How do you fix the password does not meet the Password Policy requirements?

Creating a strong password and replacing it with a new one regularly is crucial to keeping your user account safe.

If you use a weak password, Windows 10 will automatically alert you. The OS will remind you that your password does not meet the complexity requirements. As a result, you’ll be prompted to create a new password.

If You’re Using a PC Connected to Windows Server

Let’s take a look at the first scenario. You’re running Windows 10. Your organization is directly managing your machine via Windows Server.

In this case, there’s not much that you can do about the password complexity requirements. If the computer belongs to the company you’re working for, IT admins are the only persons who can control and edit the password policies.

In other words, you really need to change your password. Pick a new one that includes capital letters, special characters, and numbers.

If Your PC is Not Managed via Windows Server

Method 1 – Use the Policy Editor

If you’re running Windows 10 Pro but your device is not managed directly by Window Server policies, open the Group Policy Editor/ Local Security Policy Editor.

1. Press the Windows and R keys and open a new Run window.
2. Then type gpedit.msc or secpol.msc. Press Enter to launch the Group Policy Editor.
3. Navigate to Security Settings.
4. Then select Password Policy.
   
5. Locate Password must meet complexity requirements.
6. Disable this setting.

The steps to follow on the Local Security Policy Console are similar to those listed above.

Method 2 – Export and edit the password file

If you can’t disable the password complexity setting, you can use the following workaround.

1. Open the Local Security Policy Editor (enter secpol.msc in Run and hit Enter).
2. Click on the Action menu.
3. Select Export policy.
   • You can also use the secedit /export command to export your password settings to a separate file. Run this command: secedit.exe /export /cfg C:\secconfig.cfg. For more information about the syntax to use, see Microsoft’s Support Page.
4. Open the file with the password settings with Notepad.
5. Locate System Access.
6. Edit the Password Complexity setting value from 1 to zero.
   
   • You can also edit other password requirements according to your needs such as the password length, age, and so on.
7. Save the changes and open Command Prompt again (admin).
8. Enter this command: secedit.exe /configure /db %windir%\securitynew.sdb /cfg C:\secconfig.cfg /areas SECURITYPOLICY.
9. Open the Local Security Policy Console and check if the password complexity setting has been disabled now.

Should I Disable Password Complexity Requirements?

You should always think twice before turning off the password complexity requirements. Hackers are always lurking in the dark waiting to get their hands on your password. Weak easy-to-guess passwords are like sitting ducks. Hackers use complex algorithms to test millions of possible password combinations and break your account.

As a matter of fact, Microsoft confirmed there are over 10 million username/password attacks happening every single day. Using a strong unpredictable password makes it very hard for hackers to take over your account.

For more information, you can check out Microsoft’s Password Guidance. And don’t forget to keep your passwords strong.

Passwords keep your Windows devices secure. But, there are certain criteria you need to match while setting a password for your system. If you set too small or a very simple password, you may see this error message “Supplied password does not meet the requirements for passwords on Windows 10” on your system. You should use a complex password to take extra precautions, but if you indeed want to use a simple password, you can bypass this error message.

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Table of Contents

• Fix 1 – Reset the related policy
• Fix 2 – Adjust the password age policy
• Fix 3 – Uninstall the Security Manager (For HP users)
• Fix 4 – Let the user alter the password at the next logon
• Fix 5 – Using the terminal

Fix 1 – Reset the related policy

You can adjust a policy that can pull the restriction of the password complexity.

1. At first, press the Windows key+R keys together.

2. Then, type “gpedit.msc” and hit Enter.

3. In the Local Group Policy Editor window, expand this way –

Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Account Policies > Password Policy

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4. On the right-hand pane, double-click on the “Password must meet complexity requirements” policy.

5. Set this policy to “Disabled“.

6. After that, tap on “Apply” and “OK” to save this policy modification.

After that, close the Local Group Policy Editor window. Then, reboot your device. Now, try to reset the password and check.

Fix 2 – Adjust the password age policy

There is another policy that can you use to change the password immediately.

1. At first, press the Windows key and type “Edit group policy“.

2. Then, tap on the “Edit group policy” to access it.

3. Now, go here –

Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Account Policies > Password Policy

4. Then, on the right-hand side, double click on the “Minimum password age” policy.

5. Then, set the “Password can be changed immediately” to “0” days.

6. After that, tap on “Apply” and “OK” to save the changes.

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After that, close the Local Group Policy Editor and reboot the machine.

Fix 3 – Uninstall the Security Manager (For HP users)

[For HP users]

It seems that the HP Client Security Manager tool is causing this problem on HP systems.

1. At first, press the Windows key+R keys together.

2. Then, type “appwiz.cpl” and hit Enter.

3. In the list of apps, look for the “HP Client Security Manager” software.

4. Then, right-click on it and tap on “Uninstall” to uninstall the app from your system.

Complete the uninstallation process following the on-screen steps.

5. Now, follow the same steps to uninstall these apps also.

• HP Client Access Manager

• HP Protect Tools

• HP Client Security Manager

Now, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process.

Fix 4 – Let the user alter the password at the next logon

You can solve this issue if you opt to change your user password at the next log-on.

1. At first, press the Windows key+R keys together.

2. Then, type “lusmgr.msc” and click on “OK“.

3. Now, select the “Users” from the left-hand pane.

4. On the right-hand side, you will find the list of users on your system.

5. Then, double-click on the problematic user account.

6. Now, go to the “General” tab.

7. Here, uncheck the “Password never expires” box.

8. Now, you can check the “User must change password at next logon” box.

9. Finally, tap on “Apply” and “OK” to save these changes.

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After that, restart your system and check whether you can change the password to your desired one or not.

Fix 5 – Using the terminal

You can use the terminal to alter the password for the user profile.

1. Type “cmd” in the search box.

2. Then, right-click on the “Command Prompt” and tap on “Run as administrator“.

3. Once the terminal opens up, type and modify this command and hit Enter.

net user user_name *

[

NOTE – Replace the “user_name” with the account name you are trying to change the password of.

Example – Like, if the user_name is “Sambit” then the command will be  –

net user Sambit *

]

4. After executing the command, you will see this message “Type a password for the user“.

Type the password you prefer twice and it should be your new password.

This way, you can solve this problem and set any password for your system.

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Sambit Koley

Sambit is a Mechanical Engineer By qualification who loves to write about Windows 10 and solutions to weirdest possible problems.

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