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Asked: 2024-09-24T06:27:05+05:30 In: ,

How can I reset the root password in Windows 10’s Windows Subsystem for Linux? I am encountering difficulties in changing it.

I’ve been trying to reset my root password in Windows 10’s Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), and honestly, I’m feeling pretty stuck. I mean, I initially thought it would be a straightforward process, but it’s proving to be anything but that.

So here’s the scoop: I was messing around with some configurations in my Linux environment, and I accidentally changed some permissions or something. Now, when I try to switch to the root user or even just perform actions that require elevated permissions, it’s throwing errors at me left and right due to the password issue. I tried the usual `passwd` command, but it just keeps saying that the authentication is failing.

I went down the rabbit hole trying to find solutions online. Some forums suggest resetting the accounts by accessing the `.bashrc` or `.profile` files. Others mention reconfiguring the WSL itself or using specific commands in PowerShell, but I’m not sure where to begin. I tried a few methods I found, like using `sudo`, but no luck—my password doesn’t seem to work at all.

It’s super annoying because I need WSL for some development work, and not being able to access root permissions is seriously holding me back. Plus, I’d rather not have to reinstall everything. I guess I could just create a new Linux distribution instance, but that feels like overkill. I don’t want to lose my existing setup and all the files I’ve been working on.

Has anyone gone through this and found a way to reset the root password in WSL? Any tips would be appreciated! I’m open to any advice, whether it’s a command line hack or something else. I just want to get back to coding without constantly hitting these frustrating roadblocks. It’s been a long day, and any help would be a lifesaver!

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    2 Answers



    1. Reset Root Password in WSL

      Help with Resetting Root Password in WSL

      It sounds like you’re really in a tough spot! Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us. Here’s a simple way to reset your root password in WSL:

      Step 1: Open PowerShell

      1. Press Windows + X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).

      Step 2: Set Default User for WSL

      Use the following command to set the default user to root:

      wsl -u root

      Step 3: Start WSL

      1. Type wsl in PowerShell, and it should launch WSL with the root user now.

      Step 4: Reset Password

      Now that you are logged in as the root user, reset your user password:

      passwd username

      Replace username with your actual username. Follow the prompts to set a new password.

      Step 5: Exit and Reset Default User

      1. Type exit to leave the WSL session.
      2. Now you might want to reset the default user back to your usual one. Use:

        3. wsl config --default-user yourusername

      Extra Tips

      • If you’re still having trouble, you could try uninstalling and reinstalling the Linux distribution, but that should be the last resort.
      • Make sure to backup any important files just in case!
      • Also, check out the WSL documentation for more command line fun!

      Hopefully, this helps you get back on track. Good luck coding!



    2. To reset the root password in WSL, you can follow a few steps that should help you regain access to elevated privileges without having to reinstall your entire setup. First, make sure to launch your WSL environment as an administrator. You can do this by searching for “WSL” in your Windows search bar, right-clicking the application, and selecting “Run as administrator.” Once you are in the WSL terminal, you can use the following command to initiate a password reset: `sudo passwd root`. If this fails due to authentication issues, the next step involves configuring the WSL to stop immediately after launching your Linux distribution so you can get into a root shell directly. You can do this by executing `wsl --shutdown` in PowerShell and then using `wsl -d --user root`. This approach should allow you to bypass the normal user login and grant you root access.

      After you have successfully accessed your WSL as the root user, use the command `passwd` to change the root password. It’s essential to remember the new password you set, as this will be required for authentication when performing administrative tasks in the future. If you encounter any issues during this process, consider checking the `.bashrc` or `.profile` files for any misconfigurations that may affect your ability to use the `sudo` command. Additionally, once you have regained access and reset your password, testing with a simple command like `sudo ls` can confirm that everything is functioning correctly. This should help you get back to your development work without the fear of losing your configurations or files.


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