How to Prevent Users from Changing Passwords in Windows 11

This guide explains how to control whether standard users can change their own passwords on a Windows 11 computer.

Why do this? Sometimes you want to ensure a user account remains secure or keeps a specific password for administrative reasons. What happens when done? The user will no longer be able to update their password through the standard Windows settings menu.

By default, all users on a Windows machine can change their own passwords as often as they like. A Windows administrator can change any account password, but a standard user can only change their own.

Note: This only works for a standard standard account. If a user is part of the administrator group, they can easily remove these restrictions.

Method 1: Using Local Users and Groups

This method uses a built-in Windows tool to manage account settings.

Requirement: You must have administrator privileges to perform these steps.

1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run box.
2. Type the following command and press Enter: lusrmgr.msc

3. In the window that opens, click the Users folder on the left side.
4. Find the user account on the right side, right-click it, and select Properties.

5. In the window that appears, find the box labeled User cannot change password. Check this box to prevent the password change, or uncheck it to allow it.
6. Click OK to save your settings.

Method 2: Using the Command Line

You can also use Windows Terminal with the Command Prompt to change this setting quickly. First, open Windows Terminal as administrator.

Requirement: You must run the command prompt as an administrator.

To let a user change their password, use this command:

net user "username" /PasswordChg:Yes

To stop a user from changing their password, use this command:

net user "username" /PasswordChg:No

Summary

You can restrict password changes for standard users in Windows 11 using the Local Users and Groups console or the Command Prompt. These steps help maintain control over account security, though remember that users with administrative rights can bypass these changes.