Why Microsoft Account Forces Password Changes and Rejects Old Passwords
Question details
The user is prompted by Microsoft to change their account password and is prevented from reusing their previous password.
- Product
- Microsoft Account
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Trying to sign in to a Microsoft account or managing account security settings.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft forces a password change and blocks the reuse of the old password, even if the user prefers to keep the existing one.
Ensure you have access to your account recovery methods, such as an alternate email or phone number, before making changes to your Microsoft account security settings.
Disable Password Expiration and Set a New Password
Turn off the 72-day password expiration feature to prevent forced password changes in the future.
Microsoft's security policies strictly prevent the reuse of recent passwords to protect your account from unauthorized access, especially after potential security incidents. While you cannot bypass the rule to reuse your old password, you can stop future forced changes by disabling the expiration setting.
Go to the Microsoft Account page (account.microsoft.com) and sign in using your current credentials.
Click on the 'Security' tab located at the top of the account dashboard.
Select 'Password security' or 'Change my password' from the menu. You may be asked to verify your identity with a security code.
Enter your current password, then type a completely new password that meets Microsoft's requirements and has not been used previously.
Uncheck the box that says 'Make me change my password every 72 days' before clicking 'Save' to apply the changes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bypass Microsoft's rule against reusing old passwords?
No, Microsoft's security policy strictly prohibits reusing recent passwords to protect your account from unauthorized access. You must create a new, unique password.
Why did Microsoft suddenly force me to change my password?
This usually happens if you have the 72-day password expiration feature enabled in your account settings, or if Microsoft detected suspicious activity and forced a reset to secure your account.
How many passwords does Microsoft remember before I can reuse one?
Microsoft typically remembers your last several passwords (often the previous 3 to 5), preventing you from simply cycling back and forth between two recently used passwords.
Where do I find the setting to stop password expiration?
Sign in to account.microsoft.com, go to the Security tab, select 'Change my password', and uncheck the option labeled 'Make me change my password every 72 days'.
