Reset enable password on Cisco switch

Home > Switch configuration notes > Reset enable password on Cisco switch

If we do not know enable / console / telnet etc. password of switch and have physical access to switch then, we can reset the passwords by using following procedure:

1. Keep mode button pressed when switching on power to switch
2. See the messages that come and look for message that says password recovery mechanism is enabled. If it is not enabled then this procedure will not work.
3. Type `flash_init'
4. Type `load_helper'
5. Type `rename flash:/config.txt flash:/config.backup'
6. Type `boot'.
7. After booting use command `rename flash:/config.backup flash:/config.txt'
8. Then use `copy flash:/config.txt running-config' to use the old startup configuration
9. Then go to `config t' and use `enable secret <new_password>' command to give new password.
10. For console and telnet password then you can use `line con 0' or `line vty 0 15' commands to go to line configuration mode. In line configuration mode command `password <new_password>' can be used to set new line password.

Home > Switch configuration notes > Reset enable password on Cisco switch