How can I create a PowerShell script to open the Windows "Change Password" screen automatically?
Asked by
TechWizard92
I'm looking for help with a PowerShell script that can automatically bring up the "Change Password" screen on Windows. We have a 90-day password expiration policy in our organization, and end-users need to navigate to that screen by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del and selecting "Change a password" before their passwords expire. If they miss that, our IT team ends up resetting their passwords, which is a hassle for everyone.
We don't have password write-back enabled and only issue notifications to remind users before expiration. I even send them reminders via email, but I still find myself resetting passwords pretty often. I'm hoping to run a PowerShell script through group policy a week before passwords expire to prevent this issue. Is there a way to accomplish this?
Answers
If a password expires, Windows should prompt users to change it automatically upon login. You might want to review your group policy settings instead of using a PowerShell script. But if you're still keen on a script, I've heard about using this command: (New-Object -COM Shell.Application).WindowsSecurity(). It doesn’t directly press the change password button though—it's more of an alternative.
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It's odd that IT needs to intervene for password changes. Normally, when a password expires, it prompts users to change it at login if they know their old password. If you're aiming for a self-service password reset (SSPR), consider third-party solutions instead of a script—like what we use from SpecOps. It's more efficient than piecing together something on PowerShell.
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You might want to look into setting a scheduled task that forces the change password prompt on login. That could be set to activate a week before the expiration. It could streamline the process for your users.
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Honestly, I think the best solution is to enable password write-back. You'll save a lot of time compared to trying to work around the existing system. I would do it if it were up to me, but I know it can be a tough sell to management. Maybe present them with how much time could be saved?
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