Students, faculty and staff can change user passwords in Ubuntu Linux.
All Linux systems have a “root” user account similar to the Windows Administrator account. Certain system-sensitive commands can only be performed as root, regardless of a user’s privileges.
Changing Your Password Through the Terminal
- From the Desktop Search, enter the word terminal.
- Select the appropriate item.
- Ensure that the correct account name is showing.
- Enter passwd.
- Press Enter.
- Type in the current user password.
- Type in the new user password. The system will not accept a blank or empty password.
- Retype the new password a second time. You should then receive a message confirming that the password has been successfully updated.
Changing Your Password Through the Ubuntu Menu
- Click on the gear icon in the top-right of the desktop.
- Select System Settings.
- Click on User Accounts.
- If more than one user account is present:
- Select the account for which you wish to change the password.
- Press Password Field in the right column.
- Enter the current user password.
Enter a new password.
The system will not accept a blank or empty password.
- Retype the new password a second time.
- Press the Change button.
Changing Any User's Password Through the Terminal
- From the Desktop Search, enter the word terminal.
- Select the appropriate item.
- At the command prompt, type sudo passwd user name and press Enter.
- Enter the root user password.
Enter the new user password.
The system will not accept a blank or empty password.
- Retype the new password a second time. You should then receive the message that the password has successfully been updated.
Related Articles