If you have forgotten the password of the root user or want to reset it for some reason, type the command sudo -i to become the root user and type the passwd command to reset the password at the command line or terminal on ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04.
Ubuntu 22.04 Reset Root User Password Command Line
Here are steps to reset root user password on ubuntu 22.04:
Step 1: Open a Terminal Window
To begin, open a Terminal window or command line. You can do this by pressing Ctrl
+ Alt
+ T
simultaneously or by searching for “Terminal” in the application launcher.
Step 2: Switch to the Root User
To reset the root password, you need to have superuser (root) privileges. You can do this by using the sudo
-i command:
sudo -i
This will prompt you to enter your user password. After entering the password, you will be granted a root shell, and the command prompt will change to something like:
root@yourhostname:~#
Step 3: Reset Root User Password Ubuntu
Now that you are logged in as the root user, you can change the root password using the passwd
command:
passwd
Running this command will prompt you to enter a new password for the root user. You will be asked to enter the new password twice for confirmation. Please ensure that your password is strong and not easily guessable.
Step 4: Exit Root Shell
After you have successfully changed the root password, you should exit the root shell to return to your regular user privileges:
exit
Step 5: Test the New Password
To ensure that the root password has been changed successfully, you can open a new Terminal window and try logging in as the root user using the new password:
su -
You’ll be prompted to enter the root password.
Here is the video guide on how to reset root user password on ubuntu command line:
Conclusion
- resting the root password via the command line involves using the
passwd
command under root privileges. - Always prioritize security and create strong, unique passwords.
- Limit the usage of the root account and prefer
sudo
for administrative tasks to reduce security risks. - For any issues, consult official documentation or seek assistance from the Ubuntu community.