For new users and newbies who are just starting out with Ubuntu, managing users and groups can be challenging especially since the old users and group management tool doesn’t come with Ubuntu anymore. In prior versions of Ubuntu, one could easily manage users and group with the users-admin tool which is part of Gnome system tools.
That tool no longer come with Ubuntu. Now the only tool that’s available is simplified and only allows you to create, manage and delete user accounts. So, if you need to add or delete users from groups in Ubuntu, you’re going to use the commands terminal or console.
For example, if you want to give certain users access to files or increase their access level, the best way to do it is with group permissions. You create a group, then give the group the correct permissions and add users to the group to assume those permissions.
Since there’s no easy way to manage group permissions in Ubuntu currently, this brief tutorial is going to show you how to do it from the command console. It’s just a one-line command and not too complicated once you understand it.
To get started, press Ctrl – Alt – T on your keyboard to open the terminal.
To view all current groups on Ubuntu, type the command groupmod and (hit the tab key 3 times).
groupmod <HIT TAB 3 TIMES>
That will list all the current groups on your system. Now to add user to existing groups in Ubuntu, run the commands below.
sudo adduser USERNAME GROUPNAME
For example, if you wish to add Richard the sudo group, run the commands below
sudo adduser richard sudo
That’s it. To verify a user group membership, run the commands below.
id richard
Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I add a user to an existing group in Ubuntu using command line?
To add a user to an existing group in Ubuntu via command line, use the command 'sudo adduser USERNAME GROUPNAME'. For example, to add user Richard to the sudo group, you would run 'sudo adduser richard sudo'.
What is the best way to manage group permissions in Ubuntu?
The best way to manage group permissions in Ubuntu is by creating a group, assigning the correct permissions to the group, and then adding users to that group to inherit those permissions.
How can I view all current groups on Ubuntu?
To view all current groups on Ubuntu, you can use the command 'groupmod' and hit the tab key three times. This will list all the current groups on your system.
Why is managing users and groups in Ubuntu challenging for new users?
Managing users and groups in Ubuntu can be challenging for new users because the old users and group management tool is no longer available, and the current tool only allows for creating, managing, and deleting user accounts.
What is the users-admin tool in Ubuntu?
The users-admin tool in Ubuntu was part of Gnome system tools and allowed users to easily manage users and groups. However, this tool is no longer available in the current versions of Ubuntu.
How can I verify a user's group membership in Ubuntu?
To verify a user's group membership in Ubuntu, you can run the command 'id USERNAME'. For example, to check Richard's group membership, you would run 'id richard'.
What keyboard shortcut can I use to open the terminal in Ubuntu?
To open the terminal in Ubuntu, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + T. This will launch the terminal window for you to enter commands.
What is the importance of group permissions in Ubuntu?
Group permissions in Ubuntu are important for granting access to files and increasing access levels for users. By assigning the correct permissions to a group and adding users to that group, you can effectively manage access control in Ubuntu.
