Root User in Ubuntu- Important Things You Should Know

Why are we waiting? Let’s get into business.

Editor’s Choice – How To Unlock Bootloader On Any Motorola Moto Phones

Ave battery power, boost performance by killing background apps

There are apps, as you may know, that run in the background and use up valuable resources of your device. Also, apps running in the background also use up battery power, not good if you’re trying to extend the battery life per day of your device.

Greenify is one of our faves when we talk about root-only apps. Greenify is an app where you can automate the killing of background apps, not allowing them to run without your permission. You can set your app kill list one time, and the app will just do it for you every time the device needs it.

3d illustration of a large wrench and screwdriver lying in a cross over top of a framed glowing green Google Android logo

In a series of related articles about rooting, we first discussed with you and gave you a clear idea of what rooting is and what it allows you to do. Quite recently, we also pointed you in the general direction of how to gain root access for your Android device. It’s not quite the same for all devices, but there are some common tasks you have to go through to gain root. Now that we’ve been through all that, here are some top things you can do with a rooted Android device that you won’t be able to do on one that has stock software.

By default, Ubuntu disables the root account. You must use the sudo command for any tasks requiring root privileges.

This is for your own security, of course. Using the system as root all the time is like running around with a sword in your hand. It increases the chances of messing up things.

Logging in as root is still common in the servers. On the desktop side, it’s quite rare to log in as root. Even Kali Linux has changed it.

in this guide, I will show you how to log in as a root in your GNOME desktop using Ubuntu.

How to login as a root in the GNOME desktop

I won’t advise login as root on the desktop. You have sudo mechanism for all your root needs. Do it only if you have a good enough reason. This tutorial is for demo purposes only. You have been cautioned.

Enable root account

You want to log in as root. But the root account is disabled by default. The first step is to enable it.

Change the root account password that will eventually enable the root account for you:

sudo passwd root

It goes without saying that you should not forget the root password.

Change GDM configuration

Ubuntu uses GNOME by default and GNOME uses the GDM display manager.

To allow log in as root into GNOME, you need to make some changes in the GDM configuration file located at /etc/gdm3/custom.conf.

Make a backup of the config file:

cp /etc/gdm3/custom.conf /etc/gdm3/custom.conf~

In the worst case, if you somehow mess things up, the back up file can be used to replace the existing one from the TTY.

sudo nano /etc/gdm3/custom.conf

Press Ctrl+X to exit Nano while saving it.

Configure PAM authentication

sudo nano /etc/pam.d/gdm-password

Save changes and exit from the nano text editor.

Log in as root

Now, reboot your system:

Logging as root (Click to enlarge)

That’s it! Now, you are running your Ubuntu system as a root.

Things you should know when running the system as a root user

There is a reason why Ubuntu disables a root account by default. Want to know why? Here you have it:

Why do you need to change the password in Ubuntu? Let me give you a couple of scenarios.

Change user password in Ubuntu [Command Line]

If you want to change your current password, simply run this command in a terminal:

You’ll be asked to enter your current password and the new password twice.

You won’t see anything on the screen while typing the password. This is perfectly normal behavior for UNIX and Linux.

Change Password using passwd

Sometimes, the passwd command will throw errors like:Small Password: If the new password is shorter than 8 charactersFails Dictionary Check: Does not contain enough different characters. So, use some other characters than just numbers and try again.

If you changed your password and forgot it later, don’t worry. You can easily reset Ubuntu password.

How to Reset Forgotten Ubuntu Password in 2 Minutes

Change (or set) the root password in Ubuntu

You can set or change root password using the passwd command. However, in most cases, you don’t need it and you shouldn’t be doing it.

Now, about changing the root password.

Else, you can change it using the existing root password.

Change Ubuntu password using GUI

I have used GNOME desktop with Ubuntu 22.04 here. The steps should be more or less the same for other desktop environments and Ubuntu versions.

Go to Overview (press Windows/Super key) and search for Settings.

Now, select Set password Now option on the dialog box and type and confirm the new password. If you are changing your own password, you’ll also have to enter your current password.

More on user passwords in Linux

Passwd command in Linux: 8 Practical Examples

Here’s a fun thing you can do with sudo so that it makes fun of you when you enter incorrect password.

And get familiar with the Seahorse password manager app in Linux desktops.

