---
title: "Change a VM password with Guest Customization"
slug: "change-a-vm-password-with-guest-customization"
updated: 2026-07-13T03:26:02Z
published: 2026-07-13T03:26:02Z
canonical: "docs.serversaustralia.com.au/change-a-vm-password-with-guest-customization"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.serversaustralia.com.au/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Change a VM password with Guest Customization

> [!NOTE]
> Changing the Administrator or Root User password
> 
> If you have created a new VM from template, or are unsure of a VMs Administrator or root password, then this guide will describe how to change a VMs password using the VMWare Guest Customization tools.
> 
> 
> 
> Please note that this method requires restarting the VM in question to force re-customization.

Within your Virtual Data Center environment, in the **Virtual Machines** Page, locate the VM that you are attempting to change the password for, and click **Details**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/d809f158-d4f4-47ff-83d4-18d9c9f7a04d/Images/Documentation/image-8P9BNA9R.png)

Within the details of the VM, go to **Guest OS Customization** and click **Edit**. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/d809f158-d4f4-47ff-83d4-18d9c9f7a04d/Images/Documentation/image-Q28YX82M.png)

Within the **specify password** field, input the desired new password for either the Administrator or Root user. ![](https://cdn.document360.io/d809f158-d4f4-47ff-83d4-18d9c9f7a04d/Images/Documentation/image-O9ITV22X.png)

> [!NOTE]
> Requirements for resetting credentials
> 
> The following options will need to be ticked:
> 
> 1. **General → Enable Guest Customization**
> 2. **Password Reset → Allow Local Administrator Password**
> 
> If **Password Reset → Auto Generate Password** is ticked, it will not allow you to specify a password, so this will need to be disabled.

Go ahead and **Power Off** the VM: ![](https://cdn.document360.io/d809f158-d4f4-47ff-83d4-18d9c9f7a04d/Images/Documentation/image-1Y7VRU54.png)

To make the credential reset occur, **Power On, Force Recustomization** needs to be selected as shown: ![](https://cdn.document360.io/d809f158-d4f4-47ff-83d4-18d9c9f7a04d/Images/Documentation/image-W9GATX23.png)

Once it finishes booting back up, your Administrator, or Root user login will be changed to what you set in the **Specify Password** field.