How To Enable Root On Mac | Darren's Tech Tutorials

Unlock Superpowers: How to Easily Enable the Root User (and Sudo) on macOS

Hi there! Darren O’Neill from Darren’s Tech Tutorials, and I’m thrilled you stopped by.

If you’re ready to take full administrative control of your Mac, this guide is for you. Unlike other operating systems, macOS is built on a strong Unix foundation. This means the Terminal is incredibly powerful—but by default, Apple keeps the highest-level account, known as the ‘root user’ or ‘superuser,’ disabled for security.

While your standard administrator account allows you to install apps and change most settings, the root user is necessary for deep-level system commands, often executed using the prefix sudo (which stands for “Superuser Do”).

In this quick, easy-to-follow guide, we’ll walk through the exact steps to safely enable the root user on your Mac, unlocking your full system administration potential.

Step 1: Accessing System Preferences

To begin, we need to access the core settings panel where user permissions are managed.

Click the Apple symbol () located in the upper left-hand corner of your screen.
Select System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions).
Click on Users & Groups.

Step 2: Unlocking Administrative Access

Before we can enable the root account, we must prove we have administrative authority.

In the Users & Groups window, look for the Login Options section in the left sidebar.
In the lower left corner of the window, you will see a small Lock icon. Click the lock to unlock the settings.
A prompt will appear. Enter your standard Mac administrator password and click Unlock.

Step 3: Opening Directory Utility

The Root User is managed through a specialized tool called the Directory Utility. You access it through the Network Account Server settings.

Look to the bottom right of the Users & Groups window and find the Network Account Server field.
Click the Join button next to this field.
A new window will appear. Click Open Directory Utility.

Step 4: Enabling the Root User Account

Now that the Directory Utility is open, we can finally enable the root account and set its unique password.

In the new Directory Utility window, you will need to unlock its specific lock icon to make changes. Click the Lock icon in the bottom left corner.
Enter your standard administrator password again to authorize changes to the directory structure. Click OK.
Look at the menu bar at the top of the screen and click Edit.
From the drop-down menu, select Enable Root User.
A critical prompt will appear asking you to set a password for the root user.
- Security Note: This password should be unique and different from your standard login password. Choose a strong, complex password.
Enter your desired root password twice for verification.
Click OK.

That’s it! You have now successfully enabled the root user on your Mac.

What Happens Next? Using `sudo` in the Terminal

With the root user enabled, you can now run elevated commands that require superuser privileges.

When you open your Terminal and type a command that requires administrative access (such as deep configuration changes or accessing protected system files), simply prefix the command with sudo:

sudo [your command here]

The Terminal will then prompt you for the Root User password you just set. Once entered, the command will execute with the highest level of system authority.

A Word of Caution: Because the root account has total access to your system, use sudo commands carefully. Never run commands you don’t fully understand!

Summary

Enabling the root user on macOS is a straightforward process that provides essential control for advanced users and developers. By navigating through System Settings and Directory Utility, you unlock the full power of the Unix core that makes your Mac run.

If you found this tutorial helpful, please hit that Like button and Subscribe to Darren’s Tech Tutorials for more clear, practical tech guides just like this one! Drop a comment below if you run into any issues—we’re here to help!