> Source: [sk118973](https://support.checkpoint.com/results/sk/sk118973)

# sk118973 - Which password is used to access the Maintenance Mode in Gaia OS?

| Property | Value |
|----------|-------|
| Solution ID | sk118973 |
| Date Created | 2017-08-30 |
| Last Modified | 2025-06-10 |
| Technical Level | General |
| Products | Security Gateway, Security Management Server, Multi-Domain Security Management Server |
| Versions | R82, R81.20, R81.10 (EOS), R82, R81.20, R81 (EOS), R81.10 (EOS), R81 (EOS), R81 (EOS), R81.10 (EOS), R81.20, R82 |
| OS | Gaia |

## Symptoms

- * A user needs to access Maintenance Mode for administrative purposes.
* The 'admin' user password does not permit access to Maintenance Mode.

## Cause

In versions R81.10 and lower, access to the Maintenance Mode requires the Expert password.

In versions R81.20 and higher, access to Maintenance Mode requires the GRUB password. See [sk177687](https://support.checkpoint.com/results/sk/sk177687).

**Important Note** - For security reasons, access to the Gaia OS must be protected with a password. Check Point does **not** provide the default password for the Maintenance Mode.

## Solution

### To configure a new Expert password

|----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Where?         | How?                                                                                                            |
| In Gaia Portal | 1. Navigate to **System Management** \> **System Passwords** 2. Refer to the section **Change Expert Password** |
| In Gaia Clish  | 1. `set expert-password` 2. `save config`                                                                       |

### To configure a new GRUB2 password

|----------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Where?         | How?                                                                                                           |
| In Gaia Portal | 1. Navigate to **System Management** \> **System Passwords** 2. Refer to the section **Change GRUB2 Password** |
| In Gaia Clish  | 1. `set grub2-password` 2. `save config`                                                                       |

<br />

For more information, see the [Gaia Administration Guide](https://support.checkpoint.com/product/73#q=%22Gaia%20Administration%20Guide%22&f-commonsource=C.%20Documentation) for your version.

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