mnt_want_write_file(9)

✨ mnt_want_write_file(9) ✨

okay so welcome to the Kernel API Manual bestie, today we're learning how to get write access to a file's mount 💅 this one's short but she's important, so pay attention 🫶

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🌸 NAME 🌸

mnt_want_write_file — get write access to a file's mount 👑

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🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

int mnt_want_write_file (struct file *file );

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🎀 ARGUMENTS 🎀

• file — the file who's mount on which to take a write 🌈 (yes, that's the original's spelling, we keep it exactly like that, no cap)

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💖 DESCRIPTION 💖

okay so picture mnt_want_write, right? this is literally that but with a glow-up ✨ if the file is already open for writing, it skips incrementing mnt_writers — because the open file already has a reference, she doesn't need a second one, she's covered, iykyk — and instead it only does the freeze protection and the check for emergency r/o remounts 🧊🔥

🚨 important bestie: this must be paired with mnt_drop_write_file. like, you take it, you give it back. no leaving her hanging 🙈

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👑 SEE ALSO 👑

Kernel file ./fs/namespace.c plus the whole friend group 💜:

• mnt_get_write_access(9)
• mnt_want_write(9)
• mnt_get_write_access_file(9)
• mnt_put_write_access(9)
• mnt_drop_write(9)
• mnt_hold_writers(9)
• mnt_unhold_writers(9)
• __lookup_mnt(9)
• lookup_mnt(9)
• attach_mnt(9)
• vfs_create_mount(9)
• path_is_mountpoint(9)
• may_umount_tree(9)
• may_umount(9)
• clone_private_mount(9)
• attach_recursive_mnt(9)
• do_lock_mount(9)
• path_overmounted(9)
• can_move_mount_beneath(9)
• mnt_set_expiry(9)
• mnt_allow_writers(9)

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and that's the whole page bestie, go pair your mnt_want_write_file with a mnt_drop_write_file and slay responsibly 💅✨

🎀 this lil page lives in ./fs, version October 2026, and it's called mnt_want_write_file(9) — mwah, bye 🫶💖