This post describes the steps to open File Manager (nautilus) as an administrator in Ubuntu Linux.
When you log in to Ubuntu Linux, you’re logged in as a normal user who can use root or administrative privileges to perform administrative tasks using the sudo command.
Once you are in as a normal user, it’s challenging to open File Manager or nautilus with root privileges. A tool called nautilus-admin used to work, but it does not anymore.
That tool claims to open files and folders as administrator from the context menu once installed. I tried, and it didn’t work as well. It will install, alright, but it will not allow me to delete files that the root user owns.
It’s sometimes nice to have the ability to edit files and open folders as root or administrator. Below I will show you how to do that.
This post assumes that you are a member of the sudoers file or can run the sudo command.
Without you being able to run the sudo command, the steps below will not work.
To run File Manager as root, press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl — Alt — T to open the terminal console.
Once the terminal is open, run the commands below to launch the file manager as an administrator.
sudo nautilus
It will prompt you to type your password, and if you have the right to run the command, it will open the file manager (nautilus) as administrator or root.
You cannot browse any folder and delete it as long as it’s not used by a process or another user.
That should do it!
Conclusion:
This post showed you how to open the file manager as an administrator in Ubuntu Linux. Please use the comment form below if you find any errors above or have something to add.
