The user’s account has expired on Windows 11

Sometimes, you need to create a temporary account in Windows 11/10. It is similar to the Guest Account, but it expires. When the account expires, you will not be able to use it at all. In this post, we are looking for a solution if you face — The user’s account has expired message on Windows 11/10.

For your information, Account Expiration is different from the Password Expiration of a user account. In Password expiration, the user will be prompted to change the password, and after that, the user account can be used again as usual.

The users account has expired on Windows 11/10

You can eliminate this situation using the Net User command. The command is built to set an expiration date for a user account or completely disable user account expiration.

1. Turn off User Account Expiration using PowerShell
2. Turn Off  User Account Expiration in Active Directory.

1] Turn off User Account Expiration using PowerShell

1] Open PowerShell using WIN+X and then select Windows PowerShell (Admin).

2] The first thing you need is the exact username of the account for which the expiration has to be set. To get the users on Windows 10 computer, type and execute the command—net user. Copy the name.

3] Next, in the same PowerShell prompt, execute the command:

net user USERNAME  /expires:never

Make sure to replace USERNAME with the correct username.

2] Turn Off User Account Expiration in Active Directory

If you need to have a temporary account but do not want it to expire automatically, it is best to set the option right away. It can be done using the Administrative tool available for the admin account in Windows.

1] In the Start search, type Administrative Tools, and when it appears, open with administrator privileges.

2] Select Active Directory Users and Computers and open it.

3] On the left side, expand your domain, and select the node which says, Users.

4] Select the domain user account you want to change expiration settings. Right-click and select properties.

4] Switch to the Account tab, and check the option which says set Account Expires to Never.

5] You can also set the password as never expires in the same section.

In consumer copies of Windows, i.e., Windows 11/10 Pro and Home, there is no concept of a temporary account. Instead, you can use Guest Account to give temporary access.

What happens when an Active Directory account expires?

When an Active Directory account expires, the account becomes disabled, restricting user access and preventing login. This ensures enhanced security by deactivating accounts that are no longer needed, reducing potential vulnerabilities in the system and ensuring only active, necessary accounts remain accessible.

What is the difference between Disabled and Expired accounts?

A disabled account is manually deactivated by an administrator, typically due to policy violations or user requests, while an expired account automatically becomes inactive after a predetermined date. Both restrict access, