How to Change Account Types in Ubuntu Linux

Account types in Ubuntu Linux set access levels and permissions that control what a person can do on your PC. A Standard account lets you run everyday apps and change your own files and settings safely. An Administrator account gives full system control, including installing software and changing system-wide settings.

Ubuntu creates every new user as a Standard account by default to protect the system from accidental changes. The account you made during installation is an administrator, but accounts you add later start as Standard. Switch an account type when you share your computer or when someone needs extra permissions. You need to be signed in as an administrator to make the change. This guide uses the Settings app, so you don’t need the terminal.

How to switch account type in Ubuntu Linux

To change the account type, open the Users panel from the main system menu. Select the user you want to update, then switch the Administrator setting on or off. This changes what permissions that user has on your computer. The steps below walk through each screen in order.

The System Settings panel is where Ubuntu keeps most of its configuration options. From here you can manage system settings, create new users, and update your Ubuntu system. Open it first, and you will find the Users panel inside it. There are two ways to open it, and both end up in the same place.

Another way is to click the System menu in the top-right corner of your desktop’s top bar. It is the area that holds the network, volume and power icons. A drop-down menu opens when you click it.

In the System menu, select Settings, as shown below. The Settings app opens with a list of categories on the left.

Click the Users tile to open the panel within the Settings app. On Ubuntu 24.04 it sits under Settings › System › Users, so you may need to open the System category first. On Ubuntu 22.04 it is a tile or entry named Users in the main list. If you don’t see it, scroll down the sidebar or use the search box at the top of Settings. You should now see your own account at the top, with any other accounts listed below it.

In the Users settings panel, click Unlock in the top-right corner and enter your password when asked. Then click Authenticate if the prompt shows that button. Ubuntu locks this panel by default so nobody can change accounts by accident. Only an administrator can unlock it. Until you do, the account settings stay greyed out and you can’t change them. Once it is unlocked, the button changes and the options become clickable.

Then switch the Administrator toggle to On to make that account an administrator. The toggle should now show as on. Be careful with this: an administrator can install software, change system settings and manage other users, so only give it to people you trust.

The user’s new account privileges apply the next time they log in. If that person is signed in right now, ask them to log out and back in. You don’t need to restart the computer. After that, the account has the new access level, and the user can use, or no longer use, administrator features on the Ubuntu system.

You can now close the Settings app. If you want to change the account type again later, repeat the same steps.

Conclusion:

• Ubuntu Linux offers the flexibility of multi-user functionality, allowing separate and unique accounts and profiles on the same device.
• Users can easily switch between Standard and Administrator account types through the System Settings panel. You need to unlock the panel with an administrator password first.
• Users can effectively manage account privileges and access to Ubuntu Linux by following the steps provided. The change applies the next time that user logs in.