The root user in Ubuntu cannot be renamed directly
Ubuntu's root account — the superuser with full system control — does not have a traditional username the way other accounts do. The root user exists as a system account with the user ID 0, and changing it requires a different approach than renaming a regular user. Most Ubuntu systems do not use the root account for daily work anyway; instead, they use a regular user account with sudo permissions to run administrative commands.
If you want to change how you access root-level power, you have two practical paths: create a new administrative user and disable the original one, or edit the passwd and shadow files directly to rename root. The first path is safer because you can test the new account before removing the old one. The second path can break your system if done wrong, so it should only be attempted if you have another way to access the system — such as a live USB or a second administrative account.
Key Takeaways
- The root user in Ubuntu is identified by user ID 0, not by a changeable username like regular accounts.
- Most Ubuntu users never interact with root directly; instead they use sudo to run commands with root power from their own account.
- The safest way to change administrative access is to create a new user account, add it to the sudo group, and stop using the original account.
- Editing the passwd and shadow files to rename root is possible but risky and can prevent you from logging in if done incorrectly.
- After any change to root or sudo access, test your ability to run administrative commands before logging out.
Why Ubuntu does not use a traditional root login
Ubuntu disables direct root login by default for security reasons. When you install Ubuntu, the installer creates a regular user account for you and gives that account permission to use sudo — a program that lets you run individual commands as root without logging in as root. This design means you work as a normal user most of the time and only gain root power when you explicitly ask for it by typing sudo before a command.
Because of this setup, there is no traditional root username to change in the way you would change a regular user's name. The root account exists in the system files with the name "root", but you do not log in as root, so changing that name does not change how you work day to day. If you want to change who can run administrative commands, you change the sudo configuration or create a different user account with sudo access instead.
Creating a new administrative user instead of renaming root
The practical solution for most people is to create a new user account with administrative permissions and stop using the original account. Open a terminal and run these commands in order. First, create the new user:
sudo adduser newusername
The system will ask you to set a password and fill in optional information like the user's full name. Press Enter to skip any fields you do not want to fill in. Once the account exists, add it to the sudo group so it can run administrative commands:
sudo usermod -aG sudo newusername
Log out and log back in as the new user. Open a terminal and run sudo whoami to confirm the new account can use sudo. If the output says "root", the account has sudo access. After you confirm this works, you can delete the original user account by running sudo deluser --remove-home originalusername from the new account. This removes the user and their home directory in one step.
Editing the passwd file to rename the root account directly
If you need to change the actual name "root" in the system files, you must edit two files: /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow. These files store user account information, and changing them incorrectly can lock you out of your system. Only attempt this if you have another way to access the system — such as a live USB or a second administrative account that you have already tested.
Open a terminal and run sudo nano /etc/passwd. Find the line that starts with "root:" — it will look like this:
root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash
The first "root" is the username. Change it to your new name, but leave everything else on that line unchanged. Press Ctrl+O, then Enter to save, then Ctrl+X to close the editor. Next, edit the shadow file by running sudo nano /etc/shadow. Find the line starting with "root:" and change that first "root" to match the new name you used in passwd. Save and close the same way. Do not close your terminal yet — you need to test the change when ready.
Testing your changes before you log out
After making any change to root or sudo access, always test that administrative commands still work before you close your terminal or log out. Open a new terminal window and run sudo whoami. The output should be "root". If you get a message saying you are not in the sudoers file, or if the command fails, your change broke something and you need to fix it before proceeding.
If you renamed root in the passwd and shadow files and the test fails, undo the changes when ready by editing both files again and changing the name back to "root". If you cannot log in at all, boot from a live USB, choose "Try Ubuntu" without installing, open a terminal, and use the lsblk command to find your hard drive. Mount it, navigate to /etc/passwd on your mounted drive, and change the name back to "root". Reboot normally and try again.
When you might actually need to change the root name
Most Ubuntu users never need to rename the root account. If you are following instructions from a guide or a system administrator that tells you to do this, ask them why — there is usually a simpler way to accomplish what you are trying to do. Common reasons people think they need to rename root include wanting to change their own username (which is a different process), wanting to prevent someone from logging in as root (which Ubuntu already does by default), or migrating a system from another Linux distribution that uses root differently.
Renaming root does not improve security. Security comes from using strong passwords, keeping your system updated, and controlling who has sudo access. If someone already has your password or can guess it, renaming the root account will not stop them from accessing the root account. For most situations, creating a new administrative user and disabling the old one is both safer and more practical than renaming root.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rename root if I do not have another administrative account?
You can, but you cannot safely test the change before logging out. If the change breaks sudo access, you will be locked out and unable to fix it without booting from a live USB. Create a second administrative account first, test that it works, and only then rename root.
What happens if I rename root and then cannot log in?
Boot your computer from a live Ubuntu USB. Choose "Try Ubuntu" without installing. Open a terminal and use the lsblk command to find your hard drive, then mount it. Navigate to /etc/passwd on your mounted drive and change the name back to "root". Reboot normally and try again.
Does renaming root improve security?
No. Security comes from using strong passwords, keeping your system updated, and controlling who has sudo access. Renaming root does not prevent anyone from accessing the root account if they already have your password or can guess it.
Can I use a different shell for the root account?
Yes. In the /etc/passwd file, the last field on the root line is the shell — usually /bin/bash. You can change it to /bin/sh or another shell. This does not rename the account but does change how root behaves when you use sudo -i or sudo -s to open a root shell.
What is the difference between renaming root and creating a new admin user?
Creating a new admin user is safer because you can test it before removing the old account. Renaming root directly edits system files and can break your system if done wrong. For most people, creating a new user is the better choice.