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Asked: 2024-09-24T16:55:04+05:30 In:

How can I find out what the sudo password is in Ubuntu?

I’ve been diving into Ubuntu lately, and I keep hitting a wall when it comes to the sudo password. It’s like a mysterious key that I don’t have, and it’s kind of driving me crazy! I know that sudo is super important for doing admin tasks, but every time I try to use it, I just get stuck because I can’t remember what the password was or I never set one up.

So, here’s my situation. I’ve been using Ubuntu for a while, mainly just for browsing and some light programming, but I want to start exploring the system more deeply. There are some applications and updates I want to manage, but then bam! Sudo prompts me for a password, and I’ve got nothing. I tried a few things, like entering my user password, but it doesn’t work! I’ve even Googled a bunch of tips, and while I’ve learned a lot, I’ve gotten mixed signals on how to actually find out what the sudo password is.

I’ve read that there are ways to reset or recover the password if you have access to the account itself, which makes sense, but I’m not sure if I’m ready to go down that path just yet. I’m a bit hesitant to mess with the terminal too much, especially if it means possibly locking myself out of my system.

Honestly, I’m hoping some of you more experienced Ubuntu users out there can shed some light on this. Is there a straightforward method to find out what the sudo password is, or am I basically doomed to deal with this conundrum forever? Are there any tips or tricks that you’ve used to recover or reset the password without causing a mess? It would be super helpful to hear your experiences or any resources you might recommend. I’m just trying to navigate this world without feeling completely lost! Your help would mean a ton!

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    2 Answers

    1. It sounds like you’re really getting into the Ubuntu world, and I totally get how frustrating it can be to hit that sudo password wall! Most of the time, your sudo password is the same as your user account password when you first set it up. If you can’t remember it, here are a few things you might consider:

      1. Try Your User Password

      You’ve mentioned trying your user password, but make sure you’re entering it exactly as it was set. No caps lock, no extra spaces—just a plain password.

      2. Reset Your Password

      If all fails, you can reset your user password. This can be done via the recovery mode:

      1. Reboot your system.
      2. Hold Shift during boot to access the GRUB menu.
      3. Select the recovery mode option (usually something like (recovery mode) after the Ubuntu version).
      4. Choose root from the recovery menu to get a root terminal.
      5. Remount the filesystem as writable with: mount -o remount,rw /
      6. Now, change your user password with: passwd your_username
      7. Follow prompts to enter a new password.
      8. After you’ve set the new password, type exit and select resume to continue booting normally.

      Just be careful—this gives you admin access, so it’s powerful but can mess things up if you’re not cautious!

      3. Consider Using `sudo` Without a Password

      If you’re still getting stuck and you’re not worried about security (like if it’s a personal machine), you can configure sudo to not ask for a password. You would edit the /etc/sudoers file:

      1. Run sudo visudo in the terminal.
      2. Add this line to the end: your_username ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL

      **Note**: Only do this if you trust your environment, because it allows anyone with your user account to execute any command without entering a password!

      4. Community and Resources

      Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Ubuntu community or forums! They’re super helpful for these kinds of newbie questions. You’ll find a lot of friendly people ready to assist.

      At the end of the day, it’s all about learning. Don’t stress too much—many have been in your shoes. Keep going, and soon you’ll feel more comfortable with the terminal!


    2. You don’t need to worry too much about the sudo password conundrum; it’s a common issue among new Ubuntu users. The sudo password is typically the same as your user account password, which is set during the installation of Ubuntu. If you are using a standard user account with sudo privileges, try entering your usual login password when prompted by sudo. If you have switched to a different account or forgotten your user password, you will need to reset it to regain sudo access. To do this, you can reboot your system, access the GRUB menu, and boot into recovery mode, where you can drop to a root shell prompt and reset the password for your user account using the ‘passwd’ command followed by your username.

      Remember to tread lightly when working in recovery mode or changing system settings through the terminal. If you’re not comfortable with these steps, consider backing up your data first. Another alternative is to create another user account with sudo privileges, which can help you manage administrative tasks without needing to reset the original password immediately. To do this safely, you can either log into the system with an existing account that has sudo privileges or manage it through recovery mode. After recovering access to your user account or creating a new one, always make sure to document your passwords securely, so you won’t face similar issues in the future.


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