> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://itsfoss.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Access Root Directory in Nautilus File Manager - URL: https://itsfoss.com/access-root-nautilus/ - Published: 2025-08-18T06:09:19.000Z - Updated: 2025-08-26T04:23:41.000Z - Description: Quick little tip that shows how you can access the files and folders under root from Nautilus file manager. - Author: Abhishek Prakash - Tags: Tips 💡 Once upon a time, Nautilus allowed accessing the root directory from 'Other locations' option in the sidebar. This tiny but useful option has disappeared in the recent versions. But **you can still access root folder in Nautilus by typing / in the address bar**. Let's see it in a bit more detail in this quick tutorial for Linux beginners. Nautilus is the default file explorer in GNOME desktop environment and thus it should be applicable for Ubuntu, Fedora and many other distributions that use GNOME. ## Access root directory from Nautilus Open the Nautilus file manager. You'll notice that there is an address bar on the top that displays like Home or the current location. Click on it and you'll see that you can enter text here. All you have to do is to enter `/` here. That's it. ![Access root folder in Nautilus in Linux](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/08/access-root-folder-as-normal-user-nautlus-1.png) Click on the address bar and enter / If it helps, here's a video of the entire process to show things better. 0:00 /0:13 1× Access root directory as a normal user There is one tiny thing to note here. You'll be accessing the root directory as a normal user. So while you can read most files, you won't be able to create new or modify existing ones. If you want that, you can easily do that. Let me show that in the next section. ## Access root directory as a root user Open the Nautilus file explorer and type the following in the address bar: ``` admin:// ``` ![Access root folder as admin](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/08/access-root-folder-as-root-nautilus-2-1.png) You'll be asked to enter the password. That will be your own user account password. Here's a video to show things in a better way. 0:00 /0:15 1× When you access the root directory as an admin (sudo), you can make changes here, create new files etc. This comes handy in situations where you have to make changes to config files and you want to avoid the terminal. Files opened from here will be opened in graphical text editor, easier to modify. This is different from [opening any file as root trick I shared earlier](https://itsfoss.com/open-nautilus-as-administrator/). [Open Files and Folders as Admin in Nautilus File ManagerLearn to add an “Open as Administrator” option in the right click context menu in Nautilus file manager in Ubuntu and other Linux distributions.![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/icon/android-chrome-192x192-606.png)It's FOSSAbhishek Prakash![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/thumbnail/open-nautilus-as-root.jpg)](https://itsfoss.com/open-nautilus-as-administrator/) ## 💡 Bonus Tip: Create a shortcut to access root While the option to access root might not be in sidebar officially anymore, you can still add one yourself. As shared by It's FOSS reader Fraxtux, you can [add a bookmark in Nautilus](https://itsfoss.com/add-remove-bookmarks-ubuntu/) while accessing the root directory. All you have to do is to press Ctrl+D and you shall see the locations added in the sidebar. ![Adding bookmarks to root folder in Nautilus file manager](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/08/add-bookmark-toaccess-root-folder-nautilus-file-manager-1.png) You can remove them from the bookmark by right clicking on them in sidebar and choosing the 'Remove from bookmark' option. ## Conclusion This is one of the [many Nautilus tweaks](https://itsfoss.com/nautilus-tips-tweaks/) that you can use to get more out of it. [15 Ways to Tweak Nautilus File Manager in LinuxNautilus, aka GNOME Files, is a good file manager with plenty of features. You can further enhance your experience by using these extensions, tweaks and tips.![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/icon/android-chrome-192x192-605.png)It's FOSSAbhishek Prakash![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/thumbnail/customizing-GNOME-Nautilus-File-Manager.png)](https://itsfoss.com/nautilus-tips-tweaks/) It's quite powerful and it is always good to explore the less obvious features of your regular tools. In that regard, you may also want to learn a thing or two about [utilizing the search feature in Nautilus](https://itsfoss.com/nautilus-file-search/). [Mastering Nautilus File Search in Linux DesktopBecome a pro finder with these handy tips to improve your file search experience with GNOME’s Nautilus file search.![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/icon/android-chrome-192x192-607.png)It's FOSSSreenath![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/thumbnail/nautilus-file-search-1.png)](https://itsfoss.com/nautilus-file-search/) As I mentioned initially, the option to access root files used to be under the 'Other locations' in the left sidebar. It is removed and replaced by a clandestine method. I think the rational behind this decision was to avoid accidental changes to root files. That's just my guess. I let you enjoy this quick Nautilus tip.