How to Change Your Linux Password

Changing your Linux password is a crucial step in maintaining system security. Whether you're updating it for security reasons, resetting a forgotten password, or managing user accounts on a Linux server, knowing how to change your Linux password is essential. In this guide, we’ll walk you through various methods to update, reset, and manage passwords effectively.

Change Your Linux Password Using the passwd Command

The easiest way to change your Linux password is by using the passwd command. This method works for the current logged-in user and requires knowledge of the existing password.

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Steps to Change Your Password:

1. Open the terminal.
2. Type the following command and press Enter:
3. Enter your current password when prompted.
4. Type the new password and confirm it by re-entering it.
5. If the password change is successful, you will see a confirmation message:

This method ensures that your password is updated without requiring administrative privileges.

Change Another User’s Password as Root

If you are an administrator or have sudo privileges, you can change another user’s password using the passwd command with elevated permissions.

Steps to Change Another User’s Password:

1. Open the terminal.
2. Use the sudo command followed by passwd and the username:
3. Enter your own administrator password to proceed.
4. When prompted, enter the new password for the user and confirm it.
5. You will see a confirmation message indicating the password change was successful.

This method is particularly useful for system administrators managing multiple users.

Also Read:- Install Ubuntu on Windows Using VirtualBox

Reset a Forgotten Linux Password

If you forgot your Linux password and cannot log in, you will need to reset it using recovery mode or a live USB.

Resetting Password via Recovery Mode:

1. Restart your Linux system and enter the GRUB menu by pressing Esc or Shift during boot.
2. Select Advanced options and choose Recovery mode.
3. Choose the root shell prompt option.
4. Mount the root filesystem in read-write mode:
5. Use the passwd command to set a new password:
6. Enter and confirm the new password.
7. Reboot the system:

Resetting Password Using a Live USB:

If the recovery mode is inaccessible, you can boot into a Linux live session and use the chroot method:

1. Boot from a Linux live USB.
2. Open a terminal and find your root partition:
3. Mount the root partition:
4. Change root into the mounted partition:
5. Use the passwd command to reset the password:
6. Exit the chroot environment and reboot:

This method helps regain access to the system without losing any data.

Also Read:- How to Install Ubuntu on Windows Using VirtualBox

Enforce Password Policies

For better security, administrators can enforce password policies such as expiration, complexity, and history rules.

Setting Password Expiration:

To check password expiration details:

chage -l username        

To set a password to expire after 90 days:

sudo chage -M 90 username        

Enforcing Password Complexity:

Edit the PAM password policy file:

sudo nano /etc/security/pwquality.conf        

Modify settings like minimum length and character requirements.

Preventing Password Reuse:

Use the pam_unix module to remember password history:

sudo nano /etc/pam.d/common-password        

Add:

password required pam_unix.so remember=5        

This prevents users from reusing the last five passwords.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How often should I change my Linux password?

It is recommended to change your Linux password every 3-6 months, especially if you access sensitive information or use shared systems.

What should I do if my Linux password change fails?

Ensure that you are entering the correct current password and that your new password meets the security policy requirements. If the issue persists, try resetting the password using recovery mode.

Can I disable password expiration for a Linux user?

Yes, you can disable password expiration using the following command:

sudo chage -M -1 username        

How can I find out when my Linux password will expire?

Use the following command to check password expiration details:

chage -l username        

What if I forget the root password in Linux?

If you forget the root password, you can reset it using recovery mode or a live USB as described in the reset section above.

Can I set a temporary password for a user?

Yes, you can set a temporary password and force the user to change it on the next login:

sudo passwd --expire username        

Conclusion

Changing and managing passwords in Linux is straightforward using the passwd command. Whether you're updating your own password, resetting a forgotten one, or enforcing security policies, these methods ensure a secure system. Regularly updating your password and following best practices will help keep your Linux system safe.