What is the admin account?
The admin account is the boss account of the control panel. It can create resellers and users, and can change server settings. Because it is so powerful, its password must be strong and private.
Shared hosting customers do not have an admin account. They have a normal user account. If that is you, the same steps below work for your own user password.
Steps in the panel
- Log in to DirectAdmin as admin.
- Click your username at the top of the page, or open Account Manager.
- Click Password Change. In some skins it is called Change Password.
- Type your current password.
- Type the new password.
- Type the new password again to confirm.
- Click Submit or Save.
The new password works the next time you log in.
If you forgot the admin password
Resetting a lost admin password needs root access. Root is the all-powerful user of a Linux server. You get it with a VPS or dedicated server. The exact reset method depends on your DirectAdmin version. Do not guess commands on a live server.
- Open a support ticket at https://secure.hostvento.com/submitticket.php.
- Say that you lost the DirectAdmin admin password.
- Support will confirm you own the server and help you reset it.
Tip: Use a long password with letters, numbers and symbols. Store it in a password manager, not in a text file on your desktop.
Tip: Running unknown commands as root can break the server. Take a backup or snapshot first.
Quick recap
- The admin account controls the whole DirectAdmin server.
- Change the password in Password Change after you log in.
- If you lost it, ask support to help you reset it.
- Always use a strong, unique password.