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Regaining Access to Your Server

If you have forgotten or lost the root (Linux) or administrator (Windows) password for your VPS, the FREAKHOSTING VPS Control Panel provides a built-in password reset feature. This allows you to set a new password directly from the web interface without needing to access the server first.

Difficulty

Beginner

Time

2 Minutes

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Prerequisites

Before you can reset your server’s root/administrator password, the following conditions must be met:

Server Must Be Running

The password reset function requires your server to be in a Running state. If your server is powered off, boot it first using the Boot button on the Overview page.

QEMU Guest Agent Must Be Installed

The password reset feature communicates with your server through the QEMU Guest Agent. This agent is pre-installed on all servers built using FREAKHOSTING’s standard operating system images. If you have installed a custom OS or removed the agent, this feature will not work until the agent is reinstalled.

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Resetting the Password

1

Navigate to Your Server

Click on Servers in the top navigation bar, then click Manage next to the server whose password you need to reset.
2

Open the Options Tab

Click on the Options tab in the server management navigation.
3

Select the Password Sub-Tab

Click on the Password sub-tab.
4

Reset the Password

Click the Reset Password button. The system will generate a new random password and apply it to the root (Linux) or Administrator (Windows) account on your server.
5

Save the New Password

The new password will be displayed on screen or sent to your registered email address. Copy and save it immediately in a secure location such as a password manager.
6

Log In with the New Password

Use the new password to connect to your server via SSH (Linux) or Remote Desktop (Windows).

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After Resetting Your Password

After successfully resetting your password, we recommend:
  • Change the password to something memorable — Log into your server and set a custom password that you can remember but that is still strong and secure.
  • Update any stored credentials — If you have the server password saved in SSH clients, scripts, or configuration management tools, update them with the new password.
  • Consider using SSH keys — For Linux servers, switching to SSH key-based authentication eliminates the need to remember passwords entirely. See How to Manage SSH Keys.
If the reset fails, it is most likely because the QEMU Guest Agent is not installed or not running on your server. You can install it manually by connecting via VNC (if available) or by booting into Rescue Mode and installing the agent from there. On Debian/Ubuntu, run: apt install qemu-guest-agent && systemctl enable --now qemu-guest-agent.
No, the password reset requires the server to be running because it uses the QEMU Guest Agent to communicate the new password to the operating system. Boot your server first, then perform the reset.
No, this feature resets the operating system root/administrator password on your VPS — not your control panel account password. To change your control panel password, go to Account > Password.
The QEMU Guest Agent is a small service that runs inside your VPS and enables communication between the host system and your server’s operating system. It enables features like password resets, proper shutdown signaling, and filesystem freezing for consistent backups.

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Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

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Last Updated: March 2026 | VPS Support: Password reset simplified.