Account Security Problems

When Does Microsoft 365 Password Expiration Begin? | Account Security

Partner Editor Oct 7, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user is asking whether enabling a 30-day password expiration policy in Microsoft 365 will immediately prompt users whose passwords are already older than 30 days, or if the 30-day countdown begins on the date the policy is enabled.

When Does Microsoft 365 Password Expiration Begin?

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: An administrator is enabling a new password expiration policy for Microsoft 365 users and wants to anticipate when users will be interrupted with password change prompts.
Observed behavior: Users need clarification on how the system calculates the expiration timeline and triggers the prompt after a new policy is enforced.

Before you start

Ensure you have Global Administrator or Security Administrator permissions in Microsoft 365 to view or configure password expiration policies.

Solution 1Recommended

Understanding Microsoft 365 Password Expiration Timing

Clarification on how the password expiration timeline works when a new policy is activated.

Enabling a new password expiration policy (such as a 30-day limit) does not retroactively force users to change their passwords immediately, even if their current password has not been changed in over six months.

The new 30-day expiration period begins at the exact time the policy is enabled by the administrator. Users will only be prompted to change their passwords after that new 30-day period has completely elapsed.

Log in to Admin Center

Go to the Microsoft 365 admin center and log in with your administrator credentials.

Navigate to Security Settings

In the left navigation menu, go to Settings, then click on Org settings, and select the Security & privacy tab.

Verify Password Expiration Policy

Click on Password expiration policy to view the current settings, check the 'Set user passwords to expire after a number of days' option, and adjust the days before expiration or notification as needed.

Understanding Microsoft 365 Password Expiration Timing

Policy Implementation Notice: Keep in mind that Microsoft currently recommends setting passwords to never expire in combination with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for better overall security and user experience.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set Microsoft 365 passwords to never expire?

Yes, administrators can configure passwords to never expire in the Microsoft 365 admin center under Settings > Org settings > Security & privacy, or by using PowerShell for specific users.

Are users notified before their Microsoft 365 password expires?

Yes, administrators can set a specific number of days before expiration when users will start receiving prompts and notifications to update their password.

Does manually changing a password reset the expiration countdown?

Yes, whenever a user successfully changes their password, the expiration countdown resets and begins tracking from the date of the most recent password change.

Microsoft Office Security Issues