Seahorse: Manage Your Passwords & Encryption Keys in Linux

Either you run commands with root privilege like this:

What is root user? Why is it locked in Ubuntu?

You don’t need to have root privilege for your daily tasks like moving file in your home directory, downloading files from internet, creating documents etc.

Take this analogy for understanding it better. If you have to cut a fruit, you use a kitchen knife. If you have to cut down a tree, you have to use a saw. Now, you may use the saw to cut fruits but that’s not wise, is it?

Does this mean that you cannot be root in Ubuntu or use the system with root privileges? No, you can still have root access with the help of ‘sudo’ (explained in the next section).

How to run commands as root user in Ubuntu?

So, how do you run commands as root? The simple answer is to add sudo before the commands that require to be run as root.

sudo apt update

If you are absolutely new to Linux, you might be surprised that when you start typing your password in the terminal, nothing happens on the screen. This is perfectly normal because as the default security feature, nothing is displayed on the screen. Not even the asterisks (*). You type your password and press enter.

Bottom line:To run commands as root in Ubuntu, add sudo before the command.When asked for password, enter your account’s password.When you type the password on the screen, nothing is visible. Just keep on typing the password and press enter.

How to become root user in Ubuntu?

The sudo command allows you to simulate a root login shell with this command:

You’ll notice that when you switch to root, the shell command prompt changes from $ (dollar key sign) to # (pound key sign). This makes me crack a (lame) joke that pound is stronger than dollar.

If you try to use the su command without sudo, you’ll encounter ‘su authentication failure’ error.

How to enable root user in Ubuntu?

Again, this is not recommended and I won’t encourage you to do that on your desktop. If you forgot it, you won’t be able to change the root password in Ubuntu again.

sudo passwd -dl root

I hope you have a slightly better understanding of the root concept now. If you still have some confusion and questions about it, please let me know in the comments. I’ll try to answer your questions and might update the article as well.

A “process error” when installing Magisk is usually caused when the app doesn’t have storage permission. So you can fix it by clearing app data.

I can’t root Honor 7S with Magisk

If MagiskHide or SafetyNet starts failing after an update to either Magisk, the app, or both you can fix it by toggling MagiskHide off and on (also see ”Test MagiskHide”).

Unable to repack boot image

Q : I tried to install MAGISK v16.O using MAGISK installer. But there is a message saying, Installation failed with (! Unable to repack boot image! Failed! ! Installation failed). What can I do to get rid of this?

A: Just try uninstalling v15.3 first and then install v16.0 clean.

Create full and usable backups of your device

Rooting is the gateway o tweaking your device and personalizing it to your heart’s content. Unfortunately, tweaking also means you will eventually get something wrong, or that a tweak isn’t compatible with your device. These mistakes can lead to corrupting the whole operating system, rendering the device unusable, or actually bricking the device. In situations like these, you are likely to lose important data.

Enter Titanium Backup, a “root only” app that allows you to create a full backup of your device before you start tweaking it. Creating a backup means that you can go back to a certain point in your device’s life even if you make a mistake in your tweaks, and that you’re less likely to lose valuable data.

Install audio tweaks

One of the tweaks you can use for your Android device is to flash a better audio processing app than the one installed stock. A bit of research needs to be done when selecting which audio processing app you would like installed. You can try to install Viper4Android, one of the more popular audio enhancement apps for this event, or you can flash the Dolby Atmos app to bring up the quality of your music on your device.

Magisk keeps uninstalling

Q: During the past 4 days I had to re-install Magisk 16.3 at least 4 times a day. Because it keeps uninstalling itself. I have previously experienced this issue with Magisk, but it has gotten worse instead of being solved.

A: After uninstalling, you can try flashing the stock boot image from your ROM/firmware package/factory image.

The Top 10 Thing You Need to Do with Rooted Android

You will have very many ways to increase RAM for your rooted android which you should give priority. You can partition the SD card or use apps to help add RAM to your rooted android all of which are sure to work wonders. With increased RAM, your android device will start working at very high speeds.

Overlocking

This will be an equally wonderful thing to do immediately after rooting your android device. With this, it will help to improve on the clocking speed for the processor especially in a Smartphone. This also helps to improve the speeds of the device but you should not try it as a beginner. Overlocking demands specialized skills so don’t attempt that on your own if you lack such knowledge.

