Reset ESXi Root password using a different ESXi local user id

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• ESXi root password no longer works.
• ESXi has not joined Active Directory domain.
• ESXi is managed by vCenter Server but failed to reset root password with Host Profile.
• ESXi has other local user accounts with admin rights that works fine.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0
VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0

Resolution

1. Login ESXi host web client with the ESXi local user account with Administrator role (Equal to root privileges) manually created.
2. Go to Manage > Security & Users > Users
3. Select root and click the Edit button.
4. Set the new password for root account.