Linux User Management Made Simple: Learn the Essentials in Minutes

Whether you're just getting started with Linux or refreshing your system administration skills, understanding how user accounts work is essential. In this post, I’ll walk through the basics of user accounts operations in Linux, from system users to password management and deletion to using practical commands and examples. Table of Contents What is a User? Types of Users in Linux Unique User Identification (UID) User Account Data Storage Steps to Manage User Accounts Set Up or Change a Password Check User Account Properties Check User Password Properties Switch Users Delete a User Account Final Thoughts What is a User? In Linux, a user is an account that allows a person or a system process to log in and access system resources. Every user is associated with a unique username and identity that determines permissions and access. Types of Users in Linux System User System users are created automatically during OS installation and are used by system services. Examples: root, apache, mysql Normal User Normal users are manually created by an administrator (root user or superuser). These users typically represent human users of the system. Unique User Identification (UID) Every user in Linux is assigned a UID (User ID): 0–999: Reserved for system users 1000–60000: Assigned to normal users The UID helps the system identify and differentiate users, even if usernames are changed. User Account Data Storage Linux stores user-related information in the following files: /etc/passwd — Stores user account properties (username, UID, home directory, shell) /etc/shadow — Stores encrypted passwords and password expiration information Steps to Manage User Accounts Create a user account: useradd username Terminal preview: Set Up or Change a Password Assign a password to a user account: passwd username Terminal preview: Check User Account Properties View details about a user in /etc/passwd: grep username /etc/passwd Terminal preview: Check User Password Properties Check password settings and aging info: grep username /etc/shadow Terminal preview: Switch Users To switch from one user to another (e.g., from root to a regular user): su username Terminal preview: Delete a User Account To delete the user but keep their home directory: userdel username To delete the user and their home directory: userdel -r username Final Thoughts Understanding user account operations is a foundational Linux skill that empowers you to manage multi-user systems securely and effectively. Whether you're managing services or supporting a team of users, these commands will come in handy every day. If you're new to Linux, try practicing these in a test environment or virtual machine.

Apr 22, 2025 - 05:01

Linux User Management Made Simple: Learn the Essentials in Minutes

Whether you're just getting started with Linux or refreshing your system administration skills, understanding how user accounts work is essential. In this post, I’ll walk through the basics of user accounts operations in Linux, from system users to password management and deletion to using practical commands and examples.

What is a User?
Types of Users in Linux
Unique User Identification (UID)
User Account Data Storage
Steps to Manage User Accounts
Set Up or Change a Password
Check User Account Properties
Check User Password Properties
Switch Users
Delete a User Account
Final Thoughts

What is a User?

In Linux, a user is an account that allows a person or a system process to log in and access system resources. Every user is associated with a unique username and identity that determines permissions and access.

Types of Users in Linux

System User

System users are created automatically during OS installation and are used by system services. Examples: root, apache, mysql

Normal User

Normal users are manually created by an administrator (root user or superuser). These users typically represent human users of the system.

Unique User Identification (UID)

Every user in Linux is assigned a UID (User ID):

0–999: Reserved for system users
1000–60000: Assigned to normal users

The UID helps the system identify and differentiate users, even if usernames are changed.

User Account Data Storage

Linux stores user-related information in the following files:

/etc/passwd — Stores user account properties (username, UID, home directory, shell)
/etc/shadow — Stores encrypted passwords and password expiration information

Steps to Manage User Accounts

Create a user account:

useradd username

Terminal preview:

Set Up or Change a Password

Assign a password to a user account:

passwd username

Terminal preview:

Check User Account Properties

View details about a user in /etc/passwd:

grep username /etc/passwd

Terminal preview:

Check User Password Properties

Check password settings and aging info:

grep username /etc/shadow

Terminal preview:

Switch Users

To switch from one user to another (e.g., from root to a regular user):

su username

Terminal preview:

Delete a User Account

To delete the user but keep their home directory:

userdel username

To delete the user and their home directory:

userdel -r username

Final Thoughts

Understanding user account operations is a foundational Linux skill that empowers you to manage multi-user systems securely and effectively. Whether you're managing services or supporting a team of users, these commands will come in handy every day.

If you're new to Linux, try practicing these in a test environment or virtual machine.