Ubuntu
gnome-control-center package

Can't unlock User Accounts

Asked by Shahar Or

I'm running a headless LTSP server. Precise.

Even though my user is in the sudo group, that user can't modify system users using the control center.

The Unlock button in User Accounts is unavailable and pointing at it pops up a tooltip saying "System policy prevents changes. Contact your system administrator".

I've tried two users that are in the 'sudo' group and they both have the same issue. This is both through an LTSP client session and through 'ssh -X <server> gnome-control-center'.

Please help me solve this issue.

Thanks,
Shahar

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Ubuntu gnome-control-center Edit question
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actionparsnip
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Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

Why not do it via SSH / Terminal:

sudo passwd -u username

And the account will be enabled.

Revision history for this message
Shahar Or (mightyiam) said : 		#2

Thanks. Perhaps I shouldn't have made this a question at all. Because this looks like a bug.

What I mean is not enabling users. It is the "Unlock" button in the GUI. Which enables changes once authenticated.

Revision history for this message
Best actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#3

try:

gksudo gnome-control-center user-accounts

Revision history for this message
Shahar Or (mightyiam) said : 		#4

Ok, that's a nice workaround. Thanks, actionparsnip.

Is that meant only as a workaround or will that help solving the issue? What is this "system policy" referring to?

Revision history for this message
Shahar Or (mightyiam) said : 		#5

Thanks actionparsnip, that solved my question.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#6

No idea, I just know what works. I don't use those GUI things, they take too long to do most things.

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anthony (aedwards521) said : 		#7

hi.im having the same problem.is there a command i can permanently unlock the user account settings?

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Jeff Van Epps (lordbah) said : 		#8

9 years later I run into the same thing on PoPOS 22.04. Something to do with a policy when running via VNC I suspect. I wish there was something in the logs to tell me the name of the policy in question so I could address it there rather than with a workaround.