How to set up to use the self-service password reset for administrators feature in Office 365

Article ID: 2646254 - View products that this article applies to.

Not sure what release of Office 365 you're using? Go to the following Microsoft website:
Am I using Office 365 after the service upgrade?
(http://office.microsoft.com/redir/HA103982331.aspx)
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INTRODUCTION

This article describes the information that administrators must have to use the self-service password reset feature in Microsoft Office 365.
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PROCEDURE

To use the self-service password reset feature, an administrator must have the following:
  • A valid alternate email address that isn't the same user account.
  • A valid mobile phone number that supports SMS text messaging.
Additionally, the Office 365 company must be enabled with the self-service password reset feature. (By default, this feature is enabled.)

How to set the alternate email address for an administrator

You can set the alternate email address for an administrator in the Office 365 portal or by using Windows PowerShell.

Set the alternate email address in the Office 365 portal

To set the alternate email address for an administrator in the Office 365 portal, follow these steps:
  1. Sign in to the Office 365 portal as a global administrator.
  2. Take one of the following actions:
    • In Office 365, click Admin, click Office 365, and then click Users and Groups.
    • In Office 365 pre-upgrade, click Admin, and then, under Management, click Users.
  3. Click the user whose alternate email address you want to change, and then click Settings.
  4. Take one of the following actions:
    • In Office 365, under Alternate mail address, type an email address that the user will be able to access in case this user has to perform a self-service password reset.
    • In Office 365 pre-upgrade, under Email address, type an email address that the user will be able to access in case this user has to perform a self-service password reset.

Set the alternate email address by using Windows PowerShell

To set the alternate email address for an administrator by using Windows PowerShell, run the following cmdlet:
Set-MsolUser -UserPrincipalName [UserPrincipalName] -AlternateEmailAddresses [EmailAddress]
For example:
Set-MsolUser -UserPrincipalName johnsmith@contoso.com -AlternateEmailAddresses "johnsmith@fabrikam.com"

How to set the mobile phone number for an administrator

You can set the mobile phone number for an administrator in the Office 365 portal or by using Windows PowerShell.

Set the mobile phone number in the Office 365 portal

To set the mobile phone number for an administrator, follow these steps:
  1. Sign in to the Office 365 portal as a global administrator.
  2. Take one of the following actions:
    • In Office 365, click Admin, click Office 365, and then click Users and Groups.
    • In Office 365 pre-upgrade, click Admin, and then, under Management, click Users.
  3. Click the user whose mobile phone number you want to change, and then click Settings.
  4. Under Additional properties, type the user's mobile phone number in the Mobile phone box.

Set the mobile phone number by using Windows PowerShell

To set the mobile phone number for an admin by using Windows PowerShell, run the following cmdlet.
Set-MsolUser -UserPrincipal Name [UserPrincipalName] -MobilePhone [MobilePhoneNumber]
For example, 
Set-MsolUser -UserPrincipal Name johnsmith@contoso.com -MobilePhone "425-555-0100"

How to check whether the self-service password reset feature is enabled or disabled

By default, the self-service password reset for administrators feature is enabled. This feature is a global setting for a company and can't be configured for a particular user.

To check whether the feature is enabled or disabled for your company, follow these steps:
  1. Start Windows Azure Active Directory Module for Windows PowerShell.
  2. Connect to Windows Azure Active Directory as a global administrator. To do this, type the following command, and then press Enter:
    Connect-MsolService
  3. Run the following cmdlet to check whether the feature is enabled or disabled: 
    Get-MsolCompanyInformation | Fl SelfServePasswordResetEnabled
    • If SelfServePasswordResetEnabled : True is returned, the feature is enabled.
    • If SelfServePasswordResetEnabled : False is returned, the feature is disabled.

How to enable or disable the self-service password reset feature

To have us enable the feature for you, go to the "Fix it for me" section. If you prefer to do this yourself, go to the "Let me fix it myself" section.

Fix it for me

To enable the feature automatically, click the Fix it button or link. Then click Run in the File Download dialog box, and follow the steps in the Fix it wizard.

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Fix this problem
(http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9818227)

Microsoft Fix it 50940
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Notes
  • This wizard may be in English only. However, the automatic fix works for other language versions of Windows.
  • If you aren't on the computer that has the problem, save the Fix it solution to a flash drive or a CD, and then run the solution on the computer that has the problem.

Let me fix it myself



To enable or disable the self-service password reset feature, follow these steps:
  1. Start the Windows Azure Active Directory Module for Windows PowerShell.
  2. Connect to Windows Azure Active Directory as a global administrator. To do this, type the following command, and then press Enter:

    Connect-MsolService
  3. To enable the feature, type the following command, and then press Enter:

    Set-MsolCompanySettings -SelfServePasswordResetEnabled $true
    To disable the feature, type the following command, and then press Enter:

    Set-MsolCompanySettings -SelfServePasswordResetEnabled $false
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MORE INFORMATION

The Windows PowerShell commands that are mentioned in this article require the Windows Azure Active Directory Module for Windows PowerShell. For more information about Windows Azure Active Directory Module for Windows PowerShell, go to the following Microsoft website:
Manage Windows Azure Active Directory by using Windows PowerShell
(http://aka.ms/aadposh)
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REFERENCES

Video: Performing Administrator Self-Serve Password Resets in Office 365

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uuid=51988400-6ec8-41c5-ac74-5057508e2b11 VideoUrl=http://aka.ms/ikekr4
(http://aka.ms/ikekr4)
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Video: Troubleshooting Administrator Self-Serve Password Resets in Office 365

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uuid=84d2e6ea-b7cf-493a-87fd-7588945cb5bc VideoUrl=http://aka.ms/s42yoo
(http://aka.ms/s42yoo)
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Still need help? Go to the Office 365 Community
(http://community.office365.com/)
website.
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Properties

Article ID: 2646254 - Last Review: May 15, 2013 - Revision: 13.0
Applies to
  • Microsoft Office 365 for enterprises (pre-upgrade)
  • Microsoft Office 365 for small businesses  (pre-upgrade)
  • Microsoft Office 365 for education  (pre-upgrade)
  • Microsoft Office 365
Keywords: 
o365 o365a o365e o365p o365022013 after upgrade o365062011 pre-upgrade kbfixme kbmsifixme o365m KB2646254
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