Kali Linux Default root Password is toor
Method 2: Changing the Root Password from the Terminal
This method involves using the terminal to switch to the root user and update the password.
Step 2: Edit GRUB Entries
Now you need to edit the grub entries, so you can spawn a root session. Press “e” key to enter edit mode.
How do I change the root password through GRUB?
You can change the root password by booting into the GRUB menu, editing the boot parameters, and using the ‘passwd root’ command in a root shell.
Method 1: Changing the Root Password via GRUB
This method involves editing GRUB settings to boot into a root shell with full privileges.
Step 2: Switch to Root User
Then type the following command and press Enter to switch to the root user.
After this you will be prompted to enter your user password. Enter the password and enter into your root user.
Step 3: Change the root password
Once we have switched to the root user, we need to use the following command to change the root password
Now we will be prompted to enter the new root password. Try to enter strong passwords, after that we need to enter the desired password again for confirmation.
Default root Password
During installation, Kali Linux allows users to configure a password for the root user. However, should you decide to boot the live image instead, the i386, amd64, VMWare and ARM images are configured with the default root password – “toor“, without the quotes. So the username = root and password = toor.
In Kali Linux 2020.1, both the default user and password will be “kali”
Kali Linux invalid password root toor for version 2020.1
More information here.
Kali changed to a non-root user policy by default since the release of 2020.1.
During the installation of amd64 images, it will prompt you for a standard user account to be created.
Any default operating system credentials used during Live Boot, or pre-created image (like Virtual Machines & ARM) will be:
Vagrant image (based on their policy):
Some tools shipped with Kali, will use their own default hardcoded credentials (others will generate a new password the first time its used). The following tools have the default values:
For versions of Kali Linux older than 2020.1, here is our previous credential information and root policy information.
I'm not 100% about older versions, but in later versions, you can simply goto the top-right of the workspace desktop (where you would access the quick info for Wi-Fi). Click the wrench/settings icon, and then enter settings (you can do this through any method you're comfortable with). Finally, select the "background" icon in settings. Settings window is akin to Windows Control Panel, and going to Display, then Background.
So check if you can goto All Settings, look for a Background or similar option, and changer the lock screen and desktop separately.
I apologize if this does not work on 1.1, but I wanted to mention, Kali may be more difficult or work-intensive, for everyday use, unless your everyday use is fairly simple and you don't mind occasional commands. It is a great distro to begin getting the hang on Linux, to perform tasks and understand the CLI better. But as mentioned, it is not an optimal Linux distro to attempt to use for every day use. Its not really configured for it and you will need to learn certain commands you will commonly deal with.
It still mounts drives and plays files w/o problem, so if you are using it to watch a movie or listen to music and browse the web, it'll with fine. Not optimal, but there's nothing actually "wrong" with doing it. Other versions can be easier to acclimate to though.
Also, GNOME is basically your desktop system. As you found out, changing this option on the lock screen only changes your environment. It does not pertain to the lock screen itself though, in terms of directly controlling it by switching that drop down option and selecting GNOME or anything else. You would need to manually set the bg pic through commands or by searching for settings.
Hope any of that helps a little.
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Step 1: Boot into GRUB Menu.
Restart your Kali Linux machine and wait until the GRUB menu appears. Do not select any options or boot into Kali immediately.
Step 4: Change the Root Password
Once you are in the terminal session you just need to enter the command:
After applying your new password reboot your system using the following command: