Enable root account

cannot enable root account using the procedure in this link
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14281
I get to step 5 and don't see the option to enable the root account.

You can do almost everything "root" can do with "sudo" and an administrative account.  Keeping an open and "always god-mode" account around is hazardous.
Why is "root" necessary?

Similar Messages

  • How to enable root account?

    Now that Directory Utility seems to have disappeared, does anybody know how to enable the root account/change root admin password?

    Yeah, I suppose using terminal is also an option. But I'm really much more of a GUI guy, it's what I grew up using, and what I'm most comfortable with, so if I can find ways of doing things without having to use terminal, that's usually the way I go. And besides, why have a mac with such a beautiful GUI if you're not going to use it? Haha.
    I need to enable the root account as the only way my school has found to successfully install machine certificates to get our 802.x WEP wireless to work involves changing settings using the root account. Again, I'm sure there's probably a way of getting it to work using CLI and sudo, but just makes more sense for me this way.

  • Enabling the root account

    Cant quite remember how to enable root under 10.5 now that netinfo manager is gone. I know it was mentioned in a session at WWDC, however, I am on the road and don't have my note book with me.
    I'll keep playing around to see if i stumble across it, if i do i will post at my next stop (have a few on the way back - no direct flights).
    Thanks for any help.

    In the Terminal logged in as an admin user type:
    sudo passwd -u root
    BUT:
    I don't see any point in doing that!
    You can easily switch to root privileges using the "sudo" command and if you want a root-shell for convenience, you can always use either "sudo -s" or "sudo bash".
    HTH
    D

  • I am trying to activate root account on my MAC.  The directions I've seen do not match what is in System Preference for Accounts or Users

    I am trying to activate the root account on my new Mac Book Pro.  The instructions that I have found do not match what I have in System Preferences.  What is the process when using Users and Groups.  When I click on Join the Network Account Server- Open Directory Utility I don't see a option to  activate root user as the instructions say at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1528
    OS X Lion
    From the Apple menu choose System Preferences....
    From the View menu choose Users & Groups.
    Click the lock and authenticate as an administrator account.
    Click Login Options....
    Click the "Edit..." or "Join..." button at the bottom right.
    Click the "Open Directory Utility..." button.
    Click the lock in the Directory Utility window.
    Enter an administrator account name and password, then click OK.
    Choose Enable Root User from the Edit menu.
    Enter the root password you wish to use in both the Password and Verify fields, then click OK.

    Do you mean you cannot select "Enable Root User" from the "Edit" menu as shown below?
    Why do you think you need to enable the root user? I've never needed it in the history of OS X.

  • How can I transfer the root account on my computer to a regular account?

    Not sure if this in the correct category, but anyway...
    Back in October 2010, I installed a Java update or something on my regular account, and it broke the account for some reason. I had no other account to use except for the root user that I enabled previously (just for testing). I logged into it and used it as my regular account, checking every so often to check if my regular account fixed itself. Sadly, it didn’t (at the time), but after a while, I upgraded my computer to Snow Leopard (I was previously running Leopard), I found that my old account finally fixed itself. Immediately, I attempted to copy over all of my files from the root account to the other account. I went onto the account, and it seemed to be a fresh account, so I assumed that it didn’t register the account files as legitimate and I guess it made it into a new account. I gave up after fiddling with it for a bit. To this day, I’m still using the root user as my main account, but a lot of things are broken (like Spotlight, Mail search, some other things) and I’d just like to know a clean way I could easily transfer all of the stuff from the root user to my old account (including all of the Library files and such). Please don’t say “You shouldn’t have used the root user because it’s really dangerous,” or whatever. I’ve been responsible with it for almost 2 years and I don’t think I could’ve done anything else. Thanks for any help.

