How to Reset a User Password in Odoo

Password resets in Odoo fall into three distinct scenarios: a user who has forgotten their password and can access the login page, an administrator resetting another user's password through the backend, and an administrator who has lost access to the Odoo admin account entirely. Each scenario uses a different method.

Method 1 — Self-Service Password Reset (Login Page)

Any user who can reach the Odoo login page can request a password reset email. This method requires that the Odoo instance has an outgoing mail server configured and that the Reset Password option is enabled.

1. Go to the Odoo login page (your instance URL, e.g. `https://yourcompany.odoo.com`).
2. Click "Reset Password" below the login form.
3. Enter the email address associated with the account and click Send Reset Link.
4. Check the inbox for the reset email. Click the link and set a new password.

Method 2 — Admin Reset via Settings → Users

An Odoo administrator can send a password reset email to any user, or set a new password directly, without the user initiating a request. This is the standard method for onboarding new users or helping a user who is locked out.

1. Navigate to Settings → Users & Companies → Users.
2. Search for and open the user whose password needs resetting.
3. Click the Action menu (⚙ gear icon) at the top of the user form and select "Send Password Reset Email". Odoo sends a reset link to the user's email address.
4. Alternatively, to set the password directly without sending an email: click the Action menu → "Change Password". Enter the new password in the dialog and confirm.

Method 3 — Reset the Administrator Password When Locked Out

If the only administrator account's password has been lost and there is no other admin user, the password must be reset at the database or shell level. This requires server access and is specific to self-managed Odoo installations (on-premise or self-managed VPS). Odoo Online and Odoo.sh customers must contact Odoo Support for this scenario.

Option A — Reset via Odoo Shell

# Start the Odoo shell for your database
# Replace <db_name> with your actual database name
odoo shell -d <db_name>

# Inside the Odoo shell (Python REPL):
# Find the admin user record
admin_user = env['res.users'].search([('login', '=', 'admin')])[0]

# Set the new password
admin_user.write({'password': 'your_new_secure_password'})

# Commit the change
env.cr.commit()

# Exit
exit()

Option B — Reset via PostgreSQL (when Odoo shell is not accessible)

# Connect to PostgreSQL as the odoo user
psql -d <db_name> -U odoo

-- Find the admin user ID
SELECT id, login, active FROM res_users WHERE login = 'admin';

-- The password hash in res_users is managed by Odoo's ir.rule system.
-- The safest way to force a reset via SQL is to clear the password
-- so Odoo prompts for a new one, then use Method 2 above.
-- Direct password hash injection is version-sensitive and not recommended.

-- Instead: set a temporary password using Odoo's built-in hash function.
-- This query works in Odoo 16, 17, 18, 19:
UPDATE res_users
SET password = crypt('your_temp_password', gen_salt('bf'))
WHERE login = 'admin';

-- Exit psql
\q

User Access Rights — Quick Reference

While managing user passwords, it is useful to understand Odoo's user type hierarchy. Each type determines what a user can access and which settings are relevant to their account.

Version Notes and Spot-Check Guide

iWesabe Editorial Team

Practitioner insights on Odoo ERP, ZATCA compliance, and Saudi enterprise digital operations — written by iWesabe's consulting, finance, and engineering teams.

About iWesabe