Add internal memory

Most of the android devices like Smartphone have very limited internal memory and it will be good to increase that after rooting. With limited internal memory, you will not have it easy installing apps to your android device. This will be a very important step to take especially if you intend to install more and more apps to your rooted android device.

Install themes

Whether it’s a Smartphone or tablet, it will be good to add themes for making them more attractive as well as spur productivity. Go for personalized themes to create a special attachment with your android device. Very minimal steps will be involved so you don’t have to get worried about spending all your time on that. You will get free themes as well as those that you will pay for so no limitations on choices to make.

Remove bloatware

For beginners, bloatware is anything including apps in your android device that you don’t need to use anymore. They are only there to eat up space for no good reason and should be deleted immediately you have rooted your android device. You will have more storage space for your device which will in turn increase its operating speed. Some of these apps are pre-installed and will require rooting to get rid of.

Unroot

It is not always that rooting android comes with advantages. In rare cases, you will experience drawbacks like depleted warranty and the best choice will be to unroot. The same way it was easy rooting, it will be much easier unrooting so don’t hesitate from taking such a bold step once you feel that rooting is not helpful. You should only unroot your android devices after rooting when there is a genuine reason to do that. It should not be for fun. It might appear and sound to be very unpopular but unrooting is one of the first things to do after rooting android.

Install vital apps

After you have rooted your android device, there will be some apps that you will need to try out and installing them must be the first thing to do. This will be the time to install all apps that you were unable to install prior to rooting your android device but you must be choosy on what you settle for. Understand every app that you want to install after the root to be sure you are not making a mistake.

Enjoy HD games

If you are a lover of games that will be one of the important things to accomplish first after rooting your android device. It does not matter the type of device you have since android supports an array of HD games to play. When you root, it will allow you to play even heavy games on your android device even if they were never supported before you rooted. Any game will run smoothly on a rooted android device.

Check the root

How sure is you that the rooting process has been successful or not? You will have to check over what you have done to get that answer right. Actually, this has to be the very first thing to do because your root must be flawless from the onset. You must be sure that the rooting is done in the best way since that will be the assurance that it’s ready to give the best performance. You can decide to use a root checker app to make the process faster and effective.

Flash custom ROMs

Install a performance booster

There’s a great app called “L Speed” which is a pretty useful Android tweaking app. Most of the tweaks in this app pertain to the performance part of the device, even up to giving it a RAM boost, tweaking the way your device’s RAM is used, and even if apps should be allowed to continue to run in certain situations. L Speed is one of the most comprehensive performance boosting apps out there – but we’re pretty sure there are lots more.

One thing in common with these performance tweaking apps is that most of them are root-only apps, you will not be to tweak these system parameters if you do not have root access.

I unroot Honor 7S but still the apps say my mobile is rooted.

Q: I completely unrooted my mobile a few days back. But still, many apps say that the device is rooted. Thereafter I rooted my device using Magisk HIDE. Please help me!

A: If your bootloader is unlocked, they will report your device as a rooted device. According to your description, Magisk Hide alone has failed to do the job. I suggest you try the “Repackage Magisk Manager” option in the Magisk Manager settings. It worked for me.

Q: I got this error when installing Magisk using TWRP. What am I supposed to do now?

Updater process ended with ERROR:1
Error installing zip file ‘/sdcard/MagiskManager/Magisk-v13.3.zip’

A: I advise you to use the magisk_uninstaller.zip first. From what I saw in your log, your boot. img is already patched by something else. Therefore, you need to install Magisk on your stock boot.img.

Honor 7S got stuck at boot after uninstalling Magisk from app

Q: I installed Magisk via TWRP(Temp version) and installed some modules. Thereafter, I decided to uninstall Magisk using the Magisk Manager APK. Then the phone rebooted and stuck into the phone logo with the red danger logo. I tried flashing Magisk again via Temp TWRP, but now a few apps keep crashing. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling them. But couldn’t fix it. Can you help me?

A: If your phone is stuck in the boot loop or apps still crashing, then you have to wipe the Dalvik cache again. If you still need to unroot for whatever reason you can try this:

Magisk isn’t working

If you can boot up, but Magisk isn’t working as expected (not detecting the Magisk installation, loss of root, etc), there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try.