    Its doable with Terminal. Log into your new userfolder in the /Users/ folder and open Terminal and say:
    whoami
    This is the owner of your newly transferred files.
    Log into your root account and Launch Terminal. You will use the scp (secure copy) command to copy your files over to the new userfolder, replacing PathToNewFolder with the path to your new folder:
    cd /PathToNewFolder
    scp -r /private/var/root/* .
    The copied files will all have ownership of root account, so you will then set ownership of all the files to your new username that you remember from above, replacing "NewName" with your new username:
    $USER=NewName
    find . -exec chown $USER:admin {} \;
    find . -type d -exec chmod 750 {} \;
    find . -type f -exec chmod 640 {} \;
    chmod 755 Library
    find Library -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;
    find Library -type f -exec chmod 600 {} \;
    chmod 755 Library/Autosave\ Information Library/Application\ Support Library/Keychains Library/Application\ Support/Terminal
    chmod 644 Library/Preferences/QuickTime\ Preferences Library/Keychains/* Library/Favorites/* Library/Caches/com.apple.preferencepanes.cache Library/Caches/com.apple.preferencepanes.searchindexcache
    chmod 755 Public ~/Sites
    chmod 733 Public/Drop\ Box
    find Sites -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;
    find Sites -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;
    Then you can login to your new account with all your stuff hopefully intact. If anything doesn't work respond here and it can be fixed.

  • Can't set password for Root account

    I have rebuilt my macbook from scratch not from a backup ,  I then opened Terminal and typed sudo passwd root  (got the message) entered a password, I got Sorry try again.  tryed again same thing, I definately reinstalled from scratch therefore my root password should have been empty.  How do I set my root password???? Thank you

    I got it - Apple Menu- System preferences-Accounts - Login Option - Join -Open Directory Utility ...- Edit (menu)
    enable root password

  • How to enable root user in Yosemite

    I see in SEARCH how to enable root user in LION but not Yosemite. Does anyone know how? The sys prefs button choices is different so can't find out how to do.

    Do a backup before doing anything. To delete them you will need to enable the Root User and log in as the Root User. You need to be very careful while logged in as the Root User because you can delete any file and could potentially ruin your system. As soon as the non-functioning applications are deleted, log out and use your normal account. Did I mention doing a backup?
    Root User

  • Very strange: can not enable root.

    One of my old G4 behaves very strange, unless everything is running very well, I can't log in as root.
    Also after enabling root in NetInfo manager, I can't login as root, neither as user nor using SSH.
    I resetted the Pasword using the Install-DVD. But still no effect.
    Finally i deleted the root account using NetInfoManager and deleted the root home dirctory /private/var/root.
    So I was able to activate root in NIM again, restarted the local NetInfo-Domain and again: nothing.
    It is complete impossible to log into this machine as root. But I have to.
    Making a complete new install on this mac will cost me at least one day, so this is not an option.
    Workin since ever with lots of macs, I never faced such a strange thing. Please help!

    Should the features and access you require not work in 10.4.11, you may have to
    consider installing a new system folder and update that; if the issue really is one
    of some unusual happening and the superuser or root user is inaccessible.
    Are you sure you really need root user access? There are other ways to do stuff.
    You appear to have already tried the basic steps to gain root level access:
    "Enabling the Root User" - an Apple Help 10.4 support document:
    - http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/mh1549.html
    This thread really does show more than one way to handle the issue...
    "How do I enable root user? - 10.5.x"
    {includes a 'command line editor" discussion - and other detailed options}
    - http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1910434&tstart=0
    There may also be some helpful access to command line and other
    super user or unix baseline methods in the OnyX utility from Titanium
    Software, the free-running user interface utility. I've seen this section
    in there but have no need presently to experiment with it.
    In any event, see if the second link above is helpful; it may be.
    Good luck & happy computing!

  • Changing short name - cannot enable root user??

    Hi I encountered a problem trying to enable the root user in order to follow the steps to change my short name. As I follow the steps into opening Directory Utility and entering my administrator account name and password. Here's where I'm stuck at, there is no "Edit" button asking me to enable the root user. Anyone have any idea what I should do now?

    ow88 wrote:
    Alright I have no idea why I can't edit my own post, but anyways..
    You only have about 10 minutes to edit.
    did a little research, turns out it gets more complicating than that. It messes up your files, locks you out, and you lose being your own adminstrator? But since I have nothing saved, this doesn't affect me right?
    In Directory Utility.app (in utilities) unlock the lock, lower left by clicking on it. Then in the menu, top left on your screen, under Edit, click Enable Root user and proceed.
    You can also enable the root in a terminal by entering
    sudo passwd root
    and first entering your regular admin password and then selecting a root password, which should not be the same as your admin password for obvious reasons.
    After that you are on your own, but I suggest first backing the OS up since there might be unexpected consequences from changing the short name. Even if you have nothing saved, you might find that the OS gets hosed for some reason and you have to do a complete reinstall. Using a TM or clone backup makes this a trivial thing to do. Otherwise, it's starting from scratch and updating everything all over again.

