Enabling and using the “root” user in Mac OS X

How to Enabling and using the “root” user in Mac OS X Lion?

When you need more access you will want to be the root user, which is similar to using the sudo command in the Terminal, but for the whole OS. The root user in Mac OS X is disabled by default. Follow the steps in this article to enable and use it, if needed.

1. From the Apple menu choose System Preferences….
2. From the View menu choose Users & Groups.
3. Click the lock and authenticate as an administrator account.
4. Click Login Options….
5. Click the “Edit…” or “Join…” button at the bottom right.
6. Click the “Open Directory Utility…” button.
7. Click the lock in the Directory Utility window.
8. Enter an administrator account name and password, then click OK.
9. Choose Enable Root User from the Edit menu.
10. Enter the root password you wish to use in both the Password and Verify fields, then click OK

Make sure you have Directory Utility as the active application, i.e. it’ll be displayed in the “menu bar” at the top of your screen, the bar should have the following items when Directory Utility is active: “Directory Utility”, File, Edit, Window, Help.
Click Edit > enable root user. You’re probably looking for an Edit button in the Directory Utility window itself rather than in the menu bar