Steps to Change Your Password in Ubuntu Linux
- 3 steps
- Needs administrator rights
Changing your Ubuntu password takes less than two minutes and keeps your files safe from anyone else who uses your computer. This is the main password you type to log in, and it is also the one sudo asks for when you run administrative tasks.
The steps work on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and other recent versions. You can use the graphical Settings app or a short command in the terminal. When you change your login password, Ubuntu also updates your login keyring. The keyring is the encrypted store where Ubuntu keeps saved website passwords, Wi-Fi secrets and encryption keys.
To change your password in Ubuntu, open Settings from the app list, click Users, then click the password field beside your account name. Enter your current password, type the new password twice in the New password and Verify New Password fields, and click Change. On Ubuntu 24.04, find Users under System. For the terminal method, run passwd.
How to change your Password in Ubuntu Linux
The short version: open the Settings app from your app list and click Users. Select your account, click Unlock if the options are greyed out, then click the Password field and type a new password. The full steps below show each screen.
To change your password in Ubuntu Linux, follow these steps. Start with the graphical method. The terminal method comes later in this guide. You need to know your current password for either one.
Ubuntu keeps most of its settings in one place: the Settings app, also called System Settings. From here you manage everything from display and network options to creating and updating user accounts.
To open it, click Show Applications at the bottom of the dock and choose Settings. You can also press the Super key (the Win on most keyboards), type “Settings”, and press Enter. The Settings window should now be on your screen.
There is another way in. Click the system menu in the top-right corner of your desktop, where the network, sound and power icons sit, and select Settings. It opens the same window as the app list does.
Click the Users tile to open that panel. You should see your account name, your picture and a list of account options, including a Password row.
On Ubuntu 22.04 the Users panel sits in the main Settings list. In newer releases such as Ubuntu 24.04 it has moved under System. If you can’t find it in the sidebar, use the search icon at the top of the window and type “Users”.
In the Settings Users panel, click the ····· field beside Password. The dots stand for your current password. A password dialog opens.
In the dialog, fill in the fields in this order:
- Type your current password in the Current password field.
- Type your new password in the New password field.
- Type the new password again in the Verify New Password field.
Ubuntu may show a hint if the new password is too short or too simple. Use a long password that you don’t use on any other account. If the two new entries don’t match, the Change button stays greyed out until they do.
When you’re finished, click the Change button to save the new password. The dialog closes, and the new password applies from now on, for your next login and for any sudo prompt.
If the change fails, the most likely cause is a mistyped current password. Open the dialog again and re-enter it carefully.
If you prefer working in the command line, you can change your password there too. The next section shows how. This is also the method to use on a server or over SSH, where there is no Settings app.
Changing Your Password via the Command Terminal in Ubuntu Linux
Open a terminal window by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T, or search for “Terminal” in the app list. Run the command shown below. It first asks for your current password, then asks you to type the new password twice.
Nothing appears on screen while you type a password in the terminal, not even dots. That is normal, so keep typing and press Enter. If the two new entries don’t match, or the new password is rejected as too weak, the command tells you and you can try again.
That should do it! When the terminal reports that the password was updated successfully, the change is done. To check it, lock your screen with Super+L and sign back in with the new password.
If you use automatic login, Ubuntu does not unlock your keyring with your password at startup. In that case, the first app that needs a saved password may ask for it. Enter your new password there if it does.
Conclusion:
- Changing your password regularly is a good practice to enhance security.
- Utilize the System Settings panel or command line terminal to update your password.
- After updating your login password, your login keyring password will automatically sync.
- Keeping your password confidential is essential for maintaining system security.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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