How To Recover Your Linux Root Password

Let's face it: you can sometimes forget a password, because well... it happens! I can't help you with all of them, but I can tell you how to recover your lost Linux root password thanks to Tips4Linux. Just follow the below steps to recover it:

1. Reboot your system and at the GRUB press "e". Edit the first line and make sure it says "linux single". Then press "b" to boot the new entry line.

2. You will now have access to a BASH prompt. Enter the following commands:

cd /etc
nano passwd

and look for a line somewhere at the top of the file that looks like this:

root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash

You must remove the "x" from that line so it will look like this:

root::0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash

And save the file.

3. Run the following command:

nano shadow

Edit the first line in the shadow file by removing the encrypted password. The line must now look exactly like this:

root::::

Now save the file.

4. Reboot the system and log in as a normal user, then set your new root password using the following commands:

su
passwd