How to set, change and reset your SteamOS / Steam Deck desktop root password

If you're going to be messing around with SteamOS on Steam Deck or other devices, there are times it will need a root password in Desktop Mode. Here's how to set it, change it and reset it if you forgot it.

Most things won't need a password, like installing extra software normally, but certain more advanced things will need one.

How to set a password

This is the easy part. Switch into Desktop Mode via the power menu.

From here load up the Konsole terminal app.

Type in "passwd" and then it will ask you twice to enter a password of your choice and you're all set.

All done! Password set!

How to change your password

As long as you remember it, this is also really easy to do.

Exactly the same steps as above, but it will ask you to enter your current password first before changing it.

How to reset a forgotten password

This is the trickier part. Unlike accounts on a website, you can't just get a link to reset your password in your email. This way though doesn't require any extra downloading. Just a USB keyboard attached via a dock or hub, some patience and careful reading / typing.

I've checked and this works with the latest SteamOS 3.6.21 available at the time of guide publishing. Here's what to do:

1. Shut down your Steam Deck. Don't put it to sleep, fully shut it down.
2. While holding the Quick Access Menu button (the three dots) you tap the Power Button once. This will bring up the Boot Menu. From here select the third option of Current + Boot Menu.
   
3. Leave it on the first line "SteamOS" and press "e" on your keyboard to edit this boot selection.
   
4. Press the Down arrow on your keyboard to get to the line that begins "steamenv_boot", then press END on your keyboard to go to the end of this line.
5. Paying careful attention to your spelling here type in: systemd.debug_shell (it won't be saved and will be removed when you reboot so nothing to worry about in future)
   
6. Then press CTRL + X which will get it to boot.
7. Wait for SteamOS to load up and press CTRL+ALT+F9 to bring up the terminal. Here you can enter passwd deck (the username for desktop mode is "deck").
8. Now enter your new password.
   
9. Now press CTRL+ALT+F1 to swap back to Gaming Mode. Done!

Hope you find this useful. I've had to do it a couple of times where I forgot my password — woops.

Be sure to check out some other guides:

• How to set up Decky Loader on Steam Deck / SteamOS for easy plugins
• An idiots guide to setting up Minecraft on Steam Deck / SteamOS with controller support
• How to install GE-Proton on Steam Deck, SteamOS, Linux
• And more on the full guides page