Microsoft Microsoft Office 365 Powershell

How to Perform a Bulk User Password Reset in Office 365 with PowerShell

Muhammad FaizanMarch 15, 2024 - Last Updated: March 21, 2024

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Table of Contents

Introduction

If you’re an IT admin, resetting passwords for a large number of users in Office 365 can be a daunting task. Doing it manually through the admin center is time-consuming and prone to errors. That’s where PowerShell comes to the rescue! With a few PowerShell commands, you can streamline the password reset process, saving you time and ensuring accuracy.

Prerequisites

Basic understanding of PowerShell.
Administrative access to your Office 365 tenant.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Establish a PowerShell Connection

Open PowerShell as an administrator.
Install the Exchange Online Management Module:

Install-Module -Name ExchangeOnlineManagement

Import the module:

Import-Module ExchangeOnlineManagement

Connect to Exchange Online:

Connect-ExchangeOnline

Enter your Office 365 admin credentials when prompted.

2. Prepare Your CSV File

Create a CSV file with the following headers:
- UserPrincipalName (the user’s email address)
- NewPassword (the new, secure password)

Example:

UserPrincipalName,NewPassword
user1@domain.com,SuperS3cretP@ss1
user2@domain.com,C0mpl3xP@ssw0rd

3. Execute the Password Reset Script

Adapt the following script, replacing the CSV path:

$UserList = Import-Csv -Path "C:\Path\to\CSV\File.csv"
foreach ($User in $UserList) {
    Set-MsolUserPassword -UserPrincipalName $User.UserPrincipalName -NewPassword $User.NewPassword -ForceChangePassword $false
}

Don’t forget to switch out “C:\Path\to\CSV\File.csv” with the actual location of your file.

Important Considerations

Password Strength: Encourage the use of complex passwords for enhanced security.
ForceChangePassword: Consider setting -ForceChangePassword $true to require users to change their temporary password on their next login.
CSV Accuracy: Proofread your CSV file to avoid errors and potential issues.