- 1How to Add a New User in Linux
- 2Modify Existing User in Linux
- 3Delete a User in Linux — Step-by-Step for Beginners
- 4Create a User Group in Linux - Step-by-Step Tutorial
- 5Linux: Add User to Group
- 6How to Remove a User from a Group in Linux
- 7Delete a User Group in Linux - Beginner Friendly Tutorial
- 8Linux su Command Tutorial – Switch Users Easily
- 9Linux sudo Command - Execute as Another User
- 10Change a User's Password in Linux Using passwd
- 11Set Password Expiry in Linux using chage
- 12Lock a User Account in Linux
- 13How to Unlock a User Account in Linux
- 14Configure User Login Shell in Linux
- 15How to Configure User Environment Variables in Linux
- 16Edit .bashrc and .profile in Linux - User Startup Files Tutorial

- 1Linux Topics Index
- 2How to Create a File in Linux
- 3How to Rename a File in Linux
- 4How to Copy a File in Linux
- 5How to Move a File in Linux
- 6How to Delete a File in Linux
- 7How to Create a Directory in Linux
- 8How to Delete a Directory in Linux
- 9How to Copy Directories Recursively in Linux
- 10Delete Directories Recursively in Linux
- 11How to View Hidden Files in Linux
- 12How to Create a Hidden File in Linux
- 13How to Create a Hidden Directory in Linux
- 14How to Find Files in Linux Using find Command
- 15Find Files in Linux Using locate Command
- 16How to View File Contents Using cat in Linux
- 17How to View File Contents Using less in Linux
- 18View File Contents Using the more Command in Linux
- 19Compare Files Using diff Command in Linux
- 20Compare Files in Linux Using cmp Command
- 21Check File Type in Linux with file Command
- 22Create Symbolic Links with ln -s in Linux
- 23How to Archive Files Using tar Command in Linux
- 24Compress Files with gzip in Linux – Beginner Tutorial
- 25How to Compress Files Using bzip2 in Linux
- 26Compress Files in Linux Using zip Command
- 27Extract Compressed Files using tar in Linux
- 28Extract ZIP Files on Linux with unzip
- 29How to Extract .gz Files using gunzip in Linux

- 1How to Add a New User in Linux
- 2Modify Existing User in Linux
- 3Delete a User in Linux — Step-by-Step for Beginners
- 4Create a User Group in Linux - Step-by-Step Tutorial
- 5Linux: Add User to Group
- 6How to Remove a User from a Group in Linux
- 7Delete a User Group in Linux - Beginner Friendly Tutorial
- 8Linux su Command Tutorial – Switch Users Easily
- 9Linux sudo Command - Execute as Another User
- 10Change a User's Password in Linux Using passwd
- 11Set Password Expiry in Linux using chage
- 12Lock a User Account in Linux
- 13How to Unlock a User Account in Linux
- 14Configure User Login Shell in Linux
- 15How to Configure User Environment Variables in Linux
- 16Edit .bashrc and .profile in Linux - User Startup Files Tutorial
How to Switch Users Using su Command in Linux
Next Topic ⮕Linux sudo Command - Execute as Another User
How to Switch Users Using su
Command in Linux
Hey there! 👋 Welcome to this beginner-friendly Linux tutorial from ProgramGuru.org.
In this lesson, we’ll learn how to use the su
command in Linux to switch between users on your system. Whether you're managing multiple users or need to perform tasks with elevated privileges, the su
command is an essential tool to know.
🔍 What is the su
Command?
su
stands for “substitute user” or “switch user.” It allows you to temporarily log in as another user without fully logging out or switching terminals.
By default, running su
without a username will attempt to switch to the root
user.
📌 Syntax
su [options] [username]
👤 Example 1: Switch to the root user
su
You’ll be prompted to enter the root password.
Password:
# (Now you’re operating as root!)
👤 Example 2: Switch to another user
su john
Password:
$ (Now you're logged in as user 'john')
💡 Tip: Confirm the Current User
whoami
john
🔐 What if you get an authentication error?
Make sure the target user has a password set and that you typed it correctly. The root user must also have permission to switch to that account.
⚠️ Important Security Note
- Using
su
gives you full control of the target user’s environment. - Be very cautious when switching to
root
, as this gives you access to modify or delete critical system files. - Always log out of the root session when done. Just type
exit
.
👋 Exiting the su session
exit
$ (Back to your original user)
✅ Recap
Let’s quickly review what we’ve learned:
- Use
su
to switch to another user. - Use
su username
to switch to a specific user. - Type
exit
to return to your original session.
And that’s it! 🎉 You now know how to use the su
command like a pro.
Stay tuned to ProgramGuru.org for more hands-on Linux tutorials. Happy terminal-ing! 🖥️🐧