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How to activate root user on Mac

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1 How to activate root user on Mac from Terminal
2 How to activate Root user on Mac from Directories
3 How to disable Root user on Mac from Terminal
4 How to disable Root user on Mac from Directories
5 How to change root user password on Mac

Users are an essential part of macOS since when creating it, a profile is assigned that determines the permissions and scope that this user has in the system, we can create an administrator user who has permissions to perform administrative tasks in macOS or an administrator user which will have limitations such as configuring other users, installing or uninstalling programs, etc. This is done for security reasons, but there is a user with permissions greater than the administrator and it is the root user..

 

The root user, which is also known as superuser, has been developed as a special user account for UNIX-based operating systems (macOS or Linux) and its main attribute or characteristic is that it has unrestricted read and write privileges for each user. one of the areas of the file system, for security reasons since the macOS X 10.11 version, root user access has been restricted to certain areas of the file system so that instability is not created in the event of misconfiguration.

 

 

This root user is deactivated by default in macOS and that is why in TechnoWikis we will explain how to activate it, warning of the risks of its misuse in the system..

 

 

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1 How to activate root user on Mac from Terminal

 

Step 1

This is one of the easiest methods to activate the root user in macOS, in this case open the terminal:

 

image

 

Step 2

We execute the command:
 Dsenableroot 
Step 3

Confirm the password of both the current user and the password that will be assigned to the root user (this must be confirmed):

 

We see that it has been enabled.

 

image

 

 


2 How to activate Root user on Mac from Directories

 

Step 1

Directories in macOS are used in order to add and edit advanced connections to directory servers, the computer accesses the directory servers in order to have user information and other administrative data that is hosted in the directory domain, for Using this method we open the Directories utility from Spotlight:

 

image

 

Step 2

We will see the following:

 

image

 

Step 3

We click on the lock icon and enter the password to enable the changes:

 

image

 

Step 4

We see that editing the Directory has been enabled:

 

image

 

step 5

From the "Edit" menu we click on "Activate root user":

 

image

 

Step 6

We assign the password to the root user:

 

image

 

Step 7

Apply the changes.
In both cases, when we are on the login screen we will see the following:

 

image

 

step 8

There we click on "Other" and then enter the root user and the password that has been assigned:

 

image

 

 


3 How to disable Root user on Mac from Terminal

 

Step 1

When we have finished the tasks TechnoWikis recommends you deactivate this user, in this case we open the terminal and execute the following:
 dsenableroot -d 
Note
the -d parameter allows to disable the user 8disable)

 

Step 2

We confirm the password of the root user for its deactivation:

 

image

 


4 How to disable Root user on Mac from Directories

 

Step 1

This task is also possible to perform from the macOS Directories Utility, we open the Directories utility from Spotlight :

 

image

 

Step 2

We click on the lock icon and enter the password to enable the changes:

 

image

 

Step 3

We enter the password:

 

image

 

 

Step 4

From the "Edit" menu we click on "Deactivate root user":

 

image

 

 


5 How to change root user password on Mac

 

Step 1

It is possible to change the password for greater security, open the Directories utility, click on the lock icon and enter the password to enable the changes, from the "Edit" menu we click on "Change root user password":

 

image

 

Step 2

Set the new password. Apply the changes.

 

image

 

We have learned how to manage the root user in macOS with the responsibility that comes with it..

 

 


by (3.5m points)
edited

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