Password & Account Recovery

Can You Reset a Microsoft 365 Group Password?

Adam Davis Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to know how to reset the password for a Microsoft 365 Group email address.

Can You Reset the Password of a Microsoft 365 Group?

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to log in to or recover access to a Microsoft 365 Group email address.
Observed behavior: Group email addresses do not have individual passwords and cannot be signed into directly like standard user accounts.

Before you start

Ensure you have Microsoft 365 administrator privileges if you need to manage group access permissions, convert mailbox types, or create new standard user accounts.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify Mailbox Type and Request Delegated Access

Determine if the email address is a shared mailbox or a Microsoft 365 Group, as neither uses standard passwords, and request access from your admin.

Microsoft 365 Group email addresses do not have individual passwords because they are not standalone user accounts. Instead, they rely on the delegated access permissions granted to individual group members.

Shared mailboxes operate in a similar manner, meaning you cannot log into them directly using a distinct password. You must authenticate using your own personal Microsoft 365 credentials.

Contact your IT Administrator

Reach out to your organization's IT admin or support team to verify whether the email address in question belongs to a Microsoft 365 Group or a shared mailbox.

Request Access Permissions

Ask the administrator to add your personal user account to the group's member list or the shared mailbox's delegated permissions list.

Access via Outlook Web or Desktop

Once access is granted, open Outlook. The group will automatically appear under the 'Groups' folder in your left navigation pane. For a shared mailbox, right-click your primary mailbox folders, select 'Add shared folder', and type the shared email address.

Verify Mailbox Type and Request Delegated Access

Direct Login Not Supported: You cannot sign in directly using the group email address and a password on the Microsoft login page. Access is exclusively granted through your personal authorized Microsoft 365 account.

Solution 2

Create a Standard User Account for Direct Sign-in

If you require an email address that allows direct login with a unique password, you must create a standard user account instead of using a Group.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I access a Microsoft 365 Group mailbox if there is no password?

You can access a Group mailbox through your personal Outlook application or Outlook on the web. As long as your IT admin has added your account as a member of the group, it will automatically appear in the 'Groups' section located in the left-hand navigation pane.

Can I convert a Microsoft 365 Group into a shared mailbox?

Yes, an IT administrator can convert a Microsoft 365 Group or a regular user mailbox into a shared mailbox using the Exchange admin center. This allows multiple users to manage emails from a common address without needing a distinct password or an additional license.

Why doesn't a shared mailbox have its own password?

Shared mailboxes are designed without their own passwords to enhance security and simplify access management. Instead of sharing a single password among multiple employees—which poses a security risk—users authenticate with their own personal credentials and are granted access based on admin-assigned permissions.

Login & Account Issues