How to Change Password in Linux: Simple Command Guide

To change your password in Linux, use the passwd command in the terminal. It will prompt you to enter your current password and then the new password twice to confirm.

Syntax

The basic syntax to change a password in Linux is:

• passwd: Changes the password for the current user.
• passwd username: Changes the password for the specified user (requires root privileges).

When you run the command, it will ask for the current password and then the new password twice for confirmation.

bash

passwd
passwd username

Example

This example shows how a regular user changes their own password using the passwd command.

bash

passwd

Output

Changing password for user yourusername.
Current password:
New password:
Retype new password:
passwd: password updated successfully

Common Pitfalls

• Entering the wrong current password will prevent the change.
• New passwords must match exactly when typed twice.
• Some systems enforce password complexity rules; weak passwords may be rejected.
• Changing another user's password requires root access (use sudo passwd username).

bash

Wrong way:
passwd username
# Without sudo, this will fail if you are not root

Right way:
sudo passwd username

Quick Reference

Command	Description
passwd	Change your own password
passwd username	Change password for another user (root only)
sudo passwd username	Change another user's password with root privileges
passwd -l username	Lock a user's password (disable login)
passwd -u username	Unlock a user's password

Key Takeaways

Use the passwd command to change passwords in Linux.

You must enter your current password before setting a new one.

Changing another user's password requires root privileges.

Ensure new passwords match and meet system complexity rules.

Use sudo passwd username to change passwords for other users.