Technical Tip: How to restore the default admin account

1. Backup the current FortiGate configuration:

2. Open the configuration file in Notepad++ and search for 'config system admin'.

3. Create the default admin with the following structure, and save the new file:

    

   config system admin

       edit "admin"

           set accprofile "super_admin"

           set vdom "root"

           set password password-in-plaintext

       next

   end
   
   

    

4. Restore the configuration using the modified backup.

5. If unable to restore, factory reset the FortiGate in the CLI:

exe factory-reset

After a successful factory reset, repeat step 4.

Alternatively super_admin account can also be used to take the config backup and make the necessary changes and restore the configuration. Find the relevant article for the same below: Technical Tip: Reset another super admin’s password (Lost/Forgotten)

Note:

This article can also be used to reset the admin's password.