Resetting your Unraid password

Whether you have forgotten your password, or are not using a password manager, forgetting your root password can be a problem and bring everything to a standstill.

There are two methods to reset your root password, both of which require access to another computer:

Basic

This method involves deleting the files that contain your hashed passwords from the USB device, and is the safest.

1. Shutdown your server.
2. Plug your USB flash device into a Windows or Mac computer.
3. Open the USB device in Explorer / Finder.

4. Locate and delete the files:

   • boot/config/shadow
   • boot/config/smbpasswd
5. Securely eject your USB device and connect it to the Unraid server again.
6. Boot up the Unraid server and it will ask you to set up a new password, as if you'd just completed a first boot of Unraid.

7. (Optional) If you have any user accounts configured in Users > Shares Access (or Settings > Users > Shares Access), select each user and enter a new password. Be sure to select Change and not Done after this.

Your password is reset and your account secured.

Advanced

This method is suggested for more advanced users, and involves deleting the root account's password. This method does not remove any other account passwords.

1. Shutdown your server.
2. Plug your USB flash device into a Windows or Mac computer.
3. Bring up an editor (such as Notepad++) and edit the following file: /boot/config/shadow.
4. On the first line you should see something such as: root:$&$&%*1112233484847648DHD$%.:15477:0:99999:7:::
5. Change that line to the following (essentially delete the content between the first and second colons): root::15477:0:99999:7:::, save and exit.
6. Securely eject your USB device and connect it to the Unraid server again.
7. Plug the flash device back into server and start up the server.

Your password is reset and your account secured.