# User Accounts, Root, and Sudo

**URL:** <https://bcalcos.discourse.group/t/user-accounts-root-and-sudo/87>\
**Category:** More You Know\
**Created:** [October 13, 2026, 9:45pm UTC](https://bcalcos.discourse.group/t/user-accounts-root-and-sudo/87 "2026-10-13T21:45:47Z")\
**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, 9:45pm UTC](https://bcalcos.discourse.group/t/user-accounts-root-and-sudo/87/1 "2026-10-13T21:45:47Z")

</div>

Linux supports multiple user accounts, each with its own files, desktop settings, and permissions.

### User Accounts

A regular user account is intended for everyday activities such as browsing the web, checking email, working with documents, and playing media.

An administrator account can also perform tasks that affect the entire system such as installing software or changing system-wide settings.

### The Root Account

In Linux, `root` is the superuser account. It has unrestricted access to the system and can make changes that ordinary users cannot.

BcalcOS disables the root account during installation. Instead, the installer creates a `sudo` administrator account.

### What Is Sudo?

`sudo` stands for “superuser do.” It allows an authorized user to run a command with elevated privileges without logging in as root.

For example, installing software or updating system packages may require administrative privileges. Using `sudo` grants those privileges for the command being run.

You may be prompted for your password when using `sudo`. This is normal.

### How This Works in BcalcOS

The user account created during installation is the administrator or `sudo` account.

It’s a good idea to create a regular user account so that everyday activities are kept separate from the `sudo` account which helps reduce the risk of accidental changes to your system

The BcalcOS Welcome Center provides an easy way to create a regular user account. See [Creating a Regular User Account](https://bcalcos.discourse.group/t/creating-a-regular-user-account/81) for instructions.

### TL;DR

- Root: the Linux superuser account, disabled by the BcalcOS installer.
- Administrator account: the account created during installation, authorized to use `sudo`.
- Regular user account: recommended for everyday activities, create through the Welcome Center or manually.