Software⏱️ 4 min read📅 2026-06-04

How to Fix: Unable to change the root password in Windows 10 WSL

Unable to change root password in WSL, try using 'sudo -u root chown /root:/root' and then update the password with 'sudo passwd'

Quick Answer: Try running "sudo -u root chown /root:/root" followed by "sudo passwd" to update the root password.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🛑 Root Causes of the Error
  2. ✅ Best Solutions to Fix It
  3. 💡 Conclusion

The error 'password has been updated' when attempting to change the root password in Windows 10 WSL can be frustrating, especially for users who rely on this feature. This issue affects users of Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) on Windows 10 and may lead to security vulnerabilities if not addressed promptly.

The inability to update the root password successfully is a common problem that can cause significant inconvenience to users. It's essential to troubleshoot and resolve this issue as soon as possible to prevent potential security risks and ensure the stability of your WSL environment.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • The primary reason for this error is related to the way WSL handles password updates. When you attempt to change the root password using the `sudo passwd` command, it doesn't properly update the password in the Linux file system. This is because WSL uses a separate file system that's not directly linked to the Windows user account. As a result, the changes made to the password are not reflected in the Linux environment.
  • An alternative reason for this issue could be related to the way WSL handles shell sessions. When you use the `sudo -u root /bin/bash` command, it creates a new shell session with the root user credentials. However, if the password update is not successful, the new shell session will continue to use the old password, causing the 'password has been updated' error message.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Resetting WSL File System

  1. Step 1: To reset the WSL file system, open a new command prompt as an administrator and run the following command: `wsl --reset` This will reset all WSL distributions to their default state, including resetting the file system. Then, restart your Windows 10 installation and enable WSL again.
  2. Step 2: After restarting your Windows 10 installation and enabling WSL, you can try changing the root password using the `sudo passwd` command. If the issue persists, proceed with method 2.

Resetting Linux Distribution

  1. Step 1: To reset a specific Linux distribution in WSL, open a new terminal and run the following command: `wsl --reset --distribution ` Replace `` with the name of your Linux distribution (e.g., Ubuntu). This will reset the file system for that distribution. Then, restart your Windows 10 installation and enable WSL again.
  2. Step 2: After restarting your Windows 10 installation and enabling WSL, you can try changing the root password using the `sudo passwd` command. If the issue persists, you may need to seek further assistance from Microsoft support or a professional IT technician.

💡 Conclusion

To summarize, the 'password has been updated' error when attempting to change the root password in Windows 10 WSL can be resolved by resetting the WSL file system or resetting a specific Linux distribution. If you're unable to resolve the issue using these methods, it's recommended to seek further assistance from Microsoft support or a professional IT technician to ensure the stability and security of your WSL environment.

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