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P4 CLI Documentation | 2026.1

# P4USER

Current P4 Server username.

## Usage notes

Used by Client? | Used by Server? | Command-Line Alternative | Can be set in P4CONFIG file?
--- | --- | --- | ---
Yes | No | `p4 -u username command` | Yes

## Value if not explicitly set

Operating System | Value
--- | ---
Windows | The value of the `USERNAME` environment variable.
All Others | The value of the `USER` environment variable.

## Examples

`edk`
`lisag`

## Notes

By default, the P4 Server username is the same as the OS username.

If a particular P4 Server user does not have a password set, then any other P4 Server user can impersonate this user by using the `-u` option with their P4 Server commands. To prevent this, users should set their password with the `p4 user` or `p4 passwd` command.

If a user has set their P4 Server password, you can still run commands as that user if you know the password by specifying the username and password:

`p4 -u username -P password command`

P4 Server superusers can impersonate users without knowing their passwords. For more information, see Protections and passwords in the P4 Server Administration Documentation.

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