How to launch application as root from Unity Launcher?

If you want the app to always run as root

1. Pin the application to the launcher as normal.

2. Locate the applications .desktop file which will be in either:

   • /usr/share/applications/APPNAME.desktop
   • ~/.local/share/applications/APPNAME.desktop
   • or somewhere else, use locate .desktop|grep APPAME

3. Open with gedit:

   gksudo gedit /usr/share/applications/APPNAME.desktop
   

4. Then change the line

   Exec=APP_COMMAND
   

   to

   Exec=gksudo -k -u root APP_COMMAND
   

5. Save

This command will also keep your environment which is very usefull if you need to connect to others servers and use your private key.

To add a quicklist option to 'Run as root'

Follow steps 1, 2 and 3 above

If the launcher currently doesn't have any other quicklist options, just append this to the end of the document

X-Ayatana-Desktop-Shortcuts=Runroot

[Runroot Shortcut Group]
Name=Run as root
Exec=gksudo -k -u root APP_COMMAND
TargetEnvironment=Unity

In the Main Menu under System, Preferences, type gksudo in the Command field of Launcher Properties, e.g.:

/usr/bin/gksudo /usr/bin/yourapplication

Your Name field might say:

sudo yourapplication

So users know they may see a password popup and why...

I am not sure about Unity Launcher vs Main Menu. Maybe this helps?

Good luck

The following seems to do the same thing, without needing private attributes:

Actions=Runroot;Another

[Desktop Action Runroot]
Name=Run as root
Exec=gksudo -k -u root APP_COMMAND

[Desktop Action Another]
Name=Another action
Exec=whatever