Raspberry Pi OS 6.2
Raspberry Pi OS 6.2 now disables passwordless sudo by default, so new installs will prompt for a password when running sudo commands (Raspberry Pi announced the change). (raspberrypi.com) (theverge.com) The foundation says existing installations won’t be surprised by the change, but community outlets warn that some scripts and kiosk setups could break and that a toggle exists for users who prefer the old behavior. (theregister.com) (linuxiac.com)
New Raspberry Pi OS installs now ask for a password before running `sudo`, ending the project’s long-standing default of passwordless administrator commands. (raspberrypi.com) Raspberry Pi published the change on April 14, 2026, and outside coverage identified the release as Raspberry Pi OS 6.2, issued on April 14 and 15. The switch applies to fresh installs, not machines already set up under the old default. (raspberrypi.com) (theverge.com) (theregister.com) In Linux, `sudo` is the command that lets a regular user borrow administrator powers for one task at a time. Raspberry Pi OS had allowed those elevated commands without re-entering a password, but The Register reported the system will now cache a correct password for five minutes after the first prompt. (theregister.com) Raspberry Pi has been moving toward tighter defaults for years. In April 2022, it stopped shipping every image with the default username `pi`, saying security changes usually trade convenience for protection. (raspberrypi.com) The company also spent recent releases closing other easy-access gaps around local logins and lock screens. In May 2025, it split desktop and console auto-login controls after warning that a logged-in text console could bypass a locked desktop session. (raspberrypi.com) Users who want the old behavior can still turn passwordless `sudo` back on in the Control Centre’s System tab or through `raspi-config`. Linuxiac reported the April update also ships Linux kernel 6.12.75 and other desktop changes, including a new main-menu editor. (linuxiac.com) That opt-out matters because some Raspberry Pi projects rely on unattended commands. The Register said some scripts could break, and community reaction ranged from complaints that the change “ruined my day” to support for a stronger default security posture. (theregister.com) The practical effect is small for most people: type your password once, then keep working. For Raspberry Pi, the bigger shift is that a hobbyist-friendly shortcut is no longer the default on a brand-new system. (theverge.com) (theregister.com)
