Boot CentOS 5/6 as Single User Mode

Step 1 – Boot CentOS into Single User Mode – Hit Any Key

Boot CentOS in Single User Mode – Press Any Key to Edit Boot Options

Power up the machine and when you see this screen, hit the space bar or any other key before the timeout.

Step 2 – Boot CentOS into Single User Mode – Choose Boot Kernel

Boot CentOS in Single User Mode – Select Kernel

Next up, we will be given the list of kernels that we can boot from. Choose the one that you typically boot to. Typically, it is the latest one. We use our up and down arrows to get to the proper kernel and then hit the “e” key to signify that we wish to edit it.

Step 3 – Boot CentOS into Single User Mode – Edit Boot Options

Boot CentOS in Single User Mode – Edit Kernel Boot Options

Now, we are editing the kernel’s boot options. Choose the line that begins with “kernel” as shown in the image to the right. Then hit the “e” key again.

Step 4 – Boot CentOS into Single User Mode – Add Single User Mode Option

Boot CentOS in Single User Mode – Add “Single” to the Kernel Boot Options

Type the word “single” at the end of the options. Then hit the “Enter” key.

It will now boot your CentOS operating system into single user mode and you can resolve whatever issues you have that caused you to need to boot CentOS into single user mode in the first place.