Windows XP – prevent a user’s password from expiring

One of my clients called be mecause every now and then his was bugged by Windows XP to change his password. This seemed weird as XP doesn’t do this by default. Probably it was set to expire by someone or by some friendly security suite.

Fortunately the solution for this expiring password problem is easy. You just need to tell Windows that you want your password to never expire. This is not necessarily a good practice, nevertheless if you want to, here is how you do it.

Go to START->RUN or WIN+R.
Type control userpasswords2 and hit ENTER

You’ll get a window like this one showing up:

* xp_user_accounts2

You have to click the Advanced tab

xp_user_accounts2_advanced

Unsurprisingly, on the Advanced tab you have to click the Advanced button. (Who designs this kind of interfaces?)

xp_user_accounts_edit_user

In the window that opens you can see your local users and groups.
Click on Users and double click in the right panel the user you want to set the password not to expire.

xp_user_accounts_edit_user_expire_password

Finally in the new window that opens check Password never expires.
Apply or OK your way back!

Done. Still it’s a good ideea to change all your passwords from time to time, just to be on the safe side.