How do I change my remote desktop password if it expires?

[Upadhyay]

Hello everyone,

I recently encountered an issue where my Remote Desktop password expired, and I was unable to log in. After some trial and error, I managed to resolve the issue and wanted to share the steps with the community. Hopefully, this can help anyone facing a similar problem.

Steps to Change an Expired Remote Desktop Password:​

1. Log in Locally or Use Another Account:
   
   • If you have physical access to the machine, log in locally with your current (expired) credentials.
   • Alternatively, if you have another user account with administrative privileges, use that to log in.
2. Use the On-Screen Prompt (If Available):
   
   • Sometimes, when you try to log in with your expired password via Remote Desktop, you might get a prompt to change the password. Follow the instructions provided in this prompt.
3. Change Password via Ctrl+Alt+Del:
   
   • Once logged in (locally or remotely using another account), press Ctrl + Alt + Del.
   • Select "Change a password".
   • Enter your old password and the new password twice, then press Enter.
4. Access via Command Prompt:
   
   • Open Command Prompt (you may need to run as administrator).
   • Use the command net user [yourusername] [newpassword]. Example: net user johnDoe P@ssw0rd123!
5. Using PowerShell:
   
   • Open PowerShell with administrative privileges.
   • Use the command Set-LocalUser -Name "[yourusername]" -Password (ConvertTo-SecureString "newpassword" -AsPlainText -Force). Example: Set-LocalUser -Name "johnDoe" -Password (ConvertTo-SecureString "P@ssw0rd123!" -AsPlainText -Force)
6. Update Password via Control Panel:
   
   • Navigate to Control Panel > User Accounts > User Accounts.
   • Select "Manage another account".
   • Choose the account you need to update.
   • Select "Change the password".

Tips to Avoid Future Issues:​

• Enable Password Expiry Notifications: Ensure your system is set to notify you before passwords expire. This can be done through Group Policy or system settings.
• Remote Password Change Policy: Consider configuring a policy that allows users to change passwords via Remote Desktop before they expire.
• Regular Updates: Regularly update and change your passwords to avoid expiration.

I hope this guide helps anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation. If you have any additional tips or if I missed something, please feel free to add to this thread.

 

[shubhampant]

Expired passwords on Windows Server 2012 and later can't be changed directly through RDP for security reasons. Reset with another administrator account, contact your IT admin for assistance, or change it before expiry using Ctrl-Alt-End -> Change a password on the remote session.