Linux: Delete user password

by Vivek Gite [Last updated: September 6, 2007]

Q. How do I delete user Password under Linux? I'd like to disable a password for an account.

A. All user encrypted passwords are stored in /etc/shadow file. The quick way to remove/delete a user password is pass --delete option to passwd command. First, login in as a root user.

Command to delete user password under Linux

Type the following command to delete a user password:
# passwd --delete username
OR
# passwd -d username
Above command delete a user's password (make it empty). This is a quick way to disable a password for an account. It will set the named account passwordless. User will not able to login. It is also a good idea to setup user shell to nologin to avoid security related problems:# usrmod -s /sbin/nologin usernameFor example to delete password for user sweta, Type:# passwd -d sweta
# usrmod -s /sbin/nologin sweta

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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

1 hemant 05.28.07 at 7:19 am

I have a Doubt,I want ssh and sftp to remote machine without asking password.

I did lots of thing according to the net help but it is still asking password.

I did on server as follows

1) ssh-keygen -t dsa; ssh-keygen -t rsa
2) copied it on remote host in my home dir. /.ssh/authorized_key
but it is asking password
3) on server i gave command ssh-agent $SHELL and ssh-add
some simple mistake is there but i am not able to find out could anybody help me out.

2 hemant 05.28.07 at 7:21 am

if 3/4 client machines are connected to a solaris server,what would be the command to know that each and every client machine using the memory and other resources of the server and upto what %

3 nixcraft 05.28.07 at 2:43 pm

hemant,

You are posting questions to wrong topic, anyway join our forum and post your question in appropriate thread.

For ssh see this FAQ

4 miranda starling 12.15.07 at 11:42 pm

i need help on deleting my myspace account i lost my password on there.. and i need it deleted so i can put a new one up there,

i would appreciate any tips thankz
miranda s

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