How to Login to Ubuntu as Root User?

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Saad Hamid on April 16, 2008

At times where Linux provides a secure and healthy environment for users, it makes other things even more complicated and intricate. Despite being such a user-friendly operating system, it is not that easy to login to Ubuntu as a root user.

Root user has all the administrator privileges so whenever you need to edit system files or configuration from within Gnome, you will feel the need to login to Ubuntu as a root user. But the question is here is "How to login to Ubuntu as a root user?"

Just follow the steps below:

Open the terminal and type: sudo passwd root
When you see the prompt that says "Enter new UNIX password", enter the password you want for the root user and confirm it.
Type: sudo gedit /etc/X11/gdm/gdm.conf
Locate the line that says "AllowRoot=false". Change it to "AllowRoot=true".
Save the file
Exit gedit, logout and then reboot.

I used the same method when I wanted to login as root user to edit configuration files of my graphics card and everything worked great. However the only issue in this case is that by logging to Ubuntu as root you are making your operating system more vulnerable.

For Ubuntu users it is recommended to use the account which they created on time of install and use the "sudo" command while in terminal to execute commands as root user.

http://planetademonoz.wordpress.com Braincrapped

Bad bad bad idea, really.

Never run X with root’s power, there isn’t a reason to do that. If you need to configure something as root-root use sudo properly: ‘sudo -i’
Mike

I aggree that you should not login to X as root. But Ubuntu style to use sudo is very bad bad bad idea too. If you always login using user who has sudo rights it’s even more dangerous than to login as a root.
Michael

You say to edit the gdm.conf file to allow root log in. Well you can edit the “Log In Window” settings under the System > Administration menu you to do this easier. Under the “Security” tab enable “Allow local system administrator log in”.
boss

I agree with Michael’s idea
It worked.
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Matthew

Actually thanx a lot Michael…my linux system stuck and I couldn’t install nothing…now its cool
jason

I tried this but sudo gedit /etc/X11/gdm/gdm.conf just opens a blank page with no text ???
r jesse

hi Jason
i tried sudo gedit /etc/X11/gdm/gdm.conf and it didnt work for me either! BUT: there is a better way to just do that! guess what: go to prompt and type:

$locate gdm.conf

where you will get something like:

/etc/gdm/gdm.conf
/etc/gdm/gdm.conf-custom
/etc/gdm/gdm.conf~
…etc

to me the above was my output.

this gives you a whole lots of locations where files with name *like* gdm.conf can be found. THIS IS THE FILE WE NEED TO EDIT.

you can tell from the listing that the first option is the one we r after (or it depends on your output but look for EXACTLY “gdm.conf” file), so you can go for you gedit command now: remove the /X11/ and type it like:

sudo gedit /etc/gdm/gdm.conf

..there we r…

r jesse
Dar.
Sus

Michael
April 20, 2008 at 6:51 pm

You say to edit the gdm.conf file to allow root log in. Well you can edit the “Log In Window” settings under the System > Administration menu you to do this easier. Under the “Security” tab enable “Allow local system administrator log in”.
- whysoserious1
  
  there is no security tab in administration menu please help me i want to copy one file in “bin” folder but error is occur when coping u r not owner how i can copy that file in bin folder
StOlEnDeStInY

For all the tweaks I ever had to make, I never needed to login as root.. If I do have to work directly with files and not use terminal, just write

gksudo nautilus
Bailey

Everything I try and edit shows this:
Could not find the file /etc/X11/gdm/gdm.conf.
Please check that you typed the location correctly and try again

Or it says I dont have permission.
http://achvk-netoworks.ir ahmad

hi
this is very bad command
this command is Bad
/etc/X11/gdm/gdm.conf

this is well :
/etc/gdm/gdm.conf

you can edit with graphical mode
Thanks
Ahmad Choopani , iran
AchVK
BlueStreak

Correction in Point 3:
it's
sudo gedit /etc/gdm/gdm.conf
BlueStreak

Correction in Point 3:
it's
sudo gedit /etc/gdm/gdm.conf
MRKRaju

Hi, Braincrapped

Thank You
i was trying to install VMWare so i need root access

sudo -i worked

MRKRaju
Itchyfinger

BAAAAD, BAAAAAAAAAAAAD idea, sheeple!

