Copy files from one user home directory to another user home directory in Linux

Question

I have the logins and passwords for two linux users (not root), for example user1 and user2.

How to copy files from /home/user1/folder1 to /home/user2/folder2, using one single shell script (one single script launching, without manually switching of users).

I think I must use a sudo command but didn't found how exactly.

Answer 1

Just this:

cp -r /home/user1/folder1/ /home/user2/folder2

If you add -p (so cp -pr) it will preserve the attributes of the files (mode, ownership, timestamps).

-r is required to copy hidden files as well. See How to copy with cp to include hidden files and hidden directories and their contents? for further reference.

Answer 2

sudo cp -a /home/user1/folder1 /home/user2/folder2
sudo chown -R user2:user2 /home/user2/folder2

cp -a archive
chown -R act recursively

Copies the files and then gives permissions to user2 to be able to access them.
Copies all files including dot files, all sub-directories and does not require directory /home/user2/folder2 to exist prior to the command.