How do I enable the root account in Snow Leopard?

Question

I know how to enable root account on Leopard, but not Snow Leopard. How can I do it?

Answer 1

The steps are covered in the SnowLeopardTips.net article Enable root account in Snow Leopard:

1. Open Directory Utility in /System/Library/CoreServices/.
2. Click the padlock icon and type in your password.
3. From the Edit menu, select Enable Root User.
4. Select Change Root Password from the Edit menu and type in the new root password.
5. Click the padlock icon to lock the application again.

Answer 2

If you need a full root shell and find sudoing cumbersome, you can do:

sudo su -

That will give you a normal UID 0 shell to play with.

Answer 3

Straight from Apple for enabling root access from 10.5 and newer:

Mac OS X 10.5:

1. From the Finder's Go menu, choose Utilities.
2. Open Directory Utility.

Mac OS X 10.6:

1. From the Finder's Go menu, choose Go To Folder and enter /System/Library/CoreServices/. Alternatively you can open the Accounts Preference Pane in System Preferences, click on Login Options, click on "Join..." beside Network Account Server and then click "Open Directory Utility..." in the sheet that comes down.
2. Open Directory Utility.

Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.6:

1. Click the lock in the Directory Utility window.
2. Enter an administrator account name and password, then click OK.
3. Choose Enable Root User from the Edit menu.
4. Enter the root password you wish to use in both the Password and Verify fields, then click OK.

Source: Enabling and using the "root" user in Mac OS X

Answer 4

Run in Terminal.app:

dsenableroot

source: http://commandlinemac.blogspot.com/2008/12/another-way-to-enable-and-disable-root.html

Answer 5

Type sudo passwd then su - will work with the new password.

Answer 6

You can get a root shell without enabling the root user account - on an admin user account at least.

sudo bash    # requires admin password
echo $SHELL 
env

# alternative
sudo -H -i   # requires admin password
echo $SHELL 
env