Last updated on May 13, 2024

Encountering an expired password prompt in Windows 10 can be a frustrating experience, especially when it unexpectedly interrupts your workflow. The notification, “Your password has expired and must be changed,” can be perplexing and disruptive, compelling users to seek a quick solution to regain access to their system.

Fortunately, there are effective ways to tackle this issue without much hassle or technical know-how. By utilizing a tool, we will delve into this tip extensively. It will elucidate the implications of a password expiring on Windows 10. Most importantly, we have provided a comprehensive step-by-step guide to efficiently resolve the matter.

Error Overview: "Your password has expired and must be changed"

Encountering the "Your password has expired and must be changed" error in Windows 10 can be frustrating and confusing. This message typically appears due to security protocols that require periodic password updates, abruptly interrupting your access to the system.

In this tutorial, we'll guide you through the steps to quickly reset an expired password. You'll also learn how to prevent your login password from expiring on your computer. By following along, you'll regain control of your Windows 10 account and know how to take necessary precautions to avoid future disruptions.

How to resolve - Your password has expired and must be changed

You've encountered the "password expired, must change" error, and we're here to help you resolve it effectively. Follow these steps to reset your expired password in Windows 10, ensuring you can regain access to your system smoothly.

Solution 1: Change an Expired Windows 10/11 Password Using a Bootable Disk When your Windows 10 or 11 password expires, you can use a bootable disk to change it. Here's how: 1. **Create a Bootable Media**: - Visit the Microsoft official website and download the Windows Media Creation Tool that corresponds to your operating system. - Connect a USB flash drive to your computer and run the tool to create a Windows installation media. 2. **Restart Your Computer and Enter BIOS**: - Restart your computer and press F2, Delete, or a specific key (depending on your computer brand) to enter BIOS settings. - In BIOS, set the boot order to start from the USB device. 3. **Boot into Recovery Environment**: - Save changes and exit; your computer will boot from the USB drive into the Windows setup. - Choose your language and preferences, then click "Next." - Click "Repair your computer" > "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options." 4. **Use Command Prompt**: - Select "Command Prompt." - Type the following command to change your expired password (replace `username` with your actual username and `newpassword` with the new password you want to set): ``` net user username newpassword ``` - Press Enter to execute the command. 5. **Verify the New Password**: - Close the Command Prompt, then select "Continue" to return to the login screen. - Log in to your Windows account using the new password. 6. **Remove the USB Drive and Restart**: - Safely remove the USB drive, then restart your computer. - You should now be able to successfully log in with the new password. Please note that this method may not work for all versions of Windows, especially if additional security measures like BitLocker encryption are in place. Make sure you have access to the Command Prompt before attempting this method.

Professional Edition Partition Manager tool offers a convenient password reset feature that allows users to create a password reset disk. It effectively addresses the issue of "Your password has expired and must be changed" on Windows 10/11. This tool simplifies the process, enabling users to create a reset disk without extensive technical knowledge, making it easy to change an expired password.

This versatile tool works great on various versions of Windows, including Windows 11/10, Windows 8.1/8, and Windows 7.

How to use the Password Reset feature of Partition Master

To begin using Partition Master's password reset feature to solve this issue, you'll first need to download the software. After installation, follow these steps to create a password reset disk and change an expired password on your Windows 10/11 system: 1. Run the Partition Master software. 2. In the main interface, locate and select the USB drive or DVD where you want to create the password reset disk. 3. Click on "Tools" from the top menu bar, then choose the "Password Reset" option. 4. In the pop-up window, select "Create a Windows Password Reset Disk." 5. Choose the USB drive or DVD you selected in step 2 as the target medium, then click "Next." 6. The software will start creating the password reset disk. This process may take a few minutes; please wait patiently. 7. Once completed, safely remove the password reset disk from your computer and insert it into the Windows 10/11 computer with the forgotten password. 8. While booting up, press F12 continuously (or the appropriate key for your computer model) to enter the Boot Device Selection menu, and choose to boot from USB or DVD. 9. The system will load Partition Master's password reset tool. Follow the on-screen instructions, locate, and select your Windows system partition. 10. Choose the user account, then click the "Reset Password" button. Confirm the operation, and the password will be reset to blank or set to a new password. 11. Exit the password reset tool, remove the USB drive or take out the DVD, and the computer will automatically restart. 12. After rebooting, you can log in to your Windows 10/11 system using the new password or no password. Please note that this process might erase all data on the USB drive or DVD, so make sure to back up important information beforehand.

