If you cannot log in to Webmin, you can change the password for an existing Webmin user from the command line.

Webmin password or Unix password?
A Webmin user can use the matching Unix account’s password or a separate password stored by Webmin. When both accounts exist, interactive use asks which one to change. Use --unix or --webmin-only to select explicitly.

For package-based installs

If Webmin was installed from an rpm or deb package, run this command as root:

webmin passwd username

Replace username with the Webmin login you want to update, such as root or admin.

You can also use the explicit form:

webmin passwd --user username

If a matching Unix user exists, choose the recommended Unix password option at the prompt. This keeps Webmin and other system services, such as SSH, on the same password.

You can select it directly with:

webmin passwd --user username --unix

To set a separate password used only by Webmin, run:

webmin passwd --user username --webmin-only

For tar or source installs

If the webmin command is not installed system-wide, run the bundled CLI command from your Webmin installation directory instead.

Typical examples are:

/usr/libexec/webmin/bin/webmin passwd --user username

/usr/share/webmin/bin/webmin passwd --user username

/usr/local/webmin/bin/webmin passwd --user username

If your Webmin configuration directory is not /etc/webmin, specify it explicitly:

/usr/local/webmin/bin/webmin passwd --config /path/to/webmin-config --user username

Set a password non-interactively

If you need to set the password in a single command, the CLI also supports passing it directly:

webmin passwd --user username --webmin-only --password new_password_here

Use this carefully, because putting passwords on the command line can expose them in shell history or process listings.

Common problems

webmin: command not found

Use the bundled CLI under your Webmin installation directory, such as /usr/share/webmin/bin/webmin or /usr/local/webmin/bin/webmin.

The password changed, but you still cannot log in

Check which password type the account uses. Run webmin passwd --user username interactively to choose, or use --unix for the matching Unix account and --webmin-only for a separate Webmin password.

You are not sure where Webmin is installed

For package installs, common locations are /usr/libexec/webmin and /usr/share/webmin. For source installs, a common location is /usr/local/webmin.

For the main built-in subcommands and global options, see the Webmin CLI.