How To Quickly Open the Local Group Policy Editor and Configure Password Policies in Windows

The Local Group Policy Editor is an advanced management tool in Windows that allows users to modify various system policies for the computer or user accounts. With this tool, you can control various aspects of the Windows system, such as security settings, account policies, password policies, network settings, and more.

In this article, we will not only introduce multiple ways to quickly open the Local Group Policy Editor but also provide a step-by-step guide on how to configure Windows password policies to enhance account security.

1. How To Quickly Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

In Windows 10 and Windows 11 Professional editions and above (the Home edition does not support this by default), you can use the following four methods to quickly open the Local Group Policy Editor.

1.1 Use the Run Dialog.

1. Press `Win + R` to open the Run dialog.
2. Type `gpedit.msc` in the text box and press Enter or click OK.
3. The Local Group Policy Editor window will open.

1.2 Use Windows Search.

1. Click the Search icon on the taskbar (or press `Win + S` to open search).
2. Type `gpedit.msc` in the search box.
3. Click on `gpedit.msc` from the search results to open the editor.

1.3 Use Command Prompt (CMD).

1. Press `Win + S`, type Command Prompt, and click to open it.
2. In the Command Prompt window, type `gpedit.msc` and press Enter.
3. The Local Group Policy Editor will open.

1.4 Use PowerShell.

1. Press `Win + S`, type PowerShell, and open Windows PowerShell.
2. In the PowerShell window, type `gpedit.msc` and press Enter.
3. The Local Group Policy Editor will launch.

2. How To Configure Windows Password Policies Using the Local Group Policy Editor.

Password policies enhance Windows account security, prevent the use of overly simple passwords, and improve data protection for both individual users and enterprises. Below are the steps to configure password policies.

2.1 Open the Password Policy Settings.

1. Once inside the Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to:
   Computer Configuration → Windows Settings → Security Settings → Account Policies → Password Policy.
2. In the right pane, you will see several password-related policies, such as:
3. Password must meet complexity requirements.
4. Minimum password length.
5. Minimum password age.
6. Maximum password age.
7. Enforce password history.

2.2 Enable Password Complexity Requirements.

1. Double-click “Password must meet complexity requirements“.
2. In the popup window, select Enabled, then click OK.
3. Once enabled, Windows passwords must include at least three of the following character types:
4. Uppercase letters (A-Z).
5. Lowercase letters (a-z).
6. Numbers (0-9)
7. Special characters (`@, #, $, etc.`)

2.3 Set Minimum Password Length.

1. Double-click “Minimum password length“.
2. By default, this may be set to `0` (no requirement). Change this to `6` or higher (8-12 characters is recommended).
3. Click OK to apply the change.

2.4 Adjust Password Expiration Policies.

1. Maximum password age:
2. Double-click “Maximum password age.” The default value is usually `42` days.
3. Modify it to `30` days (to require monthly password changes) or `60` days, depending on your security needs.
4. Minimum password age:
5. Double-click “Minimum password age.” The default value may be `0`.
6. Set it to `1`-`5` days to prevent users from frequently changing passwords to bypass history restrictions.

2.5 Enforce Password History.

1. Double-click “Enforce password history.“
2. This policy prevents users from reusing old passwords. The default value may be `0` (no restriction).
3. It is recommended to set this to `10`, meaning users cannot reuse their last 10 passwords.

2.6 How To Verify If the Password Policy Is Active.

1. Open Command Prompt (CMD) and enter the following command:

   net accounts

2. The output will display password policy details, such as minimum length and expiration period.
3. Alternatively, try changing your Windows account password to see if it must meet the new complexity requirements.

3. Conclusion.

The Local Group Policy Editor is a powerful system management tool that allows users to configure various policies, including password security policies. This guide introduced four quick ways to open the Local Group Policy Editor and provided a detailed walkthrough on modifying Windows password policies, such as enforcing complexity requirements, setting password length, and configuring expiration policies. These settings can significantly enhance system security and reduce the risk of password leaks.

4. Demo Video.

You can watch the following demo video by select the subtitle to your preferred subtitle language.