How do I open a folder as root?

Question

More specifically the

/etc/apt/

folder. I need to delete some files and replace

/etc/apt/sources.list

with a newer version.

score 44 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 22 '12 at 15:39

44

To open the folder as root in the grapical file manager, run the following command:

gksu nautilus /etc/apt/

If you wish to do your operations from the command line, the following command enters the intended directory and makes you root. However, you would be better off using the first method above.

cd /etc/apt; sudo -i

edited Apr 22 '12 at 15:39

Jorge Castro

71,754

answered Apr 21 '12 at 18:25

SirCharlo

39,486

Thanks! That worked fine! I used the GUI version and deleted the two (very old) backup files. – Andy Castille Apr 21 '12 at 19:13
sudo -i is less typing and cleaner environmental variables http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=6188826&postcount=4 – Panther Apr 22 '12 at 04:54
I disagree with SirCharlo that first method is better than using command line. Command line is way more powerfull. – OrangeTux Apr 22 '12 at 12:50

score 15 · Answer 2 · edited Jul 23 '18 at 13:16

15

Ubuntu 16.04 and above

sudo apt-get install nautilus-admin

Then

nautilus -q

Open Nautilus and you'll see an option Open as Administrator option in the context menu of every directory.

edited Jul 23 '18 at 13:16

David Foerster

36,264
56
94
147

answered Oct 13 '16 at 05:20

Supline

153
1
5

1

it is work 18.04 – VJ Ranga Jun 09 '18 at 12:25
Didn't seem to work in 18.04.2, although I see the context menu I'm unable to delete locked folders. Back to terminal I go. – Natetronn Feb 24 '19 at 06:07

score 12 · Answer 3 · edited Feb 17 '18 at 11:21

12

To install Open-as-Administrator in Ubuntu open Terminal (Press Ctrl+Alt+T) and copy the following commands in the terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:noobslab/apps
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install open-as-administrator

After installation type this command to restart Nautilus:

nautilus -q

Reboot

enter image description here

Ubuntu 16.04

sudo apt-get install -y nautilus-admin

Then

nautilus -q

edited Feb 17 '18 at 11:21

David Foerster

36,264
56
94
147

answered Jan 27 '14 at 09:48

nux

38,017
35
118
131

3

E: Unable to locate package open-as-administrator – Hooli Jun 23 '16 at 10:19
Doesn't work on 16.04, same mistake as @Hooli mentioned. Would love to see it working. – Rav Sep 12 '16 at 09:43

score 11 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 21 '12 at 18:45

Nah ! do a simple thing first. Create a custom file manager. Its easy.

Here how you can do it:

First open gedit and paste all these:

[Desktop Entry]
Name=Nautilus
Comment=Browse the filesystem with administrator rights
Exec=gksudo nautilus
Icon=file-manager
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Application;System;

Now save the file as Nautilus.desktop on your desktop.

(desktop is the file extension).

Now Open:

   /home/your user name/.local/share/applications

and cut/paste Nautilus.desktop file into there.

Now open dash and search for "Nautilus". It will open up the default file manager with root permission. Now you can navigate to any directory and delete anything you want.

score 4 · Answer 5 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:25

4

Just use

gksudo nautilus --or -- gksu nautilus

or any other file explorer of your choice.

See Also What is the difference between “gksudo nautilus” and “sudo nautilus”?

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:25

Community

1

answered Jan 27 '14 at 09:09

srirams6

41
1

2

..it's better to launch graphical application, with root privilege, using gksu that sudo... – rusty Jan 27 '14 at 09:57

score 3 · Answer 6 · edited Feb 17 '18 at 07:14

3

In a Terminal you can use:

sudo -e /etc/apt/sources.list

Note: If you prefer to use Graphical Software you should use gksudo in Gnome:

gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

or kdesudo in KDE:

kdesudo kate /etc/apt/sources.list

Enter your user password (not root) and you will edit file as root

edited Feb 17 '18 at 07:14

muru

197,895
55
485
740

answered Apr 21 '12 at 18:28

swift

3,281
2
23
46

1

or just sudo -e sudo -e /etc/apt/sources.list – Panther Apr 22 '12 at 04:55
@bodhi.zazen thank you, smart option ... you are free to edit my answer for creating difference sudo -e <YourTextEditor> /etc/apt/sources.list – swift Apr 22 '12 at 09:42

How do I open a folder as root?

6 Answers6

First open gedit and paste all these:

Linked