If you’re new to Debian and unable to update package lists or install software using sudo, then this article is for you. We’ll describe two simple methods to add a user to the sudoers file in Debian.

What is Sudoers File?

The sudoers file is a critical configuration file that defines which users or groups can execute commands with superuser (root) privileges using sudo. These privileges allow users to update package lists and install software on the system. Therefore, having sudo privileges is essential for smooth system administration. This file is located at /etc/sudoers.

How to Add User to Sudoers in Debian

Adding the user to sudoers is an essential part of setting up your Debian because without sudo privileges, installing and updating packages is impossible. However, it can be tricky for beginners, as it requires root privileges and modifying a critical file:

Therefore, let’s learn two methods of adding users to the sudoers file in Debian.

1. By Editing Sudoers File

To add a user to sudoers by editing the sudoers file, ensure that you’re logged in as a user with sudo privileges. However, if that’s not the case, run the following command to switch to the superuser:

$ su root

Now that you’ve switched to the superuser and have sudo privileges, open the sudoers file using any editor:

$ nano /etc/sudoers  

Thus, the sudoers file will open:

Afterward, scroll down to the User Privilege Specification section and add the following line of code. However, make sure you replace username with the actual username in the file:

username  ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL

After modifying the file, press Ctrl+O to save and press Enter. Afterward, exit the editor by pressing Ctrl+X. Now, the new Debian user will be able to execute any command as any user or group. For instance, let’s execute the apt update command to verify:

Finally, the user has been successfully added to the sudoers file. Now, you can easily run any command without worrying about sudo privileges.

2. Via usermod Command

Another method of adding a user to sudoers is via the usermod command, a popular Linux command used to modify an existing user’s account settings. Again, ensure you’ve logged in as a user with sudo privileges. However, if that’s not the case, run the following command to switch to the super user:

$ su root

Next, execute the following usermod command. Notably, replace the username with the actual username to add the user to the sudo group, granting the user sudo privileges:

$ usermod -aG sudo username

Afterward, to ensure that the user is added to sudoers, run the command given below:

# sudo whoami

If the output is root, it means the user has been successfully added to the sudoers file. Now, exit the superuser mode by using the command below:

# exit

Finally, the usermod command has successfully added the user to the sudoers file in Debian.

Conclusion

To keep all packages up to date or install software, the user requires sudo privileges. In this article, we’ve explained how you can add a user to the sudoers file in Debian. You can either open the sudoers file, located at /etc/sudoers, using any editor and add ALL permissions for the new user under the User Privilege Specification section, or you can simply execute the usermod command to directly add the user to the sudoers file.