Introduction

In Ubuntu, regular users do not have superuser (su) access by default for security reasons. However, you can grant a user permission to switch to the root account using su. This requires adding them to the sudo group and setting a root password.

Steps to Grant su Access

1. Enable the Root Account (If Not Already Enabled)

Ubuntu disables the root account by default. To enable it, set a root password:

Enter and confirm a new password for the root user.

2. Add the User to the sudo Group

To allow a user to use su, they must have administrative privileges. Run the following command:

Replace username with the actual user’s name.

3. Verify the Changes

Log in as the user and try switching to root using:

Enter the root password when prompted. If successful, the prompt will change to #, indicating root access.

FAQs

1. Why can’t I use su in Ubuntu by default?

Ubuntu disables the root account and encourages the use of sudo for security reasons.

2. How do I check if a user is in the sudo group?

Run:

If sudo is listed, the user has admin rights.

3. What’s the difference between su and sudo?

• su switches to the root user after authentication.
• sudo runs individual commands as root without switching users.

4. How do I disable root access again?

Lock the root account by running: