{"id":7775,"date":"2025-12-29T09:10:20","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T09:10:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fastestpass.com\/blog\/?p=7775"},"modified":"2026-02-19T08:35:29","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T08:35:29","slug":"reset-password-on-linux-without-using-the-terminal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fastestpass.com\/blog\/reset-password-on-linux-without-using-the-terminal\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Reset a Password on Linux Without Using the Terminal"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"How<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve probably sat in front of your Linux computer and entered the password you believe to be yours, only to be greeted by the dreaded message of \u201cincorrect password.\u201d This can be very disappointing if you are certain you entered it correctly last week. However, do not worry. You are not the only one in this position. There are ways to resolve a forgotten Linux password.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll show you, with this easy-to-follow guide, the easiest ways to regain access without having to know a ton of terminal magic. Whether you have another computer with admin privileges or can boot from a USB drive, we will explore the easiest ways to get back to the data that matters to you. Here we go.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n Get FastestPass <\/i><\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Linux Makes This a Little Different<\/b><\/h2>\n

Unlike Windows or macOS, most <\/span>Linux distributions<\/span><\/a> don’t have a built-in “Forgot Password?” button on the login screen. That’s because Linux prioritizes security and multi-user setups\u2014your password protects your files and the entire system. But Linux is flexible, so there are straightforward ways to regain access.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are the best methods, starting with the simplest ones that most people can do without extra tools.<\/span><\/p>\n

Method 1: Reset Using Another Admin Account (Completely Graphical \u2013 Easiest!)<\/b><\/h3>\n

f there’s at least one admin account (with sudo rights), you can reset a forgotten password for any other user entirely through the GUI\u2014no terminal, reboot, or USB needed.<\/p>\n

Short & simple steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Log in to the admin account.<\/li>\n
  2. Open Settings (Ubuntu\/Pop!_OS: top-right \u2192 Settings; Mint: Menu \u2192 Preferences \u2192 Users and Groups; Fedora: Activities \u2192 Settings \u2192 Users).<\/li>\n
  3. Go to Users<\/strong> or Accounts<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  4. Select the locked\/forgotten user account.<\/li>\n
  5. Unlock the panel (enter the admin password if prompted).<\/li>\n
  6. Click the Password<\/strong> field (or Change<\/strong> button).<\/li>\n
  7. Enter a new password twice (add a hint if desired).<\/li>\n
  8. Click Change<\/strong> or Apply<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  9. Log out and log in to the affected account with the new password.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Pro tip<\/b>: If you only have one account right now, create a second admin account (even a basic one) for emergencies like this. It takes less than a minute to set up in the same Users settings.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Method 2: Using the Graphical Recovery Menu (Minimal Terminal)<\/b><\/h3>\n

    Reset forgotten password in recovery mode (Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, etc.):<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Restart your computer.<\/li>\n
    2. Hold Shift<\/strong> (or Esc<\/strong> on some machines) during boot until the GRUB menu appears.<\/li>\n
    3. Select Advanced options<\/strong> \u2192 the (recovery mode)<\/strong> entry \u2192 press Enter.<\/li>\n
    4. In the recovery menu, choose root \u2013 Drop to root shell prompt<\/strong> \u2192 Enter.<\/li>\n
    5. At the prompt, type: mount -o remount,rw \/ \u2192 Enter (makes the filesystem writable)<\/li>\n
    6. Then type: passwd yourusername \u2192 Enter (replace “yourusername” with your actual login name)<\/li>\n
    7. Enter new password twice (it won’t show as you type).<\/li>\n
    8. Type: exit \u2192 Enter.<\/li>\n
    9. Select resume \u2013 Resume normal boot<\/strong> \u2192 Enter.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Method 3: Using a Live USB (Mostly Graphical)<\/b><\/h3>\n
        \n
      1. On a working computer, download Ubuntu ISO from ubuntu.com (free).<\/li>\n
      2. Create bootable USB:\n