Where Is the .bashrc File on Linux?
The per user .bashrc on Linux, the system template it came from, and why login shells skip it.
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Interactive Bash shells read ~/.bashrc on startup, which is where aliases, prompts and PATH tweaks belong. New accounts receive a copy from /etc/skel, so your .bashrc started life as the system template with local edits on top.
Login shells skip it and read profile files instead, the classic reason a new alias works in terminals but not over SSH. Source .bashrc from ~/.bash_profile to cover both, or place shared setup where both paths load it. Apply edits with source ~/.bashrc in the running shell.
Where Linux stores this, by platform
~/.bashrc
Per user interactive shell setup. System defaults live in /etc/bash.bashrc and the /etc/skel template new accounts copy. Login shells read ~/.bash_profile instead, so bridge the two when settings seem to vanish.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my alias work in the terminal but not over SSH?
SSH starts a login shell, which reads ~/.bash_profile instead of ~/.bashrc. Source .bashrc from your profile file and the alias works in both.
Where do new users get their .bashrc from?
From /etc/skel/.bashrc, copied at account creation. Edit the skeleton to change defaults for future users; existing users keep their own copies untouched.
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