How External SharePoint Users Can Reset Their Passwords
Question details
External SharePoint users are unable to reset their passwords using the host organization's self-service password reset process.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A guest user or host administrator is attempting to reset the password for an external organizational account to regain access to a SharePoint site.
- Observed behavior
- The host SharePoint organization's self-service password reset tools do not work for guest accounts originating from another organization's domain.
Verify whether the account experiencing login issues is an internal tenant account or an external guest account managed by a different organization.
Reset the Password Through the Home Organization
Since organizational accounts are managed by the user's home organization, passwords must be reset using their native IT processes.
The host SharePoint organization generally cannot reset an external user's password. Self-service password reset (SSPR) configured in the host tenant applies only to internal accounts, not to guest accounts from other domains.
Determine the external user's primary organization based on their email domain (e.g., user@externalcompany.com).
If the external user's home organization has Self-Service Password Reset enabled, they should navigate to their own company's password reset portal to update their credentials.
If SSPR is not available or fails, the external user must directly contact the IT administrator of their own organization to request a manual password reset.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I use the host organization's password reset portal as a guest?
Self-service password reset (SSPR) configurations are tenant-specific. Guest accounts are authenticated by their home directory, meaning only their home IT policies can authorize and process a password change.
Can a SharePoint host administrator force a password reset for external users?
No. Host administrators manage access permissions to their SharePoint sites but do not have administrative control over the credentials or security settings of external organizational accounts.
What if the external user is using a personal Microsoft account?
If the guest account is tied to a personal Microsoft account (such as Outlook.com or Hotmail), the user can reset their password directly through the standard Microsoft account recovery page.