  • Cannot enable root user

    When I set up my user account last year when I got this computer, I am pretty sure I remember a shortname being filled in or suggested to me, and it had an uppercase character for its first letter. So, my short name is "Name" -- except, you know, instead of "Name" it's my first name.
    Anyway, I haven't had any issues until I installed 1Password. I'm having some trouble keeping it in sync, and ran a troubleshooting app as part of their guidance and I see that they say an issue is that my shortname contains an uppercase letter, when in fact it should be all lowercase.
    I find mixed reviews online of whether all lowercase in the short name is still a thing—I've found a few places that say uppercase letters were allowed in 10.6.8, but others say that it should be all lowercase and I need to change my shortname.
    I'd really rather not change it, but just to see how I would do it if I ended up having to, I checked out these instructions http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1428. I got hung up on enabling the root user, though, because I'm not able to select "Enable root user" from the edit menu. It's always grayed out.
    I then found this Apple doc on enabling the root user in Mountain Lion: http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11331?viewlocale=en_US but it's nothing different. "Enable root user" is still always grayed out in the edit menu.
    So... Is there no way I can enable the root user? I'm running 10.8.

    FWIW, enabling the root user account to change a user's shortname is taking a sledgehammer to put a tack in a wall to hang a picture. Better is to follow this:
    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3872.
    I've not enabled the root user account since installing OS X in 2002 and I use the Terminal and the CLI routinely.

  • Mountain Lion won't allow me to enable root user

    Hi, I'm new to everything Mac, but I'm trying to learn.  Just purchased a used mid-2011 iMac from an individual.  I love the iMac.  Just a few kinks to work out.  One is that he had originally named either the user account or home directory (I still can't figure out which) and i'd like to change that name.  I found an Apple support article on this (Article HT1428) and I am hopeful it will work for me.  However, the first step is to enable the root user.  I went to Article PH11331 to follow steps to enable the root user.  However, when I select Edit from within the Directory Utility, I am unable to select "Enable Root User", or even "Disable Root User" or "Change Root Password" for that matter.  These options are either not there or are greyed out ("Enable Root User" is greyed out).  So I have failed to even jump the first hurdle (enabling root user) towards my goal of changing the user account or home directory name (sorry I don't know which is which).  Can anyone offer some advice please?  Thanks!

    Mac Basics: Time Machine
    Back up all data to at least two different storage devices.
    Boot into Recovery, launch Disk Utility, and erase the startup volume. This operation will destroy all data on the volume, so you had be better be sure of your backups. Install OS X. If your Mac was upgraded from an older version of OS X, you’ll need the Apple ID and password you used to upgrade, so make a note of those before you begin.
    When you reboot, you'll be prompted to go through the initial setup process. That’s when you transfer the data from one of your backups. For a walkthrough, see here:
    Using Setup Assistant
    Don't transfer the Guest account, if it was enabled on the old system.
    Note: You need an always-on Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection to the Internet to use Recovery. It won’t work with USB or PPPoE modems, or with networks that require any kind of authentication other than a WPA or WPA2 Personal password.

  • How to launch an App with Root privileges - without enabling "root" user ac

    Is there a reliable way to launch an Application so that it can run with "root" privileges, but without enabling the OSX root account and logging in to that account?
    There is an old (and, presumably, obsolete) application called "Pseudo" which used to facilitate this, but I doubt it would be safe or reliable under OSX 10.5.
    So, does anyone have any suggestions?

