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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

passwd

Output:

Changing password for user shobha.
(current) UNIX password:
New password:
Retype new password:
passwd: password updated successfully

Here, the user shobha updated her own password.

Example 2 – Admin sets a password for a new user

passwd prabha

Output:

New password:
Retype new password:
passwd: password updated successfully

Here, the admin set a password for Prabha.

Example 3 – Lock a user account

passwd -l ravi

Output:

passwd: password expiry information changed.

Here, Ravi’s user account was locked.

Example 4 – Unlock a user account

passwd -u ravi

Output:

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.

passwd command