How to Unlock and Reset Administrator Password or Session in Ubuntu

Ubuntu, a popular and open-source Linux operating system, offers a secure and customizable environment. However, sometimes users may face issues related to unlocking the administrator password or accessing the system when a session is locked. This article will guide you through the steps to handle these situations effectively.

Unlocking the Administrator Password in Ubuntu

The administrator account, often referred to as the root user or the first user created during installation, is typically used for administrative tasks. If you forget the password, you can reset it by following these steps:

Boot into Recovery Mode: Restart your computer. Hold the Shift key while booting to access the GRUB menu. Select the option that says recovery mode. Drop to Root Shell: In the Recovery Menu, select root - Drop to root shell prompt. Remount the Filesystem: The filesystem is mounted as read-only by default. Remount it as read-write: bash mount -o remountrw / Reset the Password: To reset the password for your user, replace username with your actual username: bash passwd username You will be prompted to enter a new password. Reboot: After resetting the password, type exit to return to the recovery menu, then select resume to boot normally.

Following these steps should allow you to log in with the new password.

Accessing the Locked Screen in Ubuntu

If the screen is locked and only the owner’s password can unlock it, no admin override exists like in Windows. However, if you have sudo privileges, you can kill the user's session by following these steps:

Get a New Login Prompt: Use the keyboard shortcut Control-Alt-F3 to get a new login prompt. Enter Username and Password: Enter your username and password. Fingerprint the X Server Process: Enter the command: ps axw | grep -i xorg Kill the User's Session: Identify the PID of the process running /usr/lib/xorg/Xorg. Enter the command with the PID: sudo kill pid Return to the Login Screen: Enter the keyboard shortcut Control-Alt-F2 to get back to the login screen.

Enabling the Root Account in Ubuntu

In Ubuntu, the root password may not be set by default. If you need the root account for administrative tasks, you can enable it by following these steps:

Set a Password for the Root Account: Use the command: sudo passwd root You will be prompted to enter your current user password and set the new root password twice.

With these steps, you should be able to unlock and reset the administrator password or access the locked session in Ubuntu effectively.