How can I return to my user's home directory after becoming root?

Question

How can I switch from user to root? In my terminal I typed in

su -

and it took me to the root directory, so I need to go back to the user directory.

Remember that documentation is available on your machine; see man su in this case. — Chris Davies, Nov 11 '22 at 16:13
Are you just looking for the cd command or do you not know how to get the path to your user's directory? — terdon, Nov 11 '22 at 17:21

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 11 '22 at 16:10

3

Just type su without the - to become root but without it being a login shell.

answered Nov 11 '22 at 16:10

Anthony Kelly

Thanks for your response but the question is how can I return to my user home directory after becoming root? – YINMII Nov 11 '22 at 17:02
@YINMII you don't use -, exactly as suggested in this answer. That way you stay in your current directory – Chris Davies Nov 11 '22 at 17:07

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 11 '22 at 17:56

0

It turns out that the requirement is not to change directory, but to exit the root shell. (Which implicitly reverts to the caller's directory.)

You can do this with the exit command. A quick alternative at the start of a new line is Ctrl d.

answered Nov 11 '22 at 17:56

Chris Davies

Thanks so much, this work for me, I just typed in exit and the exit work. – YINMII Nov 12 '22 at 23:22
Thanks, the exit key work – YINMII Nov 12 '22 at 23:25

2 Answers2