How to Change or Reset User Account Password in Linux

Author: Lauren Smith

If you like to use commands to do anything in your system, then possibly you’ll want to use a Linux operating system on your computer. Or maybe your system is already running on Linux. Many users, especially programmers like to use Linux over Windows, Macintosh, or other operating systems. It has been said that the Linux operating system is more powerful than another operating system. And this is also one of the main reasons why anyone likes to use it.

Just like Windows and Mac, Linux also allows its users to share a system with multiple users through a user account. You can create user accounts for multiple users on your system and work separately. Along with this, users can also set a password to keep their data secure. Changing or resetting a user account password on Linux is pretty simple. As well as Linux allows you to do it through using the command line or GUI (graphical user interface).

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Here is how to change or reset user account password on Linux

Changing the user account password using the command on Linux

Using commands for changing a user account password is much simpler and straightforward than GUI. You just have to run some commands and its done. Moreover, this method for changing the user account password will work on most version or distribution of Linux. Here is which command you’ve to run.

  1. Start your Linux system and sign in to your user account.
  2. Now, launch ‘Terminal.’
  3. Type the command ‘sudo passwd’ in the terminal window and run it. The change password command will run and ask you for the user password you’re using currently.
  4. When prompted, input the password you’re using currently to access your user account.
  5. After that, you’ll have to enter a new password.
  6. Insert the new password again to verify it.
  7. Now, exit the ‘Terminal.’

Once you run all these commands on your Linux, the password of your user account will be replaced with the new one. Now, you don’t need to do anything else. Your user account will now unlock with the new password only.

Resetting a user account password using the command on Linux

The above method is for changing the password of a user account you have access. But, what if you don’t have access to a user account, such as of other users on your system. You can change the password of another user account also in your Linux easily by running a few commands in the terminal. Before you proceed to do so, make sure that the user account is not logged in to the system. Here is how to reset a user account password in Linux through the terminal.

  1. Start your Linux system and sign in to your user account.
  2. Launch ‘Terminal.’
  3. Type the command ‘sudo passwd [USERNAME]’ in the terminal window and run it. In the command, you have to change the word [USERNAME] with the name of the user account whose password you are resetting.
  4. Input your user password and proceed.
  5. Now, you can set a new password for that user account. Enter the new password when asked for it.
  6. Insert the new password again when ask for verifying.

Once you run all these commands on your Linux, the password for the entered user account name will be reset and changed with the new one. Now, the user needs to use the new (changed) password to access their account.

Changing the user account password using Linux Settings (GUI)

If are not so strong with terminal or just want to see how to change a user account password in Linux from the graphical user interface, then you need to go to the settings on your Linux. The procedure for accessing settings tool varies in different Linux. Here is how to change the password from the GUI in GNOME desktop.

  1. Start your Linux and go to its ‘Settings.’
  2. Click on ‘Details’ in the left menu at the bottom.
  3. Then, select ‘Users’ from the options.
  4. After that, click on the ‘Unlock’ button.
  5. When prompted, input the password you’re using currently to access your user account.
  6. Then, click on the ‘Password’ text field.
  7. Insert and verify your new password, when prompted.

The password for the chosen user account will be changed. Now, you can close the settings and try accessing the account with the new password. This procedure for changing password will be very similar in other Linux desktop. If you didn’t get the exact instructions for your desktop, you could try it once. Hope this procedure will help you too.

Lauren Smith is an inventive person who has been doing intensive research in particular topics and writing blogs and articles on brother printer support and many other related topics. She is a very knowledgeable person with lots of experience.