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Unable to access root user after Ubuntu 20.04 update or after any restart

in flag

We recently updated our Linux computer to 20.04 and now anytime after we restart the computer we are directed to create a new user profile and are unable to login to the original/root user. From a terminal in this this newly created user account I am able to see all of the files and directories of the original account, but I am unable to login to it. If I try just logging out of the new account and switching users, I will type in the old username and password and the screen will just flash and give the prompt to sign in again until I give it the new account information. Any ideas or help on how to access and login to that original/root account would be greatly appreciated!!!

David avatar
cn flag
You do not login as the root user by default in Ubuntu. There is no root user unless you have made one.
user535733 avatar
cn flag
Your question should clearly detail the method you used to "update[] our Linux computer to 20.04." Ubuntu does not prompt rejected users to create a new account (what a security hole that would be!), so your description is confusing. Specific detail in your question on exactly what you did --and links to any instructions you followed or files you downloaded-- would be very helpful.
ar flag
Welcome to Ask Ubuntu. Please [edit your question](https://askubuntu.com/posts/1369071/edit) and add all the information others have asked for. Also include 1. What you mean by the "root user". Is it the admin user created at the time Ubuntu was installed? Or did you specifically create or enable the user called "root"? 2. How did you update to 20.04? Did you use the update app in the previous version, use any command in the terminal (if so exactly which one?), or use the Live USB/DVD to reinstall Ubuntu overwriting the old version?
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