The “root” account is the most privileged account on a Unix system. This account gives you the ability to carry out all facets of system administration, including adding accounts, changing user passwords, examining log files, installing software, etc.

What is the purpose of root account?

The root account has root privileges. This means it can read and write any files on the system, perform operations as any user, change system configuration, install and remove software, and upgrade the operating system and/or firmware. In essence, it can do pretty much anything on the system.

When should I use root account?

We recommend that you use root only for the few tasks that require it, for example: changing your account settings, activating AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) access to billing and cost management, changing your root password, and enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Can root user do anything?

Root user has user id 0 and nominally has unlimited privileges. Root can access any file, run any program, execute any system call, and modify any setting.