How to Find and Reset the Proxmox Default Username and Password？

When you install Proxmox Virtual Environment (Proxmox VE) for the first time, one of the first tasks is logging in securely. But what are the default credentials? 

This is a common question — especially when inheriting an existing system or deploying at scale. Understanding how authentication works in Proxmox isn't just about getting started; it's about building a secure foundation for your virtual infrastructure.

This guide helps you secure and manage your Proxmox environment effectively.

What Are the Default Login Credentials in Proxmox VE?

Before you can manage anything in Proxmox VE, you need valid login credentials. Unlike some platforms that use preset logins out of the box—a risky practice—Proxmox takes a different approach.

During installation of Proxmox VE on bare metal or on top of Debian Linux, there is no universal default root password provided by the vendor (Proxmox Docs). Instead:

• Default Username:

The administrative account is always root.

• Default Password:

You set this during installation using the setup wizard.

• If installing on Debian first:

The root password matches what was set for Debian's root user.

• Some pre-built images (for ARM boards or certain cloud providers) may use temporary passwords or SSH key authentication instead; always check their documentation.

• Trying “admin,” leaving fields blank, or guessing common defaults won't work—you must use what was set during install.

This design means every deployment starts with unique credentials—a major security improvement over appliances with published defaults.

How to Access the Proxmox VE Web Interface?

The primary way most administrators interact with Proxmox VE is through its web interface—a powerful dashboard available right after installation.

To connect:

1. After installing Proxmox VE on your server or VM host machine, note its IP address displayed on-screen at boot-up.

2. Open your browser from another device on the same network.

3. Enter https://<your-server-ip>:8006 (for example: https://192.168.1.100:8006).

You’ll likely see a privacy warning because of a self-signed SSL certificate; click Advanced then Proceed to site to continue safely within your trusted network.

At the login screen:

• Use Username: root

• Enter your chosen password

• Ensure Realm: Linux PAM standard authentication appears selected

Once logged in successfully, you'll land at the dashboard where nodes, VMs/containers (“CTs”), storage pools, backup jobs—and much more—are managed visually.

How to Reset Your Proxmox Password in 2 Ways?

Prerequisites

• Physical console or remote management access (IPMI/iLO)

• Reboot capability (requires interrupting normal operation)

Method 1: Reset via GRUB Single User Mode

Single-user mode gives direct shell access without needing prior authentication—a powerful tool but also why physical security matters!

1. Reboot server; at GRUB menu press 'e' quickly on highlighted entry (“Proxmox GNU/Linux”)

2. Find line starting with linux — append rw init=/bin/bash at end

3. Boot modified entry using Ctrl+X or F10

4. At prompt type: mount -o remount,rw /

5. Change password: passwd

6. Enter new value twice

7. Reboot cleanly (reboot -f) rather than trying exec/init which may hang

Note: On UEFI systems GRUB menus may look different; consult hardware docs if keys differ.

Why Single User Mode Works?

Single-user mode boots directly into root shell before any services start—including networking/authentication daemons—which allows full control even if all other logins fail.

Method 2: Use Live CD / Rescue Media

If GRUB isn't accessible due to bootloader restrictions (common in some cloud environments), boot from any live Linux ISO:

1. Insert USB/DVD/live image & boot into rescue mode

2a.For ZFS roots: Import pool — zpool import -f -R /mnt rpool

2b.For LVM: Activate volumes — vgscan && vgchange -ay

3.Mount root filesystem: e.g., /dev/pve/root → /mnt

4.Chroot: chroot /mnt

5.Change password: passwd

6.Exit & reboot

Tip: Volume names may vary depending on installer options (pve-root, /dev/mapper/pve-root). Always verify actual device paths using commands like lsblk.

How to Manage Users and Permissions in Proxmox VE?

Effective user management and robust security practices are essential for securely operating any multi-user platform like Proxmox VE.

1. User Management

Creating Users

• Open the Proxmox Web Interface.

• Navigate to Datacenter > Permissions > Users.

• Click Add, enter a username (e.g., admin@pve), set an initial password or assign group membership.

• Assign appropriate roles under the Permissions tab to control access levels.

Changing Passwords

• Log in as root@pam.

• Hover over the username at the top-right corner → click Password.

• Enter the current and new passwords to update.

2. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Proxmox uses Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to manage user permissions:

• Roles: Define sets of allowed actions, such as:

• VM.Backup

• Datastore.Allocate

• Scope: Roles can be applied at different levels:

• Globally (across the entire Datacenter)

• Per Node

• Per VM/Container

• Permission Inheritance: The most specific assignment takes precedence.

3. Security Best Practices

Disable Direct Root SSH Login

Edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config:

PermitRootLogin no

Restart the SSH service:

systemctl restart sshd

Use SSH Keys Instead of Passwords

• Generate a key pair locally: ssh-keygen

• Append the public key content to /root/.ssh/authorized_keys on the Proxmox server.

• Combining this with disabled password logins enhances security significantly.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (TFA)

• In the Web UI, click the username at the top-right corner → select TFA.

• Follow prompts to configure TOTP (using an app like Google Authenticator) or WebAuthn device.

Configure Firewall to Restrict Access

• Allow access to sensitive ports (e.g., 22, 8006) only from trusted IP addresses/subnets.

• Example using nftables:

nft add rule inet filter input ip saddr 192.168.1.0/24 tcp dport {22,8006} acceptnft add rule inet filter input tcp dport {22,8006} drop

• Alternatively, use Proxmox's built-in firewall under Datacenter > Firewall.

Keep Systems Patched

Regularly run updates to prevent vulnerabilities from accumulating:

apt update && apt dist-upgrade

Back Up Your VMs Easily With Vinchin Backup & Recovery

After implementing secure access controls in virtualized environments (especially platforms like Proxmox VE), deploying robust VM-specific data protection strategies becomes essential.

Vinchin Backup & Recovery delivers enterprise-grade VM protection across 15+ virtualization platforms (with full Proxmox VE integration), featuring incremental backup, advanced data deduplication/compression,cross-platform V2V migration, and file-level granular recovery - plus scheduled backups and instant recovery.

1. Select the Proxmox VM to back up;

2. Choose backup storage;

3. Configure backup strategies;

4. Submit the job.

Trusted by IT professionals worldwide, Vinchin provides a fully-functional 60-day free trial—test all features risk-free before committing. Download Now, to get started.

Proxmox default username and password FAQs

Q1: What should I do if my browser refuses connection despite correct IP?

Check firewalls between client/server; confirm port 8006 isn't blocked upstream; try connecting locally from host itself using curl/wget commands.

Q2: Why can't I see GRUB menu when trying recovery steps?

On many cloud platforms serial consoles replace graphical ones; check provider docs for accessing low-level boot menus remotely.

Conclusion

Proxmox has no default root password - you must set one during installation. Implement strong security like 2FA and firewalls. For reliable VM backups, Vinchin provides enterprise-grade protection solutions.