How to Root Honor 7S using Magisk Patched Boot. img

Firstly you need to install the Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC. As some of you are already aware this is the recommended official ADB and Fastboot binary given by Google. Just download it and extract it to any convenient location on your PC. Then you will have the platform-tools folder, which is essential for the process.

Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking on Honor 7S

Then you should enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking on your Honor 7S. By unlocking OEM, you will be able to make your phone discoverable by the PC in ADB mode. And then allowing you to boot your device to Fastboot Mode.

Here’s how you gonna do that. : Enable USB Debugging and OEM Unlocking

Unlock Honor 7S Bootloader

As the third step, you need to unlock the bootloader of the phone. Don’t ever forget that unlocking will wipe all the device data. So, perform a complete backup beforehand and then refer to our guide on How to Unlock the Bootloader on Honor 7S.

Extract Boot. img from Honor 7S Firmware

Then you have to download the firmware for your Honor 7S. You have to download the same version that is currently installed onto your device. After downloading, extract the file to a suitable location on your PC.

Still Can’t found boot.img or Don’t know how to find?

Patch Stock Boot. img via Magisk

adb reboot bootloader

Disable DM Verity: Only if you have a problem with performing step 7.

Step 7Flash Magisk Patched Boot. img and Root Honor 7S

fastboot flash boot magisk_patched.img

Now, you have successfully rooted your device.

Invalid image

If you see a message in the install log, indicating “Invalid image: not signed”, that means your boot image is not signed. Don’t panic! It’s perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.

Delete bloatware and system apps

On original stock software from the manufacturer of your device, you would likely find that they have embedded some apps particular to their brand, like Samsung apps on a Samsung device for instance. This would not be a problem if you could uninstall these apps directly, but on stock software, this usually isn’t the case – you are not able to uninstall these apps and reclaim the storage space they occupy. The same is true with system apps that you don’t usually use.

On a rooted device, this process becomes easier. Installing an app like System App Remover will allow you to delete bloatware and unnecessary system apps off your system. This allows you to claim back storage space and allot it for better use.

Install custom recovery, custom ROMs

Rooting can make installing a custom recovery like TWRP easier for your device. Once TWRP is installed, you can actually research on which custom ROMs are available for your device and flash them to get a brand new interface on your screen. Remember, flashing a custom ROM is hard work, and it will require you to learn some new skills. But if you get the hang of it, you can personalize your device and ask it to run how you personally want it to run.

Flashify is also one of those apps that can help you install a custom ROM, even without a custom recovery like TWRP. And that’s right, it’s only root only.

Install custom boot animation

We know that this purely aesthetic, but it’s still true. There are some custom boot animations that you can download off the internet and flash onto your device, if your device has root. If you’re feeling a bit bored with the standard Samsung or LG boot animation, there are lots of available boot animations you can actually choose from to replace the current one.

OTA Update fails after using Magisk Root [Install failReason

Is it possible to change the IMEI number? Of course, it is. You can use the cool tweaker Xposed Installer and change the IMEI number. Try it and see!

Remove Wi-Fi passwords using Android device

When your device is connected to a Wi-Fi network, the Wi-Fi password key will be stored in your device. You won’t be able to extract it. But you will be able to extract that if your phone is rooted!

Add Floating Windows feature in Android

This is an easy but time-consuming process. You will need a rooted phone and a special tool. That’s all!

Remotely Turn Off any Android by sending SMS

You have to install an app. So that it will allow you to switch off your phone by sending an SMS. But you need to configure it beforehand. It is amongst the 30 amazing things you can do after rooting your Android.

Restrict data usage for certain apps

To save data and money you restrict the data usage of certain apps. Both in cellular data and wifi data networks.

Backup and restore IMEI

As your IMEI file can be corrupted during flashing various ROMs, I recommend you to backup and restore the IMEI file. You can do that with a help of an app.

Install Kali Linux on any Android

Now you can install all the Linux files on your android by downloading them and then using the complete interface. Or any other way you like!

Install and Run Backtrack on your android

When we are talking about pentesting, the best way to do that is by installing backtrack. But you have to have a rooted phone in order to do that.

Create a recovery flashable ZIP for android apps

A recovery flashable zip of an app can be used when the original app gets deleted somehow. Either by factory reset or when you are installing custom ROMs.

