Jenkins: Reset Admin Password

If you have forgotten the Jenkins admin password and can’t log in to a Jenkins user interface (UI) as administrator, you can connect to a Jenkins server via SSH and reset the Jenkins admin password.

The simplest solution is to completely disable security in /var/lib/jenkins/config.xml file, access the Jenkins UI omitting authentication and rest the Jenkins admin password.

Cool Tip: Jenkins Username & Password by Default! Read more →

Reset Jenkins Admin Password

Make a backup copy of a Jenkins config file (this step is important as after resetting the Jenkins admin password we would need to restore the previous settings):

$ cp /var/lib/jenkins/config.xml /var/lib/jenkins/config.xml.back

Open the config file /var/lib/jenkins/config.xml and disable the security:

<useSecurity>false</useSecurity>

Restart the Jenkins service:

$ systemctl restart jenkins

Go to the Jenkins UI (you won’t be asked for any credentials this time) and reset the admin password:

1. Navigate to "Manage Jenkins" -> "Security" -> "Configure Global Security" -> "Authentication"
2. Select the "Security Realm" (e.g. "Jenkins’ own user database") and click on "Save"
3. Go to "People" -> Click on a username for which you want to change the password (e.g. admin) -> "Configure" -> Enter a new password in the "Password" and "Confirm password" fields and click on "Save"

Once the admin password is reset, restore the previous /var/lib/jenkins/config.xml file and restart Jenkins:

$ mv /var/lib/jenkins/config.xml.back /var/lib/jenkins/config.xml
$ systemctl restart jenkins