# Reset a staff member's Microsoft 365 password

> An admin resets a user's password in the Microsoft 365 admin centre under Users > Active users > Reset password, and can let staff reset their own.
>
> Source: https://docs.officeniaga.com/m365-admin-reset-password/

To reset a staff member's password, go to **Users** > **Active users** in the Microsoft 365 admin centre, select the person and choose **Reset password**. You can also turn on self-service reset so staff can do it themselves next time.

## Reset one person's password

You need an admin role that can reset passwords, such as Password Administrator or User Administrator.

1. Sign in to [admin.microsoft.com](https://admin.microsoft.com) with your admin account.
2. Go to **Users** > **Active users**.
3. Select the person's name. Their details open on the right. Select **Reset password** under their name.

   *(Screenshot: User details panel with Reset password highlighted)*

4. Leave **Automatically create a password** ticked, or untick it and type a strong password yourself.
5. Keep **Require this user to change their password when they first sign in** ticked, so only the staff member knows the final password.
6. Select **Reset password** at the bottom.

   *(Screenshot: Reset password pane with both boxes ticked and the Reset password button highlighted)*

7. When you see **Password has been reset**, select **Print** to save the new temporary password as a PDF, then **Close**. The password stays hidden until you select **Show**.

   *(Screenshot: Password has been reset page with the Print link highlighted)*

Microsoft no longer lets the admin centre email passwords, so pass the temporary password on in person or through a secure channel. The staff member then signs in as described in [first sign-in](/m365-sign-in/).

## Reset several passwords at once

You can reset up to 40 users together. In **Active users**, tick the people, make sure your own name is not ticked, and select **Reset password** in the row of options above the list.

## Let staff reset their own password

Self-service password reset saves you a call each time someone forgets. Microsoft includes it in paid Microsoft 365 business plans; it does not work on a trial.

1. In the admin centre, go to **Settings** > **Org settings**.
2. Open the **Security & privacy** tab and select **Self-service password reset**.
3. Select **Go to the Azure portal to turn on self-service password reset**. This opens the Microsoft Entra admin centre.

   *(Screenshot: Self-service password reset panel with the Go to the Azure portal link highlighted)*

4. On **Password reset | Properties**, choose **All** (or **Selected** to start with one group), then **Save**.

Staff are then asked to register a phone number or the Authenticator app, and can reset from the sign-in page. See [forgot your password](/m365-forgot-password/).

## Password expiry

By default, Microsoft 365 passwords never expire, and Microsoft recommends keeping it that way with [multifactor authentication](/m365-mfa-authenticator/) turned on. If your company policy needs expiry, the setting is in **Settings** > **Org settings** > **Security & privacy** > **Password expiration policy**.

## Still stuck

WhatsApp our support team at [+60 16-916 3324](https://wa.me/60169163324).

## Common issues

### I reset the password but the staff member's Outlook still works with the old one.

Apps that stay signed in, like the Outlook phone app, can keep working until their saved sign-in runs out, which can take some time. To force them out straight away, open the user, go to the Account tab and select Sign out of all sessions.

### Can I reset my own admin password here?

No. You cannot reset your own password in the same step as other users. Use Forgot password on the sign-in page, which works if your admin account has an alternate email and mobile number set. Another admin can also reset it for you.

### Should we make passwords expire every 90 days?

Microsoft recommends leaving passwords set to never expire and turning on multifactor authentication instead. By default, Microsoft 365 passwords never expire.