How to Reset or Change User Password on RedHat Linux

Password change is a routine task to keep your login secure. We use passwd tool on most of the Linux operating systems to change user password. The passwd tool changes passwords for user and group accounts, even you can change your root password using this tool. If you are a normal user, you can change only your password using this tool whereas you can change the password for any account using root access.

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Change User Password in Linux

We will use passwd command to change our own password. Type passwd without specifying a username if you are changing your password. You will be prompted to enter your old password for verification, and then a new password. Below is the high level steps to follow password change process.

1. Open Linux terminal or connect to your server using PuTTY.
2. Type passwd and press Enter.
3. Type your current password and press Enter.
4. Now type your new password and press Enter.
5. Make sure your password is complex and not similar to older one otherwise you will get BAD PASSWORD error as shown in below screenshot.
6. Retype your new password and press Enter.
7. Now you will get notify that your password has been changed.

Change root Password

The “root” account is the most privileged account on a Linux system. When using this account, it is crucial to be very careful. Follow below steps to reset or change the password for your root account.

1. Open Linux terminal or connect to your server using PuTTY.
2. Type su at the command prompt, and press Enter.
3. Type the current root password, then press Enter.
4. Type passwd and press Enter.
5. Type a new password and press Enter.
6. Retype the new password and press Enter.
7. Your password is changed here.

Change other User’s Account Password

To change a password for a user, you need to login using “root” account. Follow below steps to change password on behalf of any user.

1. Open Linux terminal or connect to your server using PuTTY.
2. Type su at the command prompt, and press Enter.
3. Enter current root password, then press Enter.
4. Type passwd LoginName and press Enter. If login account is Manvendra. Type passwd Manvendra.
5. Enter a new password and press Enter.
6. Retype the new password and press Enter.
7. Your password is changed here.

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Manvendra Deo Singh

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Article Name

How to Change User Password on Linux

Description

Password change is a routine task to keep your login safe. We use passwd tool on most of the Linux operating systems to change user password. The passwd changes passwords for user and group accounts, even you can change your root password using this tool. If you are a normal user, you can change only your password using this tool whereas you can change the password for any account using root access.

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Manvendra Deo Singh

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www.techyaz.com