While the sudo password is built in to Windows and macOS, it must be requested on Linux systems. You may compare it to clicking the “run as administrator” option, except that you now have complete control over the operating system.
Once you begin tinkering with the administrative powers that Linux provides, you don’t have much room for mistake. It’s not that the terminal requires a Sudo password because mistakes are easy to make, but it does so as a security precaution.
Steam Deck: How to set a Sudo administrator password
If you haven’t done so already, switch to Desktop mode. Select Power, then Desktop mode from the Steam button’s menu. The Konsole may be accessed via the taskbar menu once the operating system has loaded. The terminal window will open up.
Using passwd is now as easy as typing a few letters. It will prompt you to enter a password and force you to commit it to memory. Even if Linux is forgiving if you forget your password, you still don’t want to be in that position.
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What’s sudo?
The Linux equivalent of Windows’ “run as administrator” is called “sudo,” which stands for “superuser do,” and requires the user to explicitly tell the operating system to act as an administrator.
This will restrict your access to several features of Linux. Not just to keep it secure, but also to stop any unauthorized alterations. It’s a nice to have, however by default, the Steam Deck doesn’t set up the Linux password required to launch Sudo programs.
Because to Valve’s inclusion of Desktop mode, the majority of the game’s functionality are now accessible to players. The Steam game mode serves as the home page, therefore a password isn’t necessary. If you don’t manually assign a user to the desktop environment, it will function as though no one is using it.
Superuser access is actually required for features like expanding storage or installing plugins like Decky.
A similar emphasis on safety applies here. Sudo’s permissiveness for change on the fly might expose you to several dangers if you were to use it improperly.
Nonetheless, despite how gloomy it may sound, there is no need to worry about Sudo. It’s not like you’re going to let everything out at once, but it is necessary to have access to features like Secure Shell (SSH), which may make moving data between your computer and the Deck much simpler.
Setting a password on Linux to get started on any of your Steam Deck duties will surprise you.
That all you need to know about How to set a Sudo administrator password on Steam Deck