---
title: "How to change SSH passwords for root and non-root user"
description: "Managing user passwords is a key part of server administration to ensure security. If you need to change the SSH password for either the **root** and **sudo** users on your server, this guide will walk you through the process. **Note**:…"
url: "https://truehost.com/support/knowledge-base/how-to-change-ssh-passwords/"
updated: "2024-10-07"
category: Cloud servers in Kenya
---

# How to change SSH passwords for root and non-root user

Managing user passwords is a key part of server administration to ensure security.

If you need to change the SSH password for either the **root** and **sudo** users on your server, this guide will walk you through the process.

**Note**: This is guide is will help someone who already has access to SSH, either by **root** user or a **sudo** user, and needs to change the password. If you have no SSH access at all, please contact our **[support team](https://wa.me/19726743814)**for help.

## ### Prerequisites:

- **Root or sudo SSH** **access** to your server.

##### **Step 1: Log in to the Server**

To begin, log in to your server via SSH using the existing credentials. You can refer to **[this](https://truehost.com/support/knowledge-base/how-to-access-a-server-via-ssh-terminal/)** guide

##### **Step 2: Change the Root Password**

- Once logged in as the **root** user or a user with **sudo privileges**, you can change the **root** password by typing the following command:

```
passwd
```

If you're logged in as a sudo user and want to change the root password, run the following command:

```
sudo passwd root
```

- You will be prompted to enter and confirm a new password for the root user.
- **Enter new password**: Type the new root password and press Enter.
- **Retype new password**: Re-type the password to confirm and press Enter.
- If successful, you will see a confirmation message below;

`passwd: all authentication tokens updated successfully.`

![](https://truehost.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/image-53.png)

##### **Step 3: Change the Password for a Sudo User**

If you want to change the password for a **sudo user**, the process is very similar:

- If you are logged in as the **root** user, you can change the password for any sudo user by running the command below. Replace `sudo_user` with the actual username of the sudo user whose password you want to change.

```
passwd sudo_user
```

E.g to change the password of a user called tkeugene, you will run **passwd tkeugene**

- You will be prompted to enter and confirm a new password for the sudo user.
- **Enter new password**: Type the new password for the user and press Enter.
- **Retype new password**: Re-type the password to confirm and press Enter.
- If successful, you will see a confirmation message below;

`passwd: all authentication tokens updated successfully.`

![](https://truehost.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/image-54.png)

##### **Step 4: Verify the Changes**

To ensure the changes have taken effect, you can test the new password by [logging into the server](https://truehost.com/support/knowledge-base/how-to-access-a-server-via-ssh-terminal/) using updated credentials, but from a different terminal session while keeping the current one for use, just in case you face a challenge.