How do I change my iPhone root password?

How do I change my iPhone root password?

Jailbreakers everywhere should be aware that the default root password from Apple is "alpine" and presents a security threat if SSH is installed. SSH can be uninstalled or switched off when not in use, however changing the password once will solve the problem.

To change your root password and help prevent unauthorized access to your iPhone:

1. Connect to your iPhone using SSH on your computer.
2. Type 'passwd' without the quotes at the command prompt and press return.
3. Enter your desired new password. You won't see the characters. Press return and the iPhone will prompt you to retype the new password. Enter the new password again.
4. Use this new password for future SSH connections.

Older instructions follow. These currently (as of iOS 4.3.3) don't work since the MobileTerminal package has not been updated for iPhones running newer firmware. Users have reported that the app simply crashes when opened.

1. Install the MobileTerminal package using Cydia.
2. Run the Terminal app.
3. Type "su root" without the quotes and touch return.
4. Type the root password "alpine" and touch return.
5. You are now logged in as root. Type "passwd" and touch return.
6. Enter your desired new password. You won't see the characters. Touch return and the iPhone will prompt you to retype the new password. Enter the new password again.
7. Type "exit" and touch return.

Newest iPhone FAQs

VIEW ALL FAQS

After you change your root password you should consider changing the password for the user "mobile" as well. This will further protect your data.

1. Run the Terminal app. You are now logged in as mobile.
2. Type "passwd" and touch return.
3. Type the mobile password "alpine" and touch return.
4. Enter your desired new password. You won't see the characters. Touch return and the iPhone will prompt you to retype the new password. Enter the new password again.

Users who do not have jailbroken iPhones don't need to worry about changing the default root password on their devices. SSH is not installed and there's no terminal application to change the password.

tags: 
Technical
Security
Technical
Security

Comments

Anonymous replied on

Hi,

I'm not able to type the password after entering su root.
Nothing appears on the screen despite many attempts to key in the alphabets
Could you help?

Thanks

Ken replied on

You should write passwd not password

Anonymous replied on

why my ipod touch doesn't work i !
when i type su root it say password then i click alpine and it said incorrect password

Anonymous replied on

I changed my root password and don't know it what do I do ?

Anonymous replied on

just like this guy mobile terminal crashes the moment i run it is it maybe different on the 3gs i know they had bigger problems unlocking it

Anonymous replied on

i just did it fine. the password doesnt type out but it does verify

Keith replied on

Once I'm logged into root, how do I go back to the iPhone user level? For instance I named my iPhone, but now only "iPhone" comes up as the name, and I can't change directory to mobile.

Keith replied on

Got it. su means switch user. su mobile got me back. Thanks.

Wings replied on

Thank you big time!!!!! now i don't have to see that face again!!!! hahaha

Goni replied on

It worked for me very well... thank you very much for this tutorial :)

RA1nmak3r replied on

Hey when I type su root and then on password alpine it says password incorrect.. Any help?

BigMac13 replied on

After reading the 'new instructions and the 'old' ones, and having a "D'oh!" moment (by typing 'password' when it should be 'passwd', Ouch.) I would replace Step 4 with these steps after Step 3 of the newer (top) instructions:

4. type 'passwd mobile' (no quotes) and hit
5. repeat step 3 with new mobile password.
6. type 'exit' (no quotes) and hit
7. Use these new passwords for future SSH connections.

Any other passwords we should change?

BigMac13 replied on

After reading the 'new instructions and the 'old' ones, and having a "D'oh!" moment (by typing 'password' when it should be 'passwd', Ouch.) I would replace Step 4 with these steps after Step 3 of the newer (top) instructions:

4. type 'passwd mobile' (no quotes) and hit
5. repeat step 3 with new mobile password.
6. type 'exit' (no quotes) and hit
7. Use these new passwords for future SSH connections.

Any other passwords we should change?

BigMac13 replied on

Additional/modified steps.

After reading the 'new instructions and the 'old' ones, and having a "D'oh!" moment (by typing 'password' when it should be 'passwd', Ouch.) I would replace Step 4 with these steps after Step 3 of the newer (top) instructions:

4. type 'passwd mobile' (no quotes) and hit return
5. repeat step 3 with new mobile password.
6. type 'exit' (no quotes) and hit return
7. Use these new passwords for future SSH connections.

Any other passwords we should change?

Anonymous replied on

What is SSH? Trying to change password.

Anonymous replied on

SSH stands for Secured SHell.