I wish people would get the facts straight before they go bleeting one way or the other on how something impacts Ubuntu system security, because it's important for all users, new and old, to know the straight dope. Not only do they need it explained in non-superstitious terms what they can and can't do while logged in as user or root, but they need better justification for the restrictions in play. It takes this sort of review process to perfect a system, and the perfect system is NOT the most secure one – fact is that the most secure system is also the most useless.

While I know only a little myself, being a fairly new user, I WENT AND TRIED THE FIX FIRST BEFORE FORMING MY OPINION! The result is that I no longer get some asinine hassle when I want to browse partitions which are BY DEFAULT less security-sensitive than my system partition, and since you don't need root priveleges to write to your system partitions in Ubuntu (not so with other distros), THEN I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WERE YOU UBUNTU ENGINEERS THINKING IN MAKING AN ISSUE OF BROWSING SECONDARY PARTITIONS?

Anyway, despite being able to browse your own files while logged in as root, you still can't change your system files without the sudo command – I tried that, and it won't let me. Very strange, but that's how it works.
Itchyfinger

In summary (see above), total write-access does not exist any more (or any less) between a logged-in user and logged-in root user without the use or the sudo command, and then the only thing which non-root-user-status can make particularly difficult is access to partitions not containing his system (unless of course the system is on a separate partition from his home directory).
Itchyfinger

I wish people would get the facts straight before they go bleeting one way or the other on how something impacts Ubuntu system security, because it's important for all users, new and old, to know the straight dope. Not only do they need it explained in non-superstitious terms what they can and can't do while logged in as user or root, but they need better justification for the restrictions in play. It takes this sort of review process to perfect a system, and the perfect system is NOT the most secure one – fact is that the most secure system is also the most useless.

While I know only a little myself, being a fairly new user, I went and tried tried the first fix before forming my opinion! The result is that I no longer get some asinine hassle when I want to browse partitions which are BY DEFAULT less security-sensitive than my system partition, and since you don't need root priveleges to write to your system partitions in Ubuntu (not so with other distros), Then I want to know what were you Ubuntu Engineers thinking in making an issue of browsing secondary partitions?

Anyway, despite being able to browse your own files while logged in as root, you still can't change your system files without the sudo command – I tried that, and it won't let me. Very strange, but that's how it works.
Itchyfinger

In summary (see above), total write-access does not exist any more (or any less) between a logged-in user and logged-in root user without the use or the sudo command, and then the only thing which non-root-user-status can make particularly difficult is access to partitions not containing his system (unless of course the system is on a separate partition from his home directory).
http://www.facebook.com/people/Lindi-Maringlen/100000158102520 Lindi Maringlen

this is cool man
ihateubuntu

sudo: gedit: command not found
- tmath
  
  Take out the colons, ihateubuntu. Just type in sudo gedit, no extra punctuation.
Donald

it says command not found….now what
Nick

thank you!
binay

i just got ubuntu as my os i wanna remuve it plz help me out
sathiskumar

iam trying this cmd.bt not open the root user.its saying gtk-warring cannot open display.how can i open root account????????
Debian-root

The power of root is almighty and easily can render a system useless. That is one way of learning. However there are instances where root login is needed, not only to do admin tasks, but to create files/folder with the owner root. A mate is frustrated as he can not make apps work on the iPhone using Ubuntu, but I can using Debian. There is nothing wrong with his files, but iPhone only except files with root ownership. If you can not login as root you do not get root ownership of files, at least not very easy.
- Psychoscout
  
  This makes no sense, you can just use the command
  $gksudo nautilus
  
  This opens an explorer with root permissions, no need to login as root which is dangerous for inexperienced users.
  
  ~Psy
JohnSmith

Why did they even make it this difficult?
Say what you want about windows but at least they dont treat you like a child.
It's my computer. Let me do what I want without this sudo bs.
That is all.
quad

desktop:~$ sudo gedit /etc/X11/gdm/gdm.conf

(gedit:2958): Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: “ubuntulooks”,
quad

desktop:~$ sudo gedit /etc/X11/gdm/gdm.conf

(gedit:2958): Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: “ubuntulooks”,
glennp1954

I find it rather ridiculous all the exclamations of “you shouldn't do this” or “you'll render it unusable if you do that”. “Don't EVER log on as ROOT” shiver, shiver, shiver. Enough already. It is extremely and painfully obvious that there are functions you cannot do without being logged on as root. And if I end up destroying MY O/S on MY machine that is certainly MY problem. So I'll have to go back, reload and start all over again. That is my headache. I'll take full and complete responsibility for whatever actions you might consider as ridiculously stupid on my part. I surely hope that helps. Why can't we get simple questions answered by the nice folks on this forum without being browbeaten about it?

I have been trying to install and configure various software services on my new Ubuntu install for a week now. As best I can tell it can't be done easily unless I am logged on as root. I have tried the suggestions as to how to turn on root login and I do not see the same options as listed. I have installed Ubuntu 9.10. When I go to System->Administration->Login Screen all options are locked. I cannot find a gdm.conf file that contains a root login option.

How can I get logged in using root so I can finish installing and setting up my software? Please, please, please if your response is to browbeat me, don't respond. If you have a sane and knowledgeable response I need your help.

This all started when I couldn't get osCommerce to work properly on my windows xp machine and got browbeaten because I was “too stupid to use Linux”. Now it has so far been a nightmare trying to get Linux installed and everything implemented so I can start testing again.

Sorry for the soapbox. This has been a frustrating experience.
- RemoteONE
  
  I undertand exactly. I can't update codecs and plugins for Movie,
  the ubuntu deault movie player without root permissions. This seems to be a Linux MO. I think I will need to login as root as standard operating procedure before installing apps or upgrades. Then fall back to user login for normal usage?
  But if your using osCommerce, your setting yourself up for hard work and years of struggle. I went to csCart and have not looked back.
  - remoteONE
    
    Cant locate the gdm.conf file on Ubuntu 9.10
    $locate gdm.conf returns “gdm.conf: command not found”
    
    Where is this file in server 9.10?
- Menconiusa
  
  I had same issue as you. Turns out the first part where I changed the password was enough. Have you tried choosing other user at login prompt and trying your root / newly made pw combo?
  - glennp1954
    
    It was easy!! I just quit using Ubuntu. No more problems with Ubuntu. No need to ask questions and get chastized for “breaking the rules”. It appears you can't do anything in the Linux world unless you can magically absorb knowledge and experience and not have to ask these useless and inane questions.
- Mdmann
  
  I agree 100% with your first paragraph. I have been using Linux as my primary operating system since about 1998 (TurboLinux, to RedHat, to Fedora, to Ubuntu), and I have almost always, on every system I’ve created and been the sole user on, logged in and done everyday work under the root account. I’m on the computer several hours a day, and have not hosed a system yet. Not one. I get sick of typing sudo after just a few times. If you just pay attention to what you’re doing, you shouldn’t have a problem.
Fadi Tamimi

Hello
I would thank you very much for you declaration as I had suffered from being search on my root account, I had successfully changed the root password but when I tried to open the file gdm.conf I could not find the path gdm under X11 ??? please notice that I am using Ubuntu 10.04 Desktop

thanks again
regards
A.Y. Siu

“It is extremely and painfully obvious that there are functions you cannot do without being logged on as root.”

sudo -i for a persistent root prompt. gksudo nautilus for a root-privileged file browser.

Logging in as root is wholly unnecessary and actually inconvenient.
- Jeof Adriel
  
  Thanks a lot. I think this is better than logging as root.
http://www.facebook.com/neorecon Matthew Cousins

I'm stuck at part 3. /etc/X11/gdm/gdm.conf doesn't exsist…..
https://launchpad.net/~dracid DrAcid

Guys, in Lucid Lynx You can just go up to the step#2 and afterwards go to the login screen, click “Others” and type “root”, then enter chosen password… voila…
No conf file change needed
http://khup.com GHead

Thanks for the tutorial.
I agree with you. The password box when install something is really annoying.
Taylor

When I open gdm.conf to edit, I get a blank document.
I’m running Ubuntu Studio Edition 10.10

What is the issue I’m having

I did everything before correctly…

I’d love some help.
d shyam

(gedit:8171): Gtk-WARNING **: Attempting to set the permissions of `/root/.local/share/recently-used.xbel’, but failed: No such file or directory
http://www.facebook.com/nicheljangiti Nichel Jangiti

The ubuntu root is not accesable most times that a BUG for certain, that’s the reason to lookinto FreeBSD and Debian for source documentation. No luck still can someone write on ubu they got no code fixes on the man site

How to Login to Ubuntu as Root User?

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