apache/hadoop · error · IOException

changing permissions of '" + item + "': " + e.getMessage()

Error message

changing permissions of '" + item + "': " + e.getMessage()

What it means

Error "changing permissions of '" + item + "': " + e.getMessage()" thrown in apache/hadoop.

Source

Thrown at hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/fs/FsShellPermissions.java:106

      try {
        pp = new ChmodParser(modeStr);
      } catch (IllegalArgumentException iea) {
        // TODO: remove "chmod : " so it's not doubled up in output, but it's
        // here for backwards compatibility...
        throw new IllegalArgumentException(
            "chmod : mode '" + modeStr + "' does not match the expected pattern.");      
      }
    }
    
    @Override
    protected void processPath(PathData item) throws IOException {
      short newperms = pp.applyNewPermission(item.stat);
      if (item.stat.getPermission().toShort() != newperms) {
        try {
          item.fs.setPermission(item.path, new FsPermission(newperms));
        } catch (IOException e) {
          LOG.debug("Error changing permissions of " + item, e);
          throw new IOException(
              "changing permissions of '" + item + "': " + e.getMessage());
        }
      }
    }    
  }
  
  // used by chown/chgrp
  static private String allowedChars = Shell.WINDOWS ? "[-_./@a-zA-Z0-9 ]" :
    "[-+_./@a-zA-Z0-9]";

  /**
   * Used to change owner and/or group of files 
   */
  public static class Chown extends FsShellPermissions {
    public static final String NAME = "chown";
    public static final String USAGE = "[-R] [OWNER][:[GROUP]] PATH...";
    public static final String DESCRIPTION =
      "Changes owner and group of a file. " +

View on GitHub (pinned to 2add963021)

Solutions

1. Read the nested exception message for the per-file failure cause.
2. Check that the path exists and the user is the owner or superuser.

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/fs/FsShellPermissions.java:106 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of apache/hadoop@2add963021 (2026-08-22). Data as JSON: /api/errors/9c6c85f3392e306f. Report an issue: GitHub.