How to Change Your User Password In Linux

Linux set password instructions

Image of user login.

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by Jack Wallen
Jack Wallen is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire and an award-winning writer for TechRepublic and Linux.com and the voice of The Android Expert.
Updated November 11, 2019

The strength of our passwords matter. With the Linux operating system, it’s to change your user password. It’s easiest to change your password from a shell prompt.

How to Change Your Password

How you change your password from the command line is accomplished with the passwd command. Don’t let the idea of the command line scare you off from this (as it’s incredibly simple). Here’s how to use this command:

  1. Open a terminal window.

  2. Issue the command passwd.

    Screenshot of the passwd command.

  3. When prompted, type your current user password.

  4. Type the new password.

    Screenshot of typing a new user password.

  5. Verify the password by typing it a second time.

  6. Close the terminal window.

The password change takes effect immediately.

Linux: Reset User Password

To change someone else's password, use the sudo command.

  1. Open a terminal window.

  2. Issue the command sudo passwd USERNAME (where USERNAME is the name of the user whose password you want to change).

    Screenshot of changing another user's password.

  3. Type your user password.

  4. Type the new password for the other user.

  5. Retype the new password.

    Screenshot of retyping a new password.

  6. Close the terminal.