Modifies the default password policy for an Active Directory domain.
Active Directory · Risk: High · Documentation Verified
Last verified: 2026-10-26
Microsoft ActiveDirectory reference: Modifies the default password policy for an Active Directory domain. The syntax and selected example below are adapted from the pinned Windows Server 2025 reference. Module availability, target configuration and delegated permissions determine whether it can run in your environment. Documentation and parameter text: Microsoft, CC BY 4.0; formatting adapted by Cmdlet World. No execution testing is claimed.
Use an account with the target resource permissions documented for Set-ADDefaultDomainPasswordPolicy. Modifying administrative cmdlets may require elevation or delegated administration. This catalog does not assert that ordinary users can execute the command.
Supported environments
Windows / ActiveDirectory · Windows Server 2025 documentation; feature/module prerequisites apply
Parameters
-AuthType
Specifies the authentication method to use. The acceptable values for this parameter are: - Negotiate or 0 - Basic or 1 The default authentication method is Negotiate. A Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection is required for the Basic authentication method.
-ComplexityEnabled
Specifies whether password complexity is enabled for the password policy. If enabled, the password must contain three of the following four character types: - Uppercase characters (A, B, C, D, E, ...) - Lowercase characters (a, b, c, d, e, ...) - Numerals (0, 1, 2, 3, ...) - Special characters (#, $, *, %, ...) This parameter sets the ComplexityEnabled property of a password policy. The acceptable values for this parameter are: - $False or 0. Disables password complexity. - $True or 1. Enables password complexity.
-Confirm
Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.
-Credential
Specifies the user account credentials to use to perform this task. The default credentials are the credentials of the currently logged on user unless the cmdlet is run from an Active Directory module for Windows PowerShell provider drive. If the cmdlet is run from such a provider drive, the account associated with the drive is the default. To specify this parameter, you can type a user name, such as User1 or Domain01\User01 or you can specify a PSCredential object. If you specify a user name for this parameter, the cmdlet prompts for a password. You can also create a PSCredential object by using a script or by using the Get-Credential cmdlet. You can then set the *Credential* parameter to the PSCredential object. If the acting credentials do not have directory-level permission to perform the task, Active Directory module for Windows PowerShell returns a terminating error.
-Identity (required)
Specifies an Active Directory domain object by providing one of the following property values. The identifier in parentheses is the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) display name for the attribute. All values are for the domainDNS object that represents the domain. The acceptable values for this parameter are: - A distinguished name - A GUID (objectGUID) - A security identifier (objectSid) - A DNS domain name - A NetBIOS domain name The cmdlet searches the default naming context or partition to find the object. If two or more objects are found, the cmdlet returns a non-terminating error. This parameter can also get this object through the pipeline or you can set this parameter to a domain object instance.
-LockoutDuration
Specifies the length of time that an account is locked after the number of failed login attempts exceeds the lockout threshold. You cannot login to an account that is locked until the lockout duration time period has expired. This parameter sets the lockoutDuration property of a password policy object. The LDAP display name (ldapDisplayName) of this property is lockoutDuration. The lockout duration must be greater than or equal to the lockout observation time for a password policy. Use the *LockOutObservationWindow* parameter to set the lockout observation time. Specify the lockout duration time interval in the following format: D.H:M:S.F where: D = Days (0 to 10675199) H = Hours (0 to 23) M = Minutes (0 to 59) S = Seconds (0 to 59) F = Fractions of a second (0 to 9999999)
-LockoutObservationWindow
Specifies the maximum time interval between two unsuccessful login attempts before the number of unsuccessful login attempts is reset to 0. An account is locked when the number of unsuccessful login attempts exceeds the password policy lockout threshold. This parameter sets the lockoutObservationWindow property of a password policy object. The LDAP display name (ldapDisplayName) of this property is lockoutObservationWindow. The lockout observation window must be smaller than or equal to the lockout duration for a password policy. Use the *LockoutDuration* parameter to set the lockout duration time. Specify the time interval in the following format: D:H:M:S.F where: D = Days (0 to 10675199) H = Hours (0 to 23) M = Minutes (0 to 59) S = Seconds (0 to 59) F = Fractions of a second (0 to 9999999) Note: Time values must be between the following values: 0:0:0:0.0 and 10675199:02:48:05.4775807.
-LockoutThreshold
Specifies the number of unsuccessful login attempts that are permitted before an account is locked out. This number increases when the time between unsuccessful login attempts is less than the time specified for the lockout observation time window. This parameter sets the LockoutThreshold property of a password policy.
-MaxPasswordAge
Specifies the maximum length of time that you can have the same password. After this time period, the password expires and you must create a new one. This parameter sets the maxPasswordAge property of a password policy. The LDAP display name (ldapDisplayName) for this property is maxPwdAge. Specify the time interval in the following format: D.H:M:S.F where: D = Days (0 to 10675199) H = Hours (0 to 23) M = Minutes (0 to 59) S = Seconds (0 to 59) F = Fractions of a second (0 to 9999999) Note: Time values must be between the following values: 0 and 10675199:02:48:05.4775807.
-MinPasswordAge
Specifies the minimum length of time before you can change a password. This parameter sets the minPasswordAge property of a password policy. The LDAP display name (ldapDisplayName) for this property is minPwdAge. Specify the time interval in the following format. D.H:M:S.F where: D = Days (0 to 10675199) H = Hours (0 to 23) M = Minutes (0 to 59) S = Seconds (0 to 59) F = Fractions of a second (0 to 9999999) Note: Time values must be between the following values: 0 and 10675199:02:48:05.4775807.
-MinPasswordLength
Specifies the minimum number of characters that a password must contain. This parameter sets the MinPasswordLength property of the password policy.
-PassThru
Returns an object representing the item with which you are working. By default, this cmdlet does not generate any output.
-PasswordHistoryCount
Specifies the number of previous passwords to save. A user cannot reuse a password in the list of saved passwords. This parameter sets the PasswordHistoryCount property for a password policy.
-ReversibleEncryptionEnabled
Specifies whether the directory must store passwords using reversible encryption. This parameter sets the ReversibleEncryption property for a password policy. The acceptable values for this parameter are: - $False or 0 - $True or 1
-Server
Specifies the Active Directory Domain Services instance to connect to, by providing one of the following values for a corresponding domain name or directory server. The service may be any of the following: Active Directory Lightweight Domain Services, Active Directory Domain Services or Active Directory snapshot instance. Specify the Active Directory Domain Services instance in one of the following ways: Domain name values: - Fully qualified domain name - NetBIOS name Directory server values: - Fully qualified directory server name - NetBIOS name - Fully qualified directory server name and port The default value for this parameter is determined by one of the following methods in the order that they are listed: - By using the *Server* value from objects passed through the pipeline - By using the server information associated with the Active Directory Domain Services Windows PowerShell provider drive, when the cmdlet runs in that drive - By using the domain of the computer running Windows PowerShell
-WhatIf
Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.
Prerequisites
Windows with the ActiveDirectory module and the Windows feature or management tools that provide it. Confirm target connectivity and version compatibility using the linked Microsoft reference.
Security considerations
This cmdlet changes system state. Review every target and parameter in the official reference, test outside production, and prepare an appropriate backup or rollback. Do not execute the example automatically.
Examples
Example 1: Set the default password policy for a specified domain
This command sets the default domain password policy for a domain specified by using the *Identity* parameter. Note: setting MaxPwdAge to 0 will convert it to never, which is Int64.MinValue or -9223372036854775808 in the directory. Source: Microsoft, CC BY 4.0; transcript prompt/output removed. This example was not executed.