Add user on Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver Linux

Objective

The purpose of this article is to explain how to add user on Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver Linux. The guide will provide instructions on how to add user on Ubuntu using graphical user interface, and, also how to create user using a command line.

Operating System and Software Versions

• Operating System: – Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic

Requirements

Privileged access to your Ubuntu System as root or via sudo command is required.

Conventions

• # – requires given linux commands to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of sudo command
• $ – requires given linux commands to be executed as a regular non-privileged user

Other Versions of this Tutorial

Ubuntu 20.04 (Focal Fossa)

Add user to Ubuntu via GUI

Add user on Ubuntu GNOME Desktop

To create a new user on Ubuntu GNOME Desktop, first open SETTINGS window. Next navigate to About->Users menu.

Click Unlock on the top right corner and enter your administrative password.

Select whether you wish to create Standard or Administrator account. Enter required information and hit Add button to create a new user account.

Add user on Ubuntu Plasma KDE Desktop

To add a new user on Ubuntu 18.04 running KDE plasma desktop, first open System Settings window. Next, scroll down to Personalization section and click on Account Details followed by User manager

From here select New User, fill in all required user information. If you need the new user account to have administrative privileges tick the Enable administrator privileges for this user radio tick box. Once ready, hit Apply button followed by your administrative password.

Add user on Ubuntu Cinnamon Desktop

The following procedure can be used to create a new user on Ubuntu desktop running Cinnamon graphical user interface. Start by opening System Settings window.

Click on Users and Groups icon and enter your administrative password.

Hit Add button, select a new user account type enter username and full name followed by Add button.

To set a password for the new user click on No password set.

Add user to Ubuntu via command line

To add user on Ubuntu via command line first, open up terminal and execute adduser command with username as an argument.

For example the below adduser command will create a new user with username lubos. Except the password, any additional requested information is optional. If you do not wish to add any information, simply hit ENTER key:

$ sudo adduser lubos
Adding user `lubos' ...  
Adding new group `lubos' (1001) ... 
Adding new user `lubos' (1001) with group `lubos' ...
Creating home directory `/home/lubos' ...
Copying files from `/etc/skel' ...
Enter new UNIX password: 
Retype new UNIX password: 
passwd: password updated successfully
Changing the user information for lubos
Enter the new value, or press ENTER for the default
        Full Name []: 
        Room Number []: 
        Work Phone []: 
        Home Phone []: 
        Other []: 
Is the information correct? [Y/n] y

Once the new user is created, you can login to GUI using user’s new credentials or obtain the user’s command prompt via the su command:

$ su lubos
Password: 
$ whoami 
lubos

Yes, adding user on Ubuntu Linux is simple as that! You may now wish to add your new user to a sudo group to gain administrative privileges.