FreeBSD reset or recover root password

by Vivek Gite · 10 comments

With FreeBSD 5.4 and above the booting procedure is slightly changed. Under ilder version of FreeBSD use boot -s option at Ok prompt.
However, with version FreeBSD 5.4+ you don't have to type any command. Here is the procedure to boot FreeBSD into a single user mode to reset root password.

In this tip I will explain how to boot FreeBSD into a single user mode to reset root password.

Procedure: Reset FreeBSD root user password

Step # 1: Start FreeBSD server/workstation

Step # 2: Press Enter key at boot loader

At Welcome to FreeBSD! boot menu press spacebar key to pause default booting

Type number 4 key (type 4 number) to boot into single user mode

(click to enlarge)

Next you will see following prompt from system:
When prompted Enter full pathname of shell or RETURN for /bin/sh:

Press Enter key to boot into single user mode. Next, you will be immediately dropped into a single user mode without a root password.

You need to remount / (root) file system in read and write mode with mount command, type following two commands:
# mount -u /
# mount -a

Setup a new password with passwd command:
# passwd

Next type exit command to boot FreeBSD into multi-user mode environment:
# exit
OR You can just reboot the system:
# sync;sync
# reboot

For more information read man pages of passwd and mount command.

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{ 1 trackback }

Daemon Dancing in the Dark
12.06.06 at 8:36 pm

{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }

1 tamayekiyan 03.16.07 at 9:47 am

Dear Vivik:

I can execute this instruction with version 6 but doesn’t work with lower versions.

Is there any site that you can provide.

Thanks,
Tamayekiyan

2 nixcraft 03.16.07 at 7:17 pm

FreeBSD 4.x/5.x

Allow FreeBSD to boot system and mount file system
mount -u /

if /usr is on separate partition, mount /usr too:
mount /usr

Now change password
passwd root
sync;sync

Hit CTRL+D.

Note that if the console was set as insecure in
/etc/ttys file. If so you will need to boot from a CD / floppy into fixit mode. Next mount your hard-disk read-write to continue the repair.

3 tamayekiyan 03.17.07 at 3:20 am

Dear nixcraft:

I booted with freebsd 6.1 cd and proceed to sysinstall. I selected FIXIT and I got a root prompt at vty4.

I have done the above instruction, after typing a command in the root # prompt; the system says: command not found.

then I typed mount -u / – still i got command not found error. If i type ls, it will display command not found as well. If I type pwd – system say / (currently in the root directory).

Am able to cd change directory to /usr and other subdirectory with no problems but mounting such device/directory – I have no luck at all.

looking forward for your advises.

Tamayekiyan.

4 andrei 11.12.07 at 8:55 pm

i followed the stept and it’s telling me that /usr was not properly dismounted

help pls!!!

5 PAVIlIOnX 03.24.08 at 9:44 pm

i was follow all steps, but when i put in console the command “passwd” or “passwd root”, return me
passwd: unknown user root.

Please!!! help me!!!!!

6 bleuken 07.06.08 at 4:52 pm

Thanks for this post! I’m glad that I can use this to my problem on FreeBSD. I really forgot my password and I need to access the root (it’s the only user for the server and I need to fix it).

7 MihaKot 06.04.09 at 9:16 am

Hi.
When i boot in single mode
he ask me password for root or press ^D to go multi user.
Can help?

8 Kupai 09.08.09 at 7:17 pm

How can I protect myself against others who want to get root privileges this way?

9 Vivek Gite 09.09.09 at 4:29 am

Password protect FreeBSD boot loader

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