HT204012: Enabling and using the "root" user in OS X

Learn about Enabling and using the "root" user in OS X
drhiteshk
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Root User

In the directory Utility window... Root User doesnt show.. I am looged in as an administrator.. I am using Mountain Lion

Posted on Sep 23, 2015 9:45 PM

Close
drhiteshk

Q: Root User

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris Sep 24, 2015 6:26 AM in response to drhiteshk
    Level 6 (19,292 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 24, 2015 6:26 AM in response to drhiteshk

    A) you should not need to have root enabled.

     

    B) have you looked at the Edit menu?

    Screen Shot 2015-09-24 at 9.19.36 AM.png

    There are several ways to get temporary root privileges without enabling the root account (speaking as someone that used to be logged in as 'root' all the time from 1988 through 2004 on various Unix systems, and before that as 'SYSTEM' on VAX/VMS systems.  I no longer do that and either use the Terminal 'sudo' command or I've got an ssh-keygen key in the root account's .ssh/authorized_keys file so I can securely ssh into the root account as needed (mostly for rsync backups over the network).  But at no time is the root account password enabled on these systems.

  • by Eric Root,Helpful

    Eric Root Eric Root Sep 25, 2015 9:48 AM in response to drhiteshk
    Level 9 (70,224 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 25, 2015 9:48 AM in response to drhiteshk

    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