Table of Contents
ToggleHow often does Microsoft 365 require users to change their passwords?
Explained
Microsoft 365 has been a preferred network security and admin platform for businesses due to its power of managing user authentication with all connected services, including SharePoint, OneDrive, Exchange, and Outlook. Its ability to implement multi-factor authentication and passwords expiration are of great importance for anyone who is using Microsoft 365.
Passwords expiration is a critical feature in Microsoft 365 that requires users to regularly change their authentication information at set intervals. This way, even if credentials were compromised, they will automatically become useless after the expiration date runs out.
What is Password Expiration in Microsoft 365?
Password expiration is a feature in Microsoft 365 that requires users to regularly change their authentication information at set intervals. It is important for users to keep their accounts secure and avoid malicious actors trying to steal their confidential data. With this feature in place users will have to update their passwords on several applications or services at the same time.
This feature is particularly convenient as users are able to set expiration dates for their passwords, say six months from the last update, so they don’t have to remember to change them everytime. This also ensures that malicious actors cannot access their account based on old passwords.
How to Setup ?
Setting up the password expiration in Microsoft 365 is an easy and straightforward process. You can set the maximum password age, minimum password length, password history, and other security-related settings with minimal effort.
First, you will need to open the Microsoft 365 Admin Center. If you don’t have one already, you can create one by signing in with your Microsoft Account. Once you are successfully signed in, navigate to the ‘User’ tab and click on ‘Settings’.
After that, you will have to select the ‘Password Policy’ option and then pick the ‘Enforce Password Expiration’ checkbox.
Once that is done, you will need to provide a value for the maximum password age, keep in mind that this value should be remembered for future references. You can also get a bit more detailed by setting up the minimum password length and password history that you will require users to perform when changing their passwords each time.
When Should You Change Your Microsoft 365 Password?
It is recommended to change your Microsoft 365 password regularly to ensure that the authentication information is secure and up to date. Depending on your organization’s policies, you may have to change your password every month or so.
It is not rare to implement a password expiration policy from within Microsoft 365 to force users to frequently change their passwords. This ensures that data remains secure even if malicious actors get their hands on the authentication information.
FAQs About
Q: What happens if you don’t change Microsoft 365 passwords before they expire?
A: If you fail to change your Microsoft 365 passwords before they expire, your account will be disabled and you will no longer be able to access any of the connected services.
Q: How often should I change my Microsoft 365 password?
A: It is recommended to change your password at least once every three months. However, the frequency and duration of password expiration varies depending on the network administrator’s policies.
Q: Are there any third-party solutions that can help manage my passwords?
A: Yes, there are many password management and security solutions that can help you manage and protect your passwords. is one of them. offers users a free and unique password manager that not only helps manage their authentication information but also provides them with real-time alerts whenever their data is at risk of being compromised.
Conclusion: Password Expiration in Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 has been a powerful user authentication tool for many businesses and organizations around the world. Password expiration is an important feature that helps protect user accounts and confidential data from malicious actors.
Setting up the password expiration in Microsoft 365 is an easy and straightforward process. Users should also change their passwords regularly to ensure they remain secure. If you are looking for an easy and efficient way to manage your passwords, you can create a free account and take advantage of its many features.
Microsoft 365 experienced a system-wide password expiration this month, leaving thousands of users helplessly locked out of their accounts. The outage, which was reported on March 29th, affected all Microsoft 365 Office 365, Microsoft Azure, and Microsoft Intune subscribers.
Microsoft quickly apologized and attributed the challenge to a “production update” gone wrong. Microsoft has since resolved the outage, but not until after several users were left frustrated and powerless.
This incident is a good reminder for Microsoft 365 users to enable password expiration. Many users are unaware of this setting, but it ensures the secure distribution of the password across multiple users. If that password is not changed regularly, the chances of malicious access to accounts grows exponentially.
Microsoft 365 has had a long history of strong security, thanks to its use of encryption, user authentication, and multi-factor authentication. With these tools in place, Microsoft 365 users can feel confident that their accounts are protected from internal and external threats.
Even with good security measures, Microsoft 365 users must still take the extra step of routinely changing their passwords. Making the change as soon as it becomes available through the “Security” page in the user portal is the best way to ensure that passwords remain up-to-date and secure.
In the wake of the Microsoft 365 password expiration incident, users should feel empowered to take charge of their account security. Regularly resetting passwords is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect against unauthorized access.

Mark, armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, is a dynamic force in our digital marketing team. His profound understanding of technology, combined with his expertise in various facets of digital marketing, writing skills makes him a unique and valuable asset in the ever-evolving digital landscape.