How to Reset Forgotten Root Password in RHEL/CentOS/Fedora

How to Reset Forgotten Root Password in RHEL/CentOS and Fedora

In this post will guide you simple steps to reset forgotten root password in RHEL, CentOS andFedora Linux with example. There are various ways to reset root password which are.

1. Booting into single user mode.
2. Using boot disk and edit passwd file.
3. Mount drive to another system and change passwd file.

     Here, in this article we are going to review “Booting into single user mode” 

 option to reset forgotten root password.

Cautious: Kindly take copy of backup of your data before test.

STEP 1. Boot Computer and Interrupt while booting at GRUB stage

 hitting ‘arrow‘ keys or “space bar“.

STEP 2. Type ‘a‘ to modify kernel argument. Anytime you can cancel typing 

‘ESC‘ key.

STEP 3. Append 1 at the end of “rhgb quiet” and press “Enter” key to boot 

into single user mode.

Append 1 at the Screen

STEP 4. Type command “runlevel” to know the the runlevel where you are 

standing. Here “1 S” state that your are in a single user mode.

STEP 5. Type ‘passwd‘ command without username and press ‘Enter‘ key in 

command prompt. It’ll ask to supply new root password and re-type the same password for confirmation. “Your are Done” Congratulation!!!