I recently returned to my Kubuntu computer after being away for a very long time and realized I no longer remember the login password. I'd really prefer not to erase the drive and start over. Is there a way to regain access or reset the password?
4 Answers
Yes, it’s usually fixable without reinstalling, as long as the system partition isn’t encrypted or you still know the disk-encryption passphrase. The most reliable approach is to boot from a Kubuntu live USB, mount the installed system, enter it with `chroot`, and run `passwd USERNAME` to set a new password. You’ll need to identify the correct root partition first, and possibly mount separate boot or home partitions if your setup uses them.
Once you’re back in, storing the password in a password manager such as KeePassXC is a good idea. Also consider keeping a recovery plan and backup codes somewhere safe, rather than relying on memory alone.
Full-disk encryption is the important exception. If the drive is encrypted and you’ve forgotten the unlock passphrase, resetting the Linux user password won’t bypass it—the disk must first be unlocked. Without encryption, the password hash can be changed from a recovery environment, so a clean installation generally isn’t necessary.
Another option is to use the bootloader’s recovery or edit mode to start a root shell, remount the filesystem as writable, and run `passwd USERNAME`. On some Ubuntu-based installations the root account is locked, so the recovery option may not work directly; in that case, a live USB and `chroot` is the safer route.
The exact recovery behavior depends on the system configuration. If recovery mode asks for a root password or won’t provide a shell, use the live-USB method instead.