Definition:
If you need to set or update a user’s password, you use this command in the terminal. It helps protect user accounts and their files and folders from hacking or unauthorized access.
Syntax:
passwd [options] [username]Example 1 – Change your own password
passwdOutput:
Changing password for user shobha.
(current) UNIX password:
New password:
Retype new password:
passwd: password updated successfullyHere, the user shobha updated her own password.
Example 2 – Admin sets a password for a new user
passwd prabhaOutput:
New password:
Retype new password:
passwd: password updated successfullyHere, the admin set a password for Prabha.
Example 3 – Lock a user account
passwd -l raviOutput:
passwd: password expiry information changed.Here, Ravi’s user account was locked.
Example 4 – Unlock a user account
passwd -u raviOutput:
passwd: password expiry information changed.Here, the admin has unlocked Ravi’s account, allowing him to log in again.
Options:
- -l → If you use this option, it locks the user’s password (disabling login).
- -u → If you use this option, it unlocks the user’s password (enabling login).
- -d → If you use this option, it deletes the user’s password (no password required for login).
- -e → If you use this option, it forces the user to change the password at the next login.
- -n DAYS → If you use this option, it specifies the minimum number of days that must pass before the user can change their password.
- -x DAYS → If you use this option, it specifies the maximum number of days a user can keep the same password before being required to change it.
- -w DAYS → If you use this option, it sets the warning period (before password expiry) in days.
- -i DAYS → If you use this option, it sets the number of inactive days after password expiry before the account is disabled.