How to Reset a User Password in Microsoft Entra

Resetting a user password is a common administrative task in Microsoft Entra ID. Administrators may need to reset passwords when users forget their credentials or when enforcing security policies.

Microsoft Entra allows password resets using both the Entra Admin Center and Microsoft Graph PowerShell.

Resetting a User Password in Microsoft Entra

Administrators can reset passwords using:

1. Microsoft Entra Admin Center (GUI)
2. Microsoft Graph PowerShell (automation)

Reset Password Using the Microsoft Entra Admin Center

Follow these steps to reset a user password.

Steps	Instruction
Step 1	Go to the Microsoft Entra Admin Center https://entra.microsoft.com
Step 2	Navigate to: Microsoft Entra ID → Users
Step 3	Select the user whose password needs to be reset
Step 4	Click Reset password (the user gets assigned a temporary password that must be changed on the next sign in). You can provide the temporary password to the user in a secure manner so that they can sign in.

Reset Password Using Microsoft Graph PowerShell

Administrators can reset passwords using Graph PowerShell.

Example

$params = @{
    passwordProfile = @{
        forceChangePasswordNextSignIn = $true
        password = "Temp@12345"
    }
}

Update-MgUser -UserId "user@contoso.com" -BodyParameter $params
                                        

This command resets the user’s password and forces a change at next sign-in.

Key Parameters Explained

Parameter	Description
UserId	User Principal Name or User ID
passwordProfile	Defines password settings
password	Temporary password
forceChangePasswordNextSignIn	Forces user to update password

When to Use Each Method

Method	Best Use Case
Entra Admin Center	Resetting passwords for individual users
Graph PowerShell	Bulk password resets and automation

Common Use Cases

Administrators reset passwords when:

• Users forget their passwords
• Accounts are locked out
• Security policies require password changes
• During onboarding or account recovery

Best Practices

• Always enable force password change at next sign-in
• Share temporary passwords securely
• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
• Monitor sign-in activity after password reset

Conclusion

Resetting a user password in Microsoft Entra is a simple but critical task for maintaining access and security.

Administrators can use the Entra Admin Center for quick resets or Graph PowerShell for automation and bulk operations, depending on their needs.