by Patrick Darski

Created on: November 14, 2009

Creating a root account on an Mac computer is a relatively simple process. It also has many benefits, especially for users that frequently will require more "core access" to their system. It is a bad habit to use a root account for every-day computing, especially on a Unix like operating system such as Mac Os. Using this account could result in many accidents, and I've even rendered a system totally useless by accident while using the root account. A root account will allow you total control over your system, so remember, one misspelled console command, and your computer could be toast. Regardless, if you feel that you have a legitimate need for a root account, this is how to create one.

First, click on the Apple Menu and choose system preference. After you have done this, click onto the view menu, and select Accounts. Next, you have to click on the lock and then authenticate with an administrative account. Then go to Login Options. Click on the Edit button, and then on "Open directory utility" button. Once again, you must click on the lock icon. And once again, you must enter an administrative name and password. Make sure that whatever password you choose is both secure, and easily remembered. It is literally the key to the kingdom of your computer. Now, from the edit menu, choose "enable root user". Now you will have to whatever you want to use as the root password in both of the fields. Having completed this, the root account is now enabled, and you can now proceed to logging into your newly enabled root account.

In order to Login as root, you must first log out of your system, then choose other when prompted with a list of user-names. Enter root as the user-name and whatever you entered as your password as the password. You have then succeeded in logging in as a root user.

If you would like to disable the root account, you need to follow the same instructions. However there will be an option to "disable root account" in the final step, the instructions otherwise remain exactly the same as enabling the account. This set of instructions will work with Mac OS X 10.6 and later. If you would like to know how to do this on an older version of the operating system, please refer to the official Apple support page for this topic.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1528

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