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Resources Windows 8 Password Must Meet Complexity Requirements | How to Set

Password Must Meet Complexity Requirements | How to Set

By Jennifer | Last Updated

Generally speaking, in Windows computer, you can set or change a user password to be one containing 0 to 14 characters which can be the combination of numbers, symbols, English uppercase letters and lowercase letters, depending on your own requirements. However, have you ever thought about how to enforce the password to meet password complexity requirements (see the 3 points below)? If you want to know the method to make password meet complexity requirements, this article will further illustrate the detailed steps for your reference.

1. Not contain the user's account name or parts of the user's full name that exceed two consecutive characters.

2. Be at least six characters in length.

3. Contain characters from three of the following four categories:

English uppercase characters (A through Z)

English lowercase characters (a through z)

Base 10 digits (0 through 9)

Non-alphabetic characters (e.g. #, $, %...)

Video guide on how to make password meet complexity requirements on Windows 8:

Steps to make password meet complexity requirements in Win 8/8.1:

Step 1: Make a group policy shortcut on the desktop, and open it by double clicks.

double click Group policy shortcut

Step 2: Find and open Password Policy folder in the Local Group Policy Editor.

BTW, in Computer Configuration/Windows Settings/Security Settings/Account Policies, you can find it instantly.

open password policy folder

Step 3: Right-click the policy titled "Password must meet complexity requirements" on the right side and select Properties in the context menu.

open password must meet complexity requirements properties

Step 4: Choose Enabled and tap OK in the policy's Properties window.

choose enabled

After the above-mentioned password policy is enabled, the user password to be created or changed must meet the complexity requirements. Otherwise, the password creation or modification will fail, as shown by the following system prompt which reads, "The password you entered doesn't meet password policy requirements. Try one that's longer or more complex."

password complexity not meeting password policy requirements

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