Linked Questions

44 votes
5 answers
49k views

How to NOT become a root user? Are administrators root?

I installed Ubuntu on my PC. To log in, I use the username and password I created during installation. Does this mean I am a root user? If yes, then how do I become non-root? It looks like non-root ...
FirstName LastName's user avatar
109 votes
2 answers
140k views

Why is gksu no longer installed by default?

I have always recommended pressing ALT+F2 and typing for example gksu nautilus or gksudo nautilus both are equivalent; to run graphical programs with root privileges. However, I have just installed ...
Warren Hill's user avatar
  • 22.1k
38 votes
3 answers
47k views

How to configure pkexec?

Reading these questions and answers: When to use pkexec vs. gksu/gksudo? Why is gksu no longer installed by default? brought me another one that will create problems for new users of that command: ...
Luis Alvarado's user avatar
20 votes
3 answers
6k views

Is there a desktop-neutral gksudo?

There are various tools for various desktops that aim to run a graphical application as root. gksudo, kdesudo, empower, etc... But what if I'm writing a script that could be used on any Linux desktop?...
Oli's user avatar
  • 293k
12 votes
3 answers
29k views

How to get GUI sudo password prompt without command line?

Currently, for all my commands that require root access, I have to type them out on a command line. I would like for the GUI to prompt me to key in my password, when sudo is required, instead of ...
Sean's user avatar
  • 121
18 votes
1 answer
28k views

sudo, gksudo, kdesudo and their differences?

What is the difference between sudo, kdesudo and gksudo, and when should I use each? I know that sudo allows me to run both cli and gui functions, but I've seen other people on websites using kdesudo ...
SamuelH's user avatar
  • 826
5 votes
1 answer
13k views

How to change gnome shell theme in ubuntu 14.10? [duplicate]

I want to change gnome shell theme, I use ubuntu 14.10 and user extensions don't work, can anybody help me ?
PrzemekS.'s user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
3k views

Can I use pkexec in a python script or a .desktop file?

From the following questions Why is gksu no longer installed by default? When to use pkexec vs. gksu/gksudo? we see that gksu will no longer be supported in the long term, and it will not be ...
Takkat's user avatar
  • 142k
24 votes
1 answer
4k views

When should I use pkexec and when sudo -i?

I wrote an answer advising the use of sudo -i nautilus. I know that gksu is deprecated, and I was under the impression that sudo -i is how we should run graphical applications as root without killing ...
Zanna's user avatar
  • 70.4k
3 votes
2 answers
3k views

How to use sudo from a standard user?

If I try using sudo as a non-privileged user, I get a message that the user is not in the sudoers file. I know the Administrator password, but I do not know, how to use it from a non-privileged (...
Tomáš Pečený's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
2k views

How GUI based apps ask for root password without gksudo installed?

In old ubuntu releases, I believe, GUI apps ask for root password using gksudo. Now gksudo not comes preinstalled in ubuntu. For me, if I am adding a custom launcher of a compiled executable which ...
Sijin T V's user avatar
  • 552
1 vote
3 answers
978 views

What stops someone from setting root password?

From what I can tell there is no password for root given by default, and it's considered a bad idea to set one. But then what stops me or any other user from doing sudo passwd root or something like ...
AJJ's user avatar
  • 862
1 vote
0 answers
1k views

pkexec is stating Authentication failure despite my providing root password (which is same as my user password)

Because they decided to ditch gksu for some reason, we are forced to only use pkexec. I am currently very new to Ubuntu 18.04 and I am facing this as an issue probably also because of my incompetence. ...
Charles's user avatar
  • 11
0 votes
1 answer
1k views

Create an exact root user

Is it possible to create a sudo user who has exact privileges of a root user ? If so can you guide me through how to create one using cmd. Ex: I have created a sudo user who can't restart for some ...
Hari Aakash's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
916 views

How do I execute a file as root using admin://

I have this executable: /opt/lampp/manager-linux-x64.run which needs to run as root. If I execute this with sudo /opt/lampp/manager-linux-x64.run then it works fine. I would like to add an entry to ...
Aaron Franke's user avatar
  • 1,126

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