Forgetting your root password on Fedora isn’t the end of the world. Fedora makes it possible to reset it—though it does require a little know-how and physical access to your machine. Whether you’re running Fedora 39, 38, 37, or 36, the steps are nearly identical. Here’s how to reset your root password safely.
🔐 What You’ll Need
- Physical access to the machine
- A keyboard connected (if it’s a server or VM, access to the console)
- A few minutes of downtime
✅ Step-by-Step: Resetting the Root Password
1. Reboot Into GRUB Menu
Restart your system. When you see the GRUB boot menu, act fast:
- Press
eon the default Fedora kernel entry to edit it.
2. Modify Kernel Parameters
You’ll see a bunch of text. Find the line that starts with:
linux /vmlinuz...Go to the end of that line (use arrow keys) and add the following:
rd.breakThis tells Fedora to break into an emergency shell before mounting the root filesystem.
Now press Ctrl + X to boot with these parameters.
3. Remount the Filesystem
Once you drop to the emergency prompt:
switch_root:/# mount -o remount,rw /sysrootThen access the root filesystem:
switch_root:/# chroot /sysroot4. Reset the Root Password
Now set your new root password:
sh-5.1# passwdType the new password twice when prompted.
5. Relabel SELinux Contexts (Important!)
This step ensures SELinux doesn’t block your login:
sh-5.1# touch /.autorelabel6. Exit and Reboot
Type:
exit
rebootYour system will reboot. The SELinux relabeling may take a few minutes. Once it finishes, you can log in as root with your new password.
🛑 A Few Tips
- This method only works if you have physical or direct console access.
- If your system is encrypted, you’ll still need the decryption passphrase at boot.
- For systems where GRUB is password-protected, this process won’t work unless you know the GRUB password.
👍 That’s It
You’re back in business. Fedora’s recovery tools are solid, and with a few steps, you can reset your root password without needing to reinstall or recover from backup.
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