10.3 User Management using the Settings App

A third user account management option is available via the GNOME desktop settings app. This app is accessed by clicking on the down arrow located in the top right-hand corner of the GNOME desktop and selecting the Settings option as shown in Figure 10-4:

Figure 10-4

When the main settings screen appears, click on the Users option in the left-hand navigation panel. By default, the settings will be locked and it will not be possible to make any changes to the user accounts on the system. To unlock the settings app, click on the Unlock button shown in Figure 10-5 below and enter your password. Note that it will only be possible to unlock the settings if you are logged in as a user with sudo privileges:

Figure 10-5

Once the app has been unlocked, a green button labeled Add User... will appear in the title bar. Click this button to display the dialog shown in Figure 10-6 below:

Figure 10-6

To assign sudo access to the new user, select the Administrator account, otherwise leave Standard selected. Enter the user’s full name and username and either assign a password now, or allow the user to set up the password when they first log into their account. Once the information has been entered, click on the Add button to create the account.

The settings for an existing user can be viewed, modified or the account deleted at any time by selecting the corresponding icon within the Users screen as shown in Figure 10-7. The option is also available to view the user’s login activity. Note that it will be necessary to unlock the Settings app again before any changes can be made to an account:

Figure 10-7