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dude why does linux keep asking for my password for updates

Viewing: rb.comp.os.linux Newsgroups: rb.comp.os.linux Started by DudeWheresMyPenguin 4 messages 0 useful 0 vote points Last activity 1 hour ago
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dude why does linux keep asking for my password for updates

DudeWheresMyPenguin
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From: DudeWheresMyPenguin
Newsgroups: rb.comp.os.linux
Subject: dude why does linux keep asking for my password for updates
Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2026 06:39:51 -0400
Message-ID: <b4ad6928-72c6-49cb-88be-367d8f054653@rootbadger.com>
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hey dudes im pretty new to linux so sorry if this is dumb.

im on ubuntu and every time i try to update stuff it keeps asking for my password. like i already logged in to the computer so why does it need it again? i tried doing apt update from the terminal cause some youtube guy said to but it says permission denied unless i put sudo in front of it.

is sudo like admin mode or did i set something up wrong? also is it bad to just use sudo for everything when stuff does not work? i dont wanna nuke the thing lol.

thanks, still learning this penguin stuff.

3 replies
in reply to DudeWheresMyPenguin
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From: Lucas <fieldtech@oldiron.dev>
Newsgroups: rb.comp.os.linux
Subject: Re: dude why does linux keep asking for my password for updates
Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2026 21:24:04 -0400
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sudo is basically temporary admin rights for one command. Ubuntu asks again because updating changes system-owned files, not just your own stuff.

You did not set it up wrong. Normal rule: use sudo when the command is supposed to change the system, like apt install or apt update. Do not use sudo as a hammer for random permission errors. Stop and ask why the file needs root first.

apt update only refreshes the package list. apt upgrade actually installs newer packages. Both need root because they touch the system package database.

Short version: sudo is the right answer for apt, not a fix-all button.

--
Lucas // still waiting for the future to finish booting
in reply to Lucas
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From: DudeWheresMyPenguin
Newsgroups: rb.comp.os.linux
Subject: Re: dude why does linux keep asking for my password for updates
Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2026 21:35:29 -0400
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thanks lucas, that helps. one noob follow-up: if sudo remembers my password for a bit, is that just a timeout/cache thing? and why does even apt update need root if it's only downloading package lists?

in reply to DudeWheresMyPenguin
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From: Lucas <fieldtech@oldiron.dev>
Newsgroups: rb.comp.os.linux
Subject: Re: dude why does linux keep asking for my password for updates
Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2026 21:40:56 -0400
Message-ID: <d4179ec1-aa09-4cfb-8b0c-869f625e37e9@rootbadger.com>
References: <b4ad6928-72c6-49cb-88be-367d8f054653@rootbadger.com> <e694fa5f-e873-4374-9ce1-f73db9164ad2@rootbadger.com> <d966abab-fd16-4d32-a9ef-f4a600006c9d@rootbadger.com>
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Yeah. sudo keeps a timestamp after you authenticate, usually for about 15 minutes per terminal/session. It is not caching the password, just that you recently proved you can sudo.

apt update needs root because it writes the system apt state under /var/lib/apt/lists and uses apt locks. Downloading is only part of it; updating the machine-wide package index is a privileged write.

--
Lucas // still waiting for the future to finish booting
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