Remove Password Complexity Windows Server 2016

This security setting determines whether passwords must meet complexity requirements. Complexity requirements are enforced when passwords are changed or created.

If this policy is enabled, passwords must meet the following minimum requirements when they are changed or created:

Passwords must not contain the user’s entire Account Name value or entire display Name (Full Name) value. Both checks are not case sensitive.

In this tutorial, you will learn how you can disable the password complexity policy on Windows Server 2016.

Remove Password Complexity

1. Open Server Manager from the Start Menu.

2. Click on Tools, and then click on “Group Policy Management”.

3. Right-click of “Default Domain Policy” which it will be located under your domain name and click Edit.

4. Expand the policy Computer Configuration -> Policies -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Account Policies -> Password Policy, just like the screenshot below.

5. From the right pane do a double-click on the policy named “Password Must Meet Complexity Requirements“.

6. Check on “Disabled” and then click Ok.

7. Close “Group Policy Management” and run CMD as Administrator.

8. Run the below command on your server and also on all the client’s computer so the changes can take effect.

gpupdate /force

9. If you followed our steps correctly you find the result of the CMD command just like the below screenshot.

Disable Password Complexity using PowerShell

1. Run PowerShell as Administrator from the Start Menu.

2. Copy & Paste the below command on the PowerShell window to disable password complexity.

secedit /export /cfg c:\secpol.cfg
(gc C:\secpol.cfg).replace("PasswordComplexity = 1", "PasswordComplexity = 0") | Out-File C:\secpol.cfg
secedit /configure /db c:\windows\security\local.sdb /cfg c:\secpol.cfg /areas SECURITYPOLICY
rm -force c:\secpol.cfg -confirm:$false

3. Now Password Complexity Policy is disabled successfully.

Summary

After this tutorial, you should be able to know how you can remove a password complexity policy on Windows Server 2016 through the “Group Policy Management” and also through PowerShell.

Miguel

I started this tech blog back in 2011 as a place to write down processes I took to fix my client systems and network. Now I write some tips and tricks to help others with the tech issues that one might encounter.

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2 Responses

  1. WinMan says:

    The BEST article on this. I am bookmarking this article as the solution to password issue on windows server.

  2. hossein says:

    I do 3 steps in up but after restart windows server , I should enter password!!!!
    this dont work for me.