    For a more permanent method, run the following command on the same file:
    sudo chmod u+s
    if the item is owned by root. This may be undone by the repair permissions command.
    (27138)

  • Where is the "enable root"

    Hi. I wana to enable root user in mac os 10.6.3 but I cannot find it when opening the Director Utility!!!!
    I read this article http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1428  but still cannot find Enable Root User from the Edit menu.

    This only works, if you have enabled the root account before ;-) so here you are again ;-)
    BobHarris wrote:
    Start an Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal session and enter
    sudo passwd root
    Password:   enter your admin password here
    Changing password for root.
    New password:
    Retype new password:
    The root account should now be enabled.  You are now free to aim at your foot.
    NOTE: these days most power users can get along using just the sudo command without enabling root.  If they need a root prompt, then just enter
    sudo -s
    or
    sudo su -
    It is possible to set up ssh-keygen keys for root that allow remote ssh logins for unattended backups from a backup server, all without enabling the root account.
    So at least once you have to go through the enable sequence mentioned above.
    If root account is disabled only sudo works, but you cannot do anything like "su root" or "sudo passwd root", that addresses the root account itself, since it is disabled.
    But I agree, I do not remember any situation where in a Terminal session "su root" was necessary. In all cases using sudo was sufficient.

  • Newbie to Mac - help with root account?

    I recently bought a used Macbook Pro from someone which is running the latest OS 10.6.2. This is my first Mac (I'm a former Windows guy), and didn't think to check if they set a root password. There was not a password on the admin account. When I type su, it prompts for a password, but I don't know what it is. I'm unable to get in contact with the person I purchased the machine from, and they didn't give me the original CDs.
    1) How do I tell is root IS enabled or not?
    2) If it is, is there a way to disable/remove it as Admin?
    I've tried following the directions from http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1528 but I don't see the edit button it is referring to in the instructions. Any assistance is appreciated. Here's the instructions I was trying to follow.
    How to disable the root user
    Mac OS X v10.6 and later
    1. From the Apple menu choose System Preferences....
    2. From the View menu choose Accounts.
    3. Click on the lock and authenticate with an administrator account.
    4. Click Login Options....
    5. Click the "Edit..." button at the bottom right
    6. Click the "Open Directory Utility..." button.
    7. Click the lock in the Directory Utility window.
    8. Enter an administrator account name and password, then click OK.
    9. Choose Disable Root User from the Edit menu.

    Hi
    You're in the wrong forum. You should be here:
    http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=263
    +"How do I tell if root is enabled or not?"+
    On the Client OS root is not enabled by default and it does not have a password set either. For the sudo or su command to work you will need to define a password for root.
    What is it about the instructions you don't understand?
    Select System Preferences from the Apple Menu, click on Accounts, click on Login Options, click Join, click the Open Directory button. The Directory Utility program should now launch. Click the lock in the bottom left hand corner and authenticate using the name and password of the admin account you already have. If there is no password set for that account just click OK. In the Menu Bar for that utility/application you should see an Edit Menu. It will be between the File and Window Menus. Click on the Menu and 3rd from bottom what do you see?
    You could also enable root by using passwd from the command line:
    passwd root
    The rest should be fairly obvious from there?
    Tony

  • Can't enable root user in single user mode

    hey, im having a problem. I cant enable the root user in single user mode. This is what I do:
    1.boot in single user mode
    2.I run the command /sbin/fsck -fy
    3.I run the command /sbin/mount -uw /
    4.I run the command passwd
    5.I type the password and then I retype it, but it gives me an error saying passwd: cant change password for root the account is not enabled (thats not exactly what it said, but you get the point)
    this worked in leopard, why dosent it work now? can someone give me an alternative way or tell me what im doing wrong?
    P.S. give me an actual answer not a why enable root? and I dont want to use directory utility.

    The command is wrong man. Do the following:
    Boot into S.U. Mode (Cmd+S).
    once the terminal prompt opens, type the following:
    mount -uw / ("mount"+space+"-uw"+space+slash)
    launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.opendirectoryd.plist
    passwd root
    (after you press enter it will ask the password for the root user. Type it, even if it won't show any character. Then type again to confirm. Once you had finished type: exit).
    Test it and post the results.

Maybe you are looking for