SSH (Secure Shell) is used to handle network services securely over an unsecured network. Some examples include: remote command-line, login, and remote command execution. In this article you will learn how to enable SSH root login on Ubuntu 20.04 Server/Desktop.
In this tutorial you will learn:
- How to enable root access to SSH
- How to restart SSH service

Software Requirements and Conventions Used
Category | Requirements, Conventions or Software Version Used |
---|---|
System | Installed or upgraded Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa |
Software | SSH |
Other | Privileged access to your Linux system as root or via the sudo command. |
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 |
Allowing SSH root login on Ubuntu 20.04 step by step instructions
SSH root login is disabled by default as a security feature. If you are still determined to enable root login, ensure that you are using a very secure password for your root account. If the root account gets accessed by a hacker, your whole system will be compromised.
- Open the
/etc/ssh/sshd_config
file with administrative privileges and change the following line:FROM: #PermitRootLogin prohibit-password TO: PermitRootLogin yes
The quick way to do this job could be just to simply use the
sed
command as shown below:$ sudo sed -i 's/#PermitRootLogin prohibit-password/PermitRootLogin yes/' /etc/ssh/sshd_config
- Restart SSH service:
$ sudo systemctl restart ssh
- By default the root’s password is not set on Ubuntu 20.04 and the error message
Permission denied, please try again
will appear when attempting to SSH login as a root user. From this reason we need to set root’s password. When prompted enter your current user password followed by new root password:$ sudo passwd [sudo] password for linuxconfig: Enter new UNIX password: Retype new UNIX password: passwd: password updated successfully
- Given that your Ubuntu 20.04 system allows incoming traffic on port 22/ssh, you should now be ready to SSH login as root:
$ ssh root@ubuntu-server root@ubuntu-server's password: Welcome to Ubuntu Focal Fossa (GNU/Linux 5.3.0-23-generic x86_64)