem utilities (like e2label for ext filesystems). Its development has been driven by the ongoing need for seamless interoperability between Linux and Windows environments, making it an indispensable tool for dual-boot systems and external NTFS storage devices.

mkfs.ntfs(8), ntfs-3g(8), blkid(8), e2label(8), tune2fs(8), xfs_admin(8)