# Reset Your Linux Root Password


![](/images/reset-linux-passwd.jpg)

A system administrator can easily reset passwords for users who have forgotten theirs. But what happens if the system administrator forgets the root password? This guide will show you how to reset a lost or forgotten root password on a Red Hat-compatible system.

<br/>

### Overview
Please note, if the entire system hard disk has been encrypted with LUKS, you will need to provide the LUKS password when prompted. Also, this procedure is applicable to systems running systemd, which has been the default init system since Fedora 15, CentOS 7, and RHEL 7.

### Interrupt the Boot Process
First, you need to interrupt the boot process. Press `e` or `Tab` on your keyboard. Use your arrow keys to move to the `linux16` line:

![](../images/grub2.png)
<br/>

Using your `Delete` key or `Backspace` key, remove `rhgb quiet` and replace it with the following:
```bash
rd.break enforcing=0
```

![](../images/grub3.png)

Setting `enforcing=0` will allow you to avoid performing a complete system SELinux relabeling. Once the system is rebooted, you'll only have to restore the correct SELinux context for the `/etc/shadow` file. I'll show you how to do this too.

Press `Ctrl-x` to start.

### Access the System via chroot
The system will now be in emergency mode. Remount the hard drive with read-write access:
```bash
# mount –o remount,rw /sysroot
```

Run `chroot` to access the system:
```bash
# chroot /sysroot
```

You can now change the root password:
```bash
# passwd
```

Type the new root password twice when prompted. If you are successful, you should see a message that reads "all authentication tokens updated successfully."

Type `exit` twice to reboot the system.

### Restore the System
Log in as root and restore the SELinux label to the `/etc/shadow` file.
```bash
# restorecon -v /etc/shadow
```

Turn SELinux back to enforcing mode:
```bash
# setenforce 1
```

### Reference
- https://opensource.com/article/18/4/reset-lost-root-password