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Password Change Guide

How to Change Your FileFortress Password
Step-by-step guide to updating your device password securely

What You'll Learn
  • When and why you should change your password
  • Step-by-step password change process
  • Password requirements and security best practices
  • Troubleshooting common password issues
  • How password changes affect your setup

Overview

FileFortress allows you to change your custom device password when needed. This feature is only available if you're using custom password encryption - devices with automatic (machine-specific) encryption don't have a user password to change. The password change process ensures your encrypted database remains accessible while updating your security credentials.

Prerequisites

Custom Password Mode Required

Important: You can only change your password if your device uses custom password encryption.

Can Change Password

Custom password mode with password or key file authentication

filefortress --password YourPassword init
Cannot Change Password

Automatic (machine-specific) encryption mode

filefortress init

Current Authentication Required

Authentication Required

You must provide your current password to authenticate before changing it. This prevents unauthorized password changes.

Password Change Methods

Method 1: Interactive Mode (Recommended)

Process

Interactive mode guides you through the password change process with prompts and validation.

Run the change password command with your current password
Enter your new password when prompted
Confirm your new password
FileFortress updates your encrypted database automatically

Command

filefortress --password YourCurrentPassword change-password

Interactive Experience

Interactive prompts: The CLI will guide you through entering and confirming your new password securely.

Method 2: Script Mode

Process

Script mode allows automation by providing the new password directly as a command option.

Provide both current and new passwords as options
FileFortress validates the inputs
Database is re-encrypted with new password

Command

filefortress --password YourCurrentPassword change-password --new-password YourNewPassword

Security Note

Command History: Be aware that providing passwords via command line options may store them in your shell history. Use interactive mode for maximum security.

Password Requirements and Best Practices

Strong Password Guidelines

Minimum Length: 12 characters recommended
Character Mix: Uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols
Avoid Patterns: No common words, sequences, or personal information
Unique: Don't reuse passwords from other services
Password Manager: Consider using a reputable password manager

Example Strong Passwords

Tr0ub4d0ur&J0y!
S3cur3-P@ssw0rd-2024
C0mpl3x!ty#R@nd0m
Why These Are Strong
  • 12+ characters long
  • Mixed character types
  • No dictionary words
  • Includes special characters

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Authenticate with Current Password
Provide your current password to verify you're authorized to change it. This prevents unauthorized password changes.
Step 2: Enter New Password
Choose a strong, unique password that meets the security requirements above.
Step 3: Confirm New Password
Re-enter your new password to confirm there are no typos. Both entries must match exactly.
Step 4: Database Re-encryption
FileFortress automatically re-encrypts your database with the new password. This may take a few moments.

Common Scenarios and Solutions

Forgotten Current Password
Recovery Scenario

If you can't remember your current password, you cannot change it. You'll need to reinitialize FileFortress.

No Recovery: Lost passwords cannot be recovered due to the encryption design.
Regular Security Updates
Best Practice

Change your password every 3-6 months for optimal security.

Pro Tip: Set a calendar reminder to update passwords regularly.
Security Incident
Emergency Response

If you suspect your password has been compromised, change it immediately.

Immediate Action: Also review your connected cloud storage accounts for suspicious activity.

Troubleshooting

Common Error Messages

Error Message Cause Solution
"This device is not using a custom password" Device uses automatic encryption Reinitialize with custom password if needed
"Current password is required" No current password provided Add --password YourCurrentPassword
"New password is required" Script mode without new password Add --new-password YourNewPassword
"New password must be different from current password" Same password entered as new Choose a different password
"Passwords do not match" Confirmation password mismatch Re-enter passwords carefully

Failed Password Change

If a password change fails:

Verify your current password is correct
Ensure your new password meets requirements
Check that passwords match exactly
Try the process again
Database Integrity: Failed password changes don't affect your database - it remains encrypted with your current password.

Post-Change Considerations

Key File Updates

If you use a key file for convenience, you'll need to update it after changing your password:

Create Updated Key File

# Create new key file with updated password echo "YourNewPassword" > ~/filefortress.key # Set appropriate permissions (Linux/Mac) chmod 600 ~/filefortress.key

Automation Impact

Update Scripts

Any automated scripts using your old key file will fail until updated with the new password.

Device Synchronization

Password changes are device-specific and don't sync across devices:

Single Device: No additional action needed
Multiple Devices: Change password on each device individually
Alternative: For multi-device setups, consider reinitializing all devices with the same new password for consistency.

Security Best Practices

Password Management

Do's

Use a password manager
Enable two-factor authentication on cloud accounts
Change passwords regularly
Use unique passwords for each service
Store key files securely

Don'ts

Share passwords via email
Write passwords on sticky notes
Use dictionary words or personal info
Store passwords in plain text files
Reuse old passwords

Environmental Security

Protect your password change process:

Private Environment: Change passwords in a secure, private location
Shoulder Surfing Protection: Ensure no one can observe your screen or keyboard
Secure Network: Avoid public Wi-Fi when changing passwords
System Security: Ensure your device is free of malware

Related Resources

Encryption Guide
Understanding FileFortress encryption options and security
View Guide
Multi-Device Setup
Managing FileFortress across multiple devices
View Guide
Automation Guide
Using key files for automated workflows
View Guide