Password deactivated, cant log in. | Linux Mint Community🍵 | Page 1

limber oxide Jan 14, 2026, 8:55 AM

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Hey there,
some time ago i deactivated in my settings in the desktop my password (i was logged in).
Now when i boot Mint requires a password, since i deactivated it in the past, i cant even type in the password.
I just can press log in, and it fails. There is no way for me to Type anything.

I also tried to reset my password to a new one, but it doesn't change that i cant type anything.

(my unsavvy knowledge thinks that i somehow need to reactivate the option to have a password, somewhat from "deactivated" to "enabled")

tall kiln Jan 14, 2026, 9:12 AM

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How exactly did you deactivated it?

limber oxide Jan 14, 2026, 9:20 AM

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tall kiln How exactly did you deactivated it?

i went to system settings, useres and then deactivated it there. I cant really remeber where i unchecked the box. I did it pretty similar to what is shown in this video: https://youtu.be/IP9hvZ6nxz8?si=TFBmmJYkQEGFCyef

Only difference is, when i press enter i dont get to the desktop but it fails my log in (as shown in the video)

YouTube

Cayla Wood

How To Remove The Log On Password For Linux Mint!!

This video will show you how to remove the log on password for linux mint

Be sure to like the video, leave a comment, subscribe to my channel and hit the notification bell so you don't miss anything!

Thanks

:)

▶ Play video

tall kiln Jan 14, 2026, 9:24 AM

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Ok, so you're stuck on a login screen. Press ctrl+alt+f5 can you login there?

limber oxide Jan 14, 2026, 9:28 AM

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tall kiln Ok, so you're stuck on a login screen. Press ctrl+alt+f5 can you login t...

What do I press when login: appears ? I do know my password, but password gets asked after login:

tall kiln Jan 14, 2026, 9:30 AM

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Press ctrl+alt+f5

honest raptor Jan 14, 2026, 9:48 AM

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limber oxide What do I press when login: appears ? I do know my password, but password gets a...

u need 2 items: your login (word), enter - and after that your password

limber oxide Jan 14, 2026, 9:49 AM

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Oke so now I see:
Password:
Signature not found in user keyring
Perhaps try the interactive 'ecryptfs-mount-private'
To run a command as
administrator (user "root"), use
See
"man sudo_root" for details.
"sudo
< command>

tall kiln Jan 14, 2026, 9:50 AM

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If you can type in there, type

groups

limber oxide Jan 14, 2026, 9:51 AM

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tall kiln If you can type in there, type groups

gog adm cdrom sudo dip plugdev users padmin nopassudlogin sambashare

(gog is my name/User or however it’s called)

tall kiln Jan 14, 2026, 9:52 AM

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ok, then type

sudo gpasswd -d $USER nopasswdlogin

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and recheck with

groups

after. nopasswordlogin shouldn't be in the list

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Ok, type

reboot

and then try logging in normally

limber oxide Jan 14, 2026, 9:59 AM

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Now I can type in my password in the regular login screen, but after I press enter I get a short blackscreen and then it remains in the login screen, where I can type in my password again

tall kiln Jan 14, 2026, 10:01 AM

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There is a mountain looking icon next to the password field, click there and tell me what option is selected, and what are available

limber oxide Jan 14, 2026, 10:02 AM

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Cinnamon default, cinnamon software rendering, cinnamon on Wayland experimental

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I am on default

tall kiln Jan 14, 2026, 10:02 AM

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Try software rendering then

limber oxide Jan 14, 2026, 10:03 AM

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Not working, still the same thing happens

tall kiln Jan 14, 2026, 10:03 AM

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and wayland?

limber oxide Jan 14, 2026, 10:05 AM

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Now I have a blackscreen, that seems not to go away

tall kiln Jan 14, 2026, 10:05 AM

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Do you have encrypted disk or home folder by chance?

limber oxide Jan 14, 2026, 10:06 AM

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I can’t remember, I don’t think so

tall kiln Jan 14, 2026, 10:08 AM

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Let's see. press ctrl+alt+f5 again, login and type reboot

limber oxide Jan 14, 2026, 10:09 AM

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Now I’m back at the login screen

tall kiln Jan 14, 2026, 10:11 AM

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Ok, try logging in to cinnamon default again. After being booted back to the login screen, press ctrl+alt+f5 login there and type

grep EE /var/log/Xorg.0.log

photo the result

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hmm....

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try running

ecryptfs-mount-private

what does it say?

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ok.... press ctrl+alt+f7 to go back to login screen and try to login

limber oxide Jan 14, 2026, 10:24 AM

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Yooo

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Im in my Desktop

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Is there now anything that I have to do, to prevent this from happening again ?

tall kiln Jan 14, 2026, 10:26 AM

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Yeah.. and you do have an encrypted home folder, btw

limber oxide Jan 14, 2026, 10:26 AM

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Oke, so what do I do ?

tall kiln Jan 14, 2026, 10:28 AM

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Open the terminal and type

ls -l ~/.ecryptfs/

what does it show?

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and

ls -ld ~/.ecryptfs

limber oxide Jan 14, 2026, 10:39 AM

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lrwxrwxrwx 1 gog gog 29 Sep 12 2024 /home/gog/.ecryptfs -> /home/.ecryptfs/gog/.ecryptfs

tall kiln Jan 14, 2026, 10:40 AM

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Let's try

ecryptfs-rewrap-passphrase ~/.ecryptfs/wrapped-passphrase

it'll ask for the password, then new password - use the same password

limber oxide Jan 14, 2026, 10:42 AM

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did that

tall kiln Jan 14, 2026, 10:42 AM

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what's the output?

limber oxide Jan 14, 2026, 10:42 AM

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nothing

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just a new line in shell

tall kiln Jan 14, 2026, 10:43 AM

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did it ask for 3 passwords basically?

limber oxide Jan 14, 2026, 10:43 AM

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yea, old wrapping passphrase, new wrapping passphrase, and new wrapping passphrase again

tall kiln Jan 14, 2026, 10:44 AM

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Ok. restart and see if it works

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Do you even need an encrypted home?

limber oxide Jan 14, 2026, 10:45 AM

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Login worked perfectly

tall kiln Jan 14, 2026, 10:45 AM

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ok....

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And since you have an encrypted home auto-login won't work

limber oxide Jan 14, 2026, 10:48 AM

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Oke, so what did we just do ? Decrypt or disable auto login ?

tall kiln Jan 14, 2026, 10:51 AM

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We removed your user from nopasswdlogin group and fixed encrypted home auto-unlock

limber oxide Jan 14, 2026, 10:51 AM

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So I’m still encrypted/safe ?

tall kiln Jan 14, 2026, 10:52 AM

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Yes, your home folder is encrypted

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Just don't try to setup auto login or you'll break it again

limber oxide Jan 14, 2026, 10:52 AM

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Got it. Thanks very much my G 😘

#Password deactivated, cant log in.