Resetting a user's password in Microsoft 365
How to reset a Microsoft 365 user's password from the admin center — whether they're locked out or just need a fresh start.
If a team member has forgotten their password or is locked out of their account, you can reset it for them in a few clicks from the Microsoft 365 admin center. You can also let users reset their own passwords if you enable that feature.
Quick summary
In the admin center, go to Users → Active users, find the person, and click Reset password. You can auto-generate a password or set one manually. Send it to them securely. They will be prompted to change it when they next sign in.
What you'll need
Admin access required 2 minutes- Admin access to the Microsoft 365 admin center
- A secure way to send the new password to the user (not in the same email they use to log in — they can't access it yet)
Resetting a password as an admin
Sign in to the admin center at admin.microsoft.com.
Go to Users → Active users.
Find the user and click their name to open their profile.
Click Reset password (you may see this as a button at the top, or under the Reset password tab).
Choose how to set the new password. You can let Microsoft auto-generate a strong password, or type one yourself.
Check the option to require the user to change their password at next sign-in. This is recommended for security — it means only they will know their final password.
Click Reset. Microsoft shows you the new password. Copy it.
Share the temporary password with the user — by phone call, text message, or a secure messaging app. Don't send it to the email address they need to log in to.
Done
The user can now sign in with the temporary password and will be prompted to set a new permanent password straight away.
Letting users reset their own passwords
You can configure Microsoft 365 to allow users to reset their own passwords without admin help. This is called self-service password reset (SSPR).
To enable it:
In the admin center, go to Settings → Org settings → Security & privacy.
Look for the Self-service password reset option and follow the instructions to enable it.
Users will need to register a verification method (like their phone number or a recovery email) before they can use it.
Self-service reset requires Azure AD Premium in some configurations
Basic self-service password reset is available in most Microsoft 365 business plans, but some advanced features (like requiring two verification methods) may need a higher plan. Check the Microsoft documentation for your specific plan.
Common questions
Related guides
- Signing in to Microsoft 365
- Turning on multi-factor authentication
- Adding a user in Microsoft 365
- The Microsoft 365 admin center, explained
- Troubleshooting Microsoft 365
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