How to Change Linux User Password

Step 1: Log in as Root or Administrator

To change another user’s password, you need root privileges.

sudo -i

Enter your administrator password when prompted.
If you’re already logged in as root, you can skip this step.

Step 2: Use the passwd Command

The passwd command is the standard way to change a password in Linux.

Change the password for a specific user:

passwd username

Example:

passwd root
passwd administrator

This will update the password for the root or administrator account.
Change the password for the current user:

passwd

You’ll be prompted to enter the new password twice to confirm.

Step 3: Verify the Password Change

Log out of the server and reconnect using the new password to make sure the change was successful.

Extra Tips for Linux Password

• Reset forgotten Linux password: If you’ve lost your root password, you can boot into single-user mode or use recovery mode to reset it.
• Linux password policy: Consider enforcing strong passwords for better security.
• Linux server user management: You can combine passwd with commands like useradd and usermod for full control over accounts.
• passwd command in Linux with examples:
  • passwd username → change another user's password.
  • passwd → change your password.
  • passwd -l username → lock a user account.
  • passwd -u username → unlock a user account.