# Creating a Regular User Account

**URL:** <https://bcalcos.discourse.group/t/creating-a-regular-user-account/81>\
**Category:** More You Know\
**Created:** [October 13, 2026, 8:29pm UTC](https://bcalcos.discourse.group/t/creating-a-regular-user-account/81 "2026-10-13T20:29:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bcalc](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex008/user_avatar/bcalcos.discourse.group/bcalc/32/11_2.png) [@bcalc](https://bcalcos.discourse.group/u/bcalc)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 8:29pm UTC](https://bcalcos.discourse.group/t/creating-a-regular-user-account/81/1 "2026-10-13T20:29:28Z")

</div>

The installer creates your system administrator account.

It’s probably a good idea to create a second, regular user account for everyday use.

### Why a Second Account?

BcalcOS disables the root user. The account created during installation serves as the system administrator, with full `sudo` privileges.

`sudo` stands for “superuser do.” It allows an authorized user to run commands with administrative privileges.

That account can install and remove software, change system-wide settings, and access or delete files belonging to other users.

For everyday tasks like browsing, email, documents, and media, those privileges are rarely needed.

A regular user account keeps administrative tasks deliberate. When you need to perform an administrative task, you can use `sudo` to request elevated privileges.

### Creating a Regular User Account

There are two ways to do this.

**Option 1: The Welcome Center**  
The BcalcOS Welcome Center can create a regular user account for you. Select the **Create New User** option and follow the prompts.

**Option 2: The Terminal**  
Use the standard command:

```bash
sudo adduser username

```

Replace `username` with your chosen account name. You’ll be prompted to set a password and provide a few optional details.

The new account is a regular user account and is not a member of the `sudo` group.

### Switching Accounts

Log out of your current session and log in with the new account.

Alternatively, you can switch to the new user’s shell temporarily from a terminal:

```bash
su - username

```

Replace `username` with the account name. Enter that user’s password when prompted.

### TL;DR

Everyday tasks rarely need administrator privileges. Create a regular user account for daily use, and reserve the administrator account for tasks that require elevated privileges. The Welcome Center makes it easy.
