How to reset root password in Linux

Debian and Ubuntu

Method 1: Using recovery mode (GRUB)

Open the hypervisor console and reboot the VM.
When the GRUB menu appears, quickly press e to edit the boot entry.
Find the line that starts with:
```
linux /boot/vmlinuz...
```
Move to the end of that line and append:
```
rw init=/bin/bash
```
Press Ctrl + X or F10 to boot.
The system will boot into a root shell.
Remount the filesystem as read/write (if needed):
```
mount -o remount,rw /
```
Change the password:
```
passwd root
```
or for a specific user:
```
passwd username
```
Reboot the system:
```
exec /sbin/init
```
or simply:
```
reboot -f
```
After reboot, log in using the new password.

AlmaLinux and CentOS (RHEL-based systems)

Method 1: Using GRUB console access
1. Open the hypervisor console and reboot the VM.
2. At the GRUB menu, highlight the default entry and press e to edit.
3. Find the line starting with:
```
linux16
```
  or, on newer systems:
```
linux
```
4. At the end of that line, append:
```
rd.breakThis boots the system into the emergency (initramfs) shell.
```
5. Press Ctrl + X to boot.
6. Once at the shell prompt, remount the system as writable:
```
mount -o remount,rw /sysroot
```
7. Enter the chroot environment:
```
chroot /sysroot
```
8. Change the password:
```
passwd root
```
  or:
```
passwd username
```
9. Relabel SELinux contexts (important for RHEL-based systems):
```
touch /.autorelabel
```
10. Exit and reboot:
```
exit
reboot
```
  After the system reboots (relabeling might take a few minutes), use the new password to log in.

Published 04/01/2026 3:07 am