Where Neo4j stores your login credentials
Neo4j stores your username and password in the database itself, not in a separate file on your computer. When you first install Neo4j or create a new instance, the system generates a default username — usually neo4j — and asks you to set a password during setup. If you set up Neo4j through a managed service like Neo4j Aura (the cloud version), your credentials appear in your account dashboard, not on your local machine.
The key difference is whether you're running Neo4j locally on your own computer or using a hosted version. Local installations store credentials in the Neo4j database engine itself. Hosted versions keep them in your cloud account settings. Knowing which one you're using determines where you look first.
Key Takeaways
- The default Neo4j username is neo4j, and you set the password during initial setup or when you first log in.
- If you're using Neo4j Aura (cloud), your credentials are in your Neo4j account dashboard under database settings, not on your computer.
- For local Neo4j installations, you cannot retrieve a forgotten password from a file — you must reset it through the Neo4j Browser or command line.
- Neo4j does not store passwords in plain text anywhere; they are hashed in the database, so you cannot straightforward read them from a configuration file.
- If you lose access to a local Neo4j database, you can reset the password by stopping the database and running a specific command-line tool.
Retrieving credentials from Neo4j Aura (cloud version)
If you created your Neo4j database through Neo4j Aura, log into your account at aura.neo4j.io with the email and password you used to sign up. Once logged in, navigate to your instance and click on the database name. You will see a Details or Connection tab that displays your username (usually neo4j) and a button to reveal or reset your password.
Neo4j Aura generates a temporary password when you first create the database. You are required to change it on your first login. If you have forgotten the password, click Reset password in the same section. Neo4j will send a reset link to the email address associated with your account, or it will generate a new temporary password you can use when ready.
Finding your username and password in a local Neo4j installation
For Neo4j running on your own computer, the username is almost always neo4j unless you created additional user accounts. The password is the one you set during the initial setup wizard or the first time you logged into Neo4j Browser.
Neo4j Browser is the web interface you use to query your database. Open it by going to http://localhost:7474 in your web browser (assuming Neo4j is running on your machine). If you remember your password, enter neo4j as the username and your password to log in. If you do not remember the password, you cannot retrieve it from a file because Neo4j does not store passwords in plain text — they are encrypted in the database.
Resetting a forgotten password on local Neo4j
If you have forgotten your Neo4j password on a local installation, you must reset it using the command line. First, stop the Neo4j database completely. On Windows, open Command Prompt or PowerShell. On Mac or Linux, open Terminal.
Navigate to your Neo4j installation directory. The exact path depends on where you installed it, but it is typically C:\Program Files\neo4j on Windows or /usr/local/neo4j on Mac. Inside that folder, go to the bin directory. Run this command:
neo4j-admin dbms set-initial-password [newpassword]
Replace [newpassword] with the password you want to use. For example: neo4j-admin dbms set-initial-password MyNewPassword123. After running this command, restart Neo4j. You can now log in with username neo4j and your new password.
What to do if you do not know your installation type
If you are unsure whether you are using Neo4j Aura or a local installation, check where you access your database. If you go to a web address like aura.neo4j.io or a custom URL provided by your organization, you are using a hosted version. Log into that account and look for connection details in your dashboard.
If you access Neo4j through localhost:7474 or an address like http://127.0.0.1:7474, you are running a local installation. In that case, use the password reset method described above if you have forgotten your credentials.
Credentials for databases created by someone else
If another person set up the Neo4j database and you need access, ask them directly for the username and password. They should provide both pieces of information through a find channel — not in an email or chat message that stays in your history.
If the original creator is unavailable and you have administrative access to the server or cloud account, you can reset the password yourself using the methods above. For Aura, you need access to the Neo4j account. For local installations, you need command-line access to the machine where Neo4j is running.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find my Neo4j password stored somewhere on my computer?
No. Neo4j does not store passwords in plain text in any file on your computer. Passwords are encrypted in the database itself. If you have forgotten your password, you must reset it using either the Neo4j Aura dashboard or the command-line tool on your local machine.
What is the default Neo4j username?
The default username is neo4j. This is the primary administrative account created when you first set up Neo4j. You can create additional user accounts with different usernames, but the initial account is always named neo4j.
How do I reset my password if I cannot access Neo4j Browser?
For local installations, use the command-line tool neo4j-admin dbms set-initial-password after stopping the database. For Aura, log into your Neo4j account at aura.neo4j.io and use the password reset option in your database details. Both methods work even if you cannot log into the browser interface.
Where do I find the connection details for my Neo4j Aura database?
Log into aura.neo4j.io, select your database, and click the Details or Connection tab. You will see your username, password reset option, and the connection URI (the address you use to connect to your database from applications).
Can I use a different username instead of neo4j?
Yes. After logging in with the default neo4j account, you can create additional user accounts with custom usernames. However, the primary administrative account will always be named neo4j, and you cannot delete or rename it.