= How to reset a root password

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Setting up a root password is a mandatory part of a Fedora installation.
If you forget or otherwise lose your root password, there are procedures
to reset it.

* If you have set a password for your boot loader, refer to
link:#using-installation-cd-dvd[ this section].
* If you want to reset the boot loader password, refer to
link:Reset_Bootloader_Password[ these instructions].
* If none of these scenarios apply to you, proceed to
link:#Entering_Rescue_Mode[ the next section].

Fedora uses _targets_ to determine the services being run when you start
your system. Run level 1 can be used as a rescue mode. Booting Linux
under run level 1, which is also called _single user mode_, will display
a root prompt on bootup, from which you can reset the root password.

[[entering-rescue-mode]]
Entering Rescue Mode
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[[using-grub2]]
Using GRUB2
^^^^^^^^^^^

While booting the system the GRUB2 menu will be displayed, to boot the
system using bash follow these steps:

* Use the arrow keys to select the boot entry you want to edit
* Press *e* to start editing that entry
* Use the arrow keys to go to the line that starts with *linux* or
*linux16*
** If you have a UEFI system it's the line that starts with *linuxefi*
* Go the the end of that line add a space then *rw* then another space
and *init=/bin/bash*
** If your disk is encrypted, you may need to add *plymouth.enable=0* as
well
* Press *Ctrl-x* or *F10* to boot that entry

[[changing-root-password]]
Changing root password
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As root, changing password does not ask for your old password. Run the
command:

....
# passwd
....

Enter your new root password twice. Congratulations! You now have now
reset your root password.

To make sure that selinux context of file which were now modified is
restored properly after reboot, run:

....
# touch /.autorelabel
....

You can than reboot the machine with

....
# /sbin/reboot -f
....

[[reset-password-using-a-fedora-cddvd]]
Reset Password Using a Fedora CD/DVD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[[using-any-of-the-fedora-live-media]]
Using any of the Fedora Live Media
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

* Boot the Live installation media
* After it finishes booting and starts the live session, open a terminal
and switch to root (using `su`, it won't ask for a password)
* Create a directory where you can mount the filesystem of your
installation:

`mkdir /mnt/sysimage`

* Mount the filesystem of your installation (/dev/sda1 is just an
example, be sure to fill in the actual device node of your installation
root */* partition):

`mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/sysimage`

* chroot to your installation:

`chroot /mnt/sysimage/`

* Change the root password:

`passwd`

* Exit from the chroot:

`exit`

That's it, simply reboot your system and then boot the installation from
the HDD as usual.

[[reset-password-when-bios-is-password-protected]]
Reset Password When BIOS is Password Protected
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you cannot enter rescue mode because you forgot the BIOS password
required to select an alternate boot device, you have three options:

* Refer to your computer's documentation for instructions on resetting
the BIOS password in CMOS memory, usually by moving a physical jumper.
* Physically change the boot order.
* Temporarily move the system hard disk to another machine, and follow
the procedures above to reset the root password.

Category:How_to
'''

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