Make your android to boot faster after rooting

Yes, you can make your android boot faster. But only after rooting the device. It is another amazing thing you can do after rooting your Android.

Run multiple instagram accounts

There is an app that only works on rooted devices. It allows you to save all your Snapchat images automatically. You don’t have to save them one by one. However, you need to install Xposed Installer beforehand.

Change the functions of hardware buttons

After rooting the device you can configure the android buttons to change their functionality.

Customize stock ROM in rooted Android

This is a very common thing people consider rooting the device. You can see how to do that by clicking here.

Add customized gesture controls to your phone

Once your phone is rooted you can set up fascinating gesture control by various methods.

Install custom ROM safely

You might be rooted your device solely to flash a custom ROM. So I have discussed the ways to install a custom ROM in this article.

10 best custom ROMs for a rooted android device

As I have mentioned in the previous articles, a custom ROM is the custom interface for your phone. So by installing a custom ROM you will be able to get a fresh look at your phone. In this guide, we have included the top best custom ROMs for a rooted phone.

Set different languages for different apps

If you are having issues with the languages for your apps and want to get through the language barrier, you can try rooting the device. And then read this guide to see how you can set up different languages for different apps.

Boost up game performance

With a rooted phone, you can do many! Even adding fake GPS, Cell ID, and network operators. You just need some tools and a rooted phone. That of course you already have.

Hack any game

What if while you are playing a game you are out of weapons, power, or lives. Disappointing, isn’t it? Don’t worry buddies. Now you have a rooted phone and you can hack into any game and use any resources on any level!

Increase RAM

What if I say, I have a simple method to increase RAM. You just need to spend 10-15 minutes.

Best utility apps for rooted android devices

In this article, I have listed the top 5 utility apps which are compatible with rooted android devices. So you won’t be struggling with the customization process. You will be able to modify the system as you wish.

Change font style

Bored with the existing font style? You can customize it too. We have a very easy method for you. You will love it!

Crack and patch any android app using Lucky Patcher

All of you are aware that most android applications have locked features. We need to pay to unlock them. But with a rooted phone, you don’t need to waste your money anymore. In this article, I have given you a method to crack any android app. So that you can use all the features without spending a penny.

Get Pie style navigation button

An on-screen navigation button will be very useful if your phone has a large display screen. And you can add such kind of navigation button easily with a rooted phone. It is amongst the 30 amazing things you can do after rooting your Android.

Bypass apps root detection

After rooting the device, did you experience an error while installing an app? That is because some apps are not working in rooted Android. But, don’t worry. I have a fix.

Overclock your device to boost performance

Android devices will slow down with time. That is a universal rule kind of thing. And there are many reasons behind that. But you can use overclocking to boost the device. Even though it is a bit risky procedure you can boost your phone.

Change the serial number of your android device

A serial number is set by the device manufacturer. And it is identical to a device. The purpose of the serial number is to recognize that network on the cellular network and to accept the licenses that were made to the device. Here is an easy way to change the serial number.

Track shared data over Wi-Fi

Some of you might already aware that, there are tons of android apps on the internet that allows you to find the devices that are connected to a Wi-Fi network. But they are not providing sufficient details. They can’t track the data passing through the WiFi network, can’t monitor Wi-Fi activities likewise. I personally recommend you to try Pri-Fi.

Flashify

Flashify is another app that you must have on a rooted phone. It allows you to flash files without using custom recovery. Additionally, Flashify facilitates flashing custom apps, mods, and even custom ROMs.

Extend the battery life

I am going to introduce an app to you. It is named Amplify Battery Extender and it extends the battery life using the latest technology.  On the other hand, the app uses the basic methods to increase the battery life by limited resources. It is a very effective app. You should try this.

Change parameters of your device’s kernel

There are still a lot – and we mean A LOT – of things you can do on a device with root access that you can’t do on one with stock software. This is a preference thing – some people would love to gain root and start tweaking their Android devices, while some would rather just use their devices as is. We’re not campaigning that root access is better than stock software. This is probably up to you, in however you would want to use your device. There are a lot of people out there that tweaking is their way of life, and so root access is definitely the way to go.

As a caveat, in most cases gaining root access will void your devices warranty, and in newer Android platforms will terminate the capability of your device’s use for secure wireless payments like Android Pay and Samsung Pay. It’s still your decision if these are worth keeping or if root is really the way to go for you.