en	[[!meta title="Administration password"]]

en	In Tails, an administration password (also called *root password* or *amnesia password*) is required to perform system administration tasks. For example:

en	- To [[install additional software|persistent_storage/additional_software]]

en	- To [[access the internal hard disks of the computer|doc/advanced_topics/internal_hard_disk]]
id	Das Zugreifen auf die eingebauten Festplatten des Computers

en	- To execute commands with `sudo`

en	[[!img password-prompt.png link="no" class="screenshot" alt="Authentication required: amnesia password (also called *administration password* or *root password*)"]]

en	Security implications of setting up an administration password

en	For better security, no administration password is set up by default.

en	When you set up an administration password, an attacker who can get physical access to your computer while Tails is running could be able to break your security and:

en	- Monitor all your activity.

en	- Reveal your IP address.

en	- Access all the data in your Persistent Storage.

en	- Read and write data on the internal hard disk of the computer.

en	- Install such vulnerabilities permanently on your Tails USB stick.

en	To learn your administration password, an attacker could watch your keyboard while you type, for example looking over your shoulders or through a video surveillance camera.

en	To prevent such an attack:

en	- Hide your keyboard while typing your administration password in public spaces.

en	- Never leave your computer unattended while running Tails.

en	- Learn how to [[shut down Tails quickly|doc/first_steps/shutdown]] in case of emergency.

en	Set up an administration password

en	In order to perform administration tasks, you need to set up an administration password when starting Tails, using the [[Welcome Screen|welcome_screen]].

en	When the Welcome Screen appears, click on the **[[!img lib/list-add.png alt="Add Additional Setting" class="symbolic" link="no"]]** button.

en	[[!img additional.png link="no" class="screenshot" alt=""]]

en	Choose **Administration Password** in the **Additional Settings** dialog.

en	Specify a password of your choice in both the Administration Password and Confirm text boxes then click Add.

en	<div class="note">

en	For security, it is impossible to set up an administration password after starting Tails. Otherwise, a compromised application could bypass some of the security built in Tails.

en	</div>

en	How to open a root terminal

en	To open a root terminal during your working session, you can do any of the following:

en	- Choose **Applications**&nbsp;▸ **System Tools**&nbsp;▸ **Root Terminal**.

en	- Execute the command `sudo -i` in a terminal.