How to Login as Root User in Linux Terminal

How to login as root user in Linux Terminal? The “root” user (superuser full administrative privileges) can be accessed with Sudo root command in Linux Ubuntu.

In Ubuntu, the “root” user is the superuser with full administrative privileges over the system. By default, the root account is disabled for security reasons. Instead, users can perform administrative tasks using the sudo command, which allows them to execute commands with elevated permissions without directly logging in as root.

Before proceeding, it’s important to understand the implications of using the root account. The root user is akin to an administrator in Windows; it has the highest level of permissions. Tasks such as installing software, modifying system configurations, and managing other users typically require root privileges.

Common Methods to Login as Root

Using the su Command

The su command (short for “substitute user”) allows you to switch to the root user account from a regular user account. To use this command, follow these steps:

1. Open the Terminal: You can usually find the terminal application in your applications menu or by using a keyboard shortcut (commonly Ctrl + Alt + T).
2. Type the Command: su –
3. Enter the Password: After entering the command, you’ll be prompted to enter the root password. If entered correctly, you will switch to the root user. The - flag initializes the environment as root.
4. Confirm You’re Root: You can confirm that you’re now the root user by checking your terminal prompt, which typically changes to # indicating superuser status.

Using sudo Command

In many modern Linux distributions (like Ubuntu), the root account is often disabled by default for security reasons. Instead, you can perform root tasks via the sudo command by entering your user password rather than the root password.

1. Open the Terminal.
2. Execute Commands with sudo. For example, to update package lists, you could type: sudo apt update
3. Enter Your User Password: If prompted, enter the password for the user you are currently logged in as. If you have the necessary permissions, the command will execute with root privileges.

You can also log in directly as the root user if your system allows it. However, this approach is less common due to security risks.

1. Use the Login Manager: At the login screen (depending on your distribution), you can usually type root as the username and enter the corresponding password.
2. Access via Terminal: If you’re in a terminal-only session, you can type: “login” and then “root”. Then input the root password.

NOTE: Operating as root can lead to accidental system-wide changes or security vulnerabilities. It’s best practice to only elevate privileges when necessary and to log out of the root account once your tasks are complete.