Using Privileges app in macOS to be an admin in Terminal

Questions

• How can I use the Privileges app to become an admin in Terminal on macOS?
• What steps should I follow to gain admin rights using the Privileges app?

Environment

This knowledge base article is meant for faculty and staff who use macOS and need admin rights in Terminal.

Resolution

1. Start with Terminal closed.
2. Locate the Privileges app on your macOS desktop or search for it in the Applications folder. Double-click to open it.
3. Once the app is open, click on the button that says Request Admin Privileges. This grants you temporary admin rights.
4. To ensure the change took effect, look at the Privileges app in the Dock. It will change from green to Yellow with an open padlock. This confirms you have admin privileges.
5. Now that you have admin rights, open Terminal from your Applications or by using Spotlight Search (press Command + Space and type "Terminal") or navigate to it at Applications - Utilities - Terminal.app.
6. In Terminal, you can now run commands that require admin rights. Just start your command with "sudo" to execute it with these privileges.
7. Once you're done, return to the Privileges app and click the button to give up admin rights to revert to standard mode. If you forget this step, admin permissions will be automatically removed in 15 minutes.

These steps will help you gain temporary admin access to perform tasks requiring elevated privileges using the Privileges app in macOS.