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Windows 7 - Password Expiration - Change MAX and MIN Password Age



 

Password Expiration - Change MAX and MIN Password Age

How to Change the Maximum and Minimum Password Age in Windows 7
Published by Brink
03-23-2010
Default Password Expiration - Change MAX and MIN Password Age

How to Change the Maximum and Minimum Password Age in Windows 7

information   Information
This will show you how to change the maximum and minimum password age in days the password for all users can be used before it expires and must be changed by the user.

By default it is 42 days maximum password age, 0 days minimum password age.
Note   Note

Maximum Password Age -
This security setting determines the period of time (in days) that a password can be used before the system requires the user to change it. You can set passwords to expire after a number of days between 1 and 999, or you can specify that passwords never expire by setting the number of days to 0. If the maximum password age is between 1 and 999 days, the Minimum password age must be less than the maximum password age. If the maximum password age is set to 0, the minimum password age can be any value between 0 and 998 days.

Minimum Password Age -
This security setting determines the period of time (in days) that a password must be used before the user can change it. You can set a value between 1 and 998 days, or you can allow changes immediately by setting the number of days to 0. The minimum password age must be less than the Maximum password age, unless the maximum password age is set to 0, indicating that passwords will never expire. If the maximum password age is set to 0, the minimum password age can be set to any value between 0 and 998.

Configure the minimum password age to be more than 0 if you want Enforce password history to be effective. Without a minimum password age, users can cycle through passwords repeatedly until they get to an old favorite.
warning   Warning
You can only do this while logged in as an administrator.

EXAMPLE: Password Expiration
NOTE: This is what a user will see at log on when the maximum password age is reached and they are required to change their password.
Password Expiration - Change MAX and MIN Password Age-expired1.jpgPassword Expiration - Change MAX and MIN Password Age-expired2.jpgPassword Expiration - Change MAX and MIN Password Age-expired3.jpg



OPTION ONE

Through Local Security Policy Manager

NOTE: This option is only available for the Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions.
1. If you have not already, you must enable password expiration for each user account that you want to have their password expire after the maximum password age.

2. Open the Local Security Policy editor.

3. In the left pane, expand Account Policies, and click on Password Policy. (see screenshot below)
Password Expiration - Change MAX and MIN Password Age-secpol-1.jpg
4. To Change the Maximum Password Age
A) In the right pane, double click on Maximum password age. (see screenshot above)

B) Enter how many days between 0 and 999 that you want passwords can be used before the system require's the user to change it, then click on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Setting the maximum password age to 0 will set passwords to never expire for all users. See NOTE box at the top of the tutorial.
Password Expiration - Change MAX and MIN Password Age-secpol-2.jpg
5. To Change the Minimum Password Age
A) In the right pane, double click on Minimum password age. (see screenshot below step 3)

B) Enter how many days between 1 and 998 that you want passwords for all users to be used for before the user is allowed to change it, then click on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: See NOTE box at the top of the tutorial.
Password Expiration - Change MAX and MIN Password Age-secpol-3.jpg
6. Close the Local Security Policy editor.





OPTION TWO

Through a Elevated Command Prompt

NOTE: This option is available for all Windows 7 editions.
1. If you have not already, you must enable password expiration for each user account that you want to have their password expire after the maximum password age.

2. Log in to the user account that you want to change the maximum and minimum password age for.

3. Open a elevated command prompt.

4. To See the Current "MAX and MIN password age" Settings
A) In the elevated command prompt, type net accounts and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
Password Expiration - Change MAX and MIN Password Age-cmd1.jpg
5. To Disable Password Expiration for All Users
A) In the elevated command prompt, type the command below and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

Code:
net accounts /maxpwage:unlimited
Password Expiration - Change MAX and MIN Password Age-cmd2.jpg
B) Go to step 8.
6. To Change the Maximum Password Age
A) In the elevated command prompt, type the command below and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Substitute (1-999) for how many days between 1 and 999 that you want passwords can be used before the system require's the user to change it. See NOTE box at the top of the tutorial.

Code:
net accounts /maxpwage:(1-999)
FOR EXAMPLE: I would type in this command exactly for the default of 42 days, and press enter.

Code:
net accounts /maxpwage:42
Password Expiration - Change MAX and MIN Password Age-cmd3.jpg
7. To Change the Minimum Password Age
A) In the elevated command prompt, type the command below and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Substitute (0-998) for how many days between 0 and 998 that you want passwords for all users to be used for before the user is allowed to change it. See NOTE box at the top of the tutorial.

Code:
net accounts /minpwage:(0-998)
FOR EXAMPLE: I would type in this command exactly for the default of 0 days, and press enter.

Code:
net accounts /minpwage:0
Password Expiration - Change MAX and MIN Password Age-cmd4.jpg
8. Close the elevated command prompt.
That's it,
Shawn




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05-04-2010   #1
dw96


Windows 7 Home Premium [x64]
 
 


Yet again, great Tutorial.
But I MUST ask - How did you take the screenshots of the Lockscreen?

My System SpecsSystem Spec
05-04-2010   #2
Airbot


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


Probably using a VM -virtual machine Windows 7 guest OS.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
05-04-2010   #3
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


Hello Stefan,

It's as Aaron posted above. I got the screenshots from a VM of Windows 7 in Windows Virtual PC.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
.


05-05-2010   #4
dw96


Windows 7 Home Premium [x64]
 
 


Yeah, should have thought of that. Thanks for sharing
My System SpecsSystem Spec
05-05-2010   #5
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


Ah, don't worry about it.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
08-10-2010   #6
gigabyte


windows 7 64bit
 
 


so if i have a password that never expires is that a security thret or am i more secure with a passowrd that never expires????
My System SpecsSystem Spec
08-10-2010   #7
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


Hello Gigabyte, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Technically it's more of a security threat to always use the same password since someone could eventually guess it. It's recommended to change it every so often (up to you when) to be safe in case someone else may be using it without you knowing it.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
My System SpecsSystem Spec
08-11-2010   #8
gigabyte


windows 7 64bit
 
 


hello brink thankyou for the quick reply i love dis forum.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
08-11-2010   #9
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


You're welcome Gigabyte.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
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