Step 1: Plug in the target USB drive to your computer, download and run AOMEI Partition Assistant, then click "Toolbox" > "Password Reset".

Click the Password Reset feature: Click the Password Reset feature

A small window will appear. Read it carefully, then click “Create.”

Click Create

Step 3: Select the correct USB flash drive or external hard drive, then click "Create." Wait patiently. When the password reset disk is finished creating, click "Finish."

Create a bootable disk Create a bootable disk

Step 4. Remove the password reset USB, insert it into the locked computer, and restart. You should see a prompt to change the boot order to boot from USB. Once you do that, the computer will automatically boot from the USB drive.

Step 5: After the restart, launch Partition Master again and select “Password Reset.” The program will display all accounts on the computer. Click the target account and check “Reset and Unlock.”

Select the account to change

Step 6: When prompted, click "Confirm" to proceed. Your password will be cleared.

Confirm operation

By using this tool, you'll have an easy way to deal with the expired password issue and ensure smooth re-entry into your Windows 10/11 system. Download Partition Master and follow these steps to effectively handle the password expired prompt.

Fix 2: Change Expired Password from the Login Screen in Windows 10/11

Do you want to fix the "Your password has expired and must be changed" error directly? You can do so right from the login screen, without needing any third-party software. Follow these steps to reset an expired password on Windows 10/11:

Step 1: Restart your computer and click “OK” when you see the message that your password has expired and must be changed.

Step 2: On the next screen, enter your old password. Then, set a new password and type it again to confirm. Now click on the arrow to confirm your new password.

Change Expired Password

Step 3: When you see the "Password Changed" message, click OK. You can now log in with your new password.

Feel free to share this article with anyone else who might be experiencing the same password expiration issue on Windows 10/11. Sharing this information can help them resolve the inconvenience efficiently and promptly.

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How to Prevent Password Expiration in Windows 10/11

Want to avoid the hassle of password expiration in Windows 10/11 in the future? It's all about adjusting some settings related to password expiration. Follow these simplified steps to prevent your password from expiring:

Step 1: After logging in, go to “This PC,” right-click on it, and from the context menu, select “Manage” to open the “Computer Management” window.

Step 2: Expand "Local Users and Groups," then select "Users" from the available options. Right-click on the user name, choose "Properties." Here, check the "Password never expires" checkbox, and click "Apply" to implement the change.

Enable password never expires

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Conclusion

Encountering the "Your password has expired and must be changed" error in Windows 10/11 can disrupt your workflow and hinder access to your system. However, this article provides comprehensive solutions to effectively tackle the issue. Users can leverage tools like Partition Master to change an expired password through the disk.

Other options include navigating to the login screen to reset the password without extra software. In short, this guide offers several ways to recover access to your Windows 10/11 account. Furthermore, we cover preventative measures to stop future password expiration. This allows users to adjust system settings and minimize the chance of this inconvenience happening again.

"Frequently Asked Questions: Your password has expired and must be changed"

Do you have more questions about the "Your password has expired and must be changed" error? You can find additional information about this error in the following frequently answered questions:

1. Why does Windows tell me my password has expired, and what should I do?

Windows ensures security by requiring regular password updates, which can lead to an expired password. You can resolve this issue by creating a new password through the recovery options or with specialized software.

2. How do I change my Windows password after it expires?

If your Windows password has expired, change it by following these steps:

Step 1: When prompted that your password has expired and must be changed, click OK.

Step 2: Enter your old password, set your new password, and log in with your updated password.

3. How to fix Windows 10 so users have to change their password before logging in?

To resolve this issue in Windows 10, follow these steps:

Plug in a USB flash drive to your computer and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant. Click on "Toolbox" on the left panel, then click "Password Reset." A small window will pop up; read it carefully and click "Create."

Step 2: Select the correct USB drive, then click “Create” again. Wait for the password reset USB flash drive or disk to finish creating, then click “Finish.”

Step 3. Eject the password reset USB drive from your computer, plug it into the locked PC, and restart the system. Change the boot order to USB, and the system should boot from there automatically.

Step 4: After the reboot, open AOMEI Partition Assistant and select "Reset Password." Choose the account you wish to modify, then click "Reset & Unlock." In the prompt that appears, click "OK" to clear the password. This will remove your password.