Introduction:

Changing a user password in Ubuntu via the command line can be a straightforward process once you get the hang of it. Whether you’re a system administrator managing multiple users or simply looking to update your own password, the command line offers a quick and efficient method to accomplish this task. In this tutorial, we’ll walk through the steps to change a user password in Ubuntu using the command line.

Step 1: Accessing the Terminal

First, open the Terminal application on your Ubuntu system. You can do this by searching for “Terminal” in the Dash or pressing Ctrl+Alt+T.

Step 2: Logging In as the Target User

To change the password for a specific user, you’ll need to log in as that user or have administrative privileges. If you’re changing your own password, you can skip this step. Otherwise, switch to the target user using the following command:

su – username

Replace “username” with the username of the user whose password you want to change. You’ll be prompted to enter the user’s password.

Step 3: Changing the Password

Once you’re logged in as the target user or have administrative privileges, you can change the password using the `passwd` command. Simply type the following command and press Enter:

passwd

You’ll be prompted to enter the new password. Type the new password and press Enter. Note that when you type the password, nothing will be displayed on the screen for security reasons. After entering the new password, you’ll be asked to retype it for confirmation.

Step 4: Confirmation

After successfully changing the password, you should see a confirmation message indicating that the password has been updated.

Step 5: Exiting the User Session (Optional)

If you logged in as the target user in Step 2, you can exit the user session by typing the following command and pressing Enter:

exit

This will return you to your previous user session or the root user session, depending on your privileges.

Conclusion:

Changing a user password in Ubuntu via the command line is a fundamental task for system administrators and users alike. By following the simple steps outlined in this tutorial, you can quickly and securely update user passwords, ensuring the security of your Ubuntu system. Whether you’re managing multiple users or just looking to update your own password, the command line provides a convenient and efficient method to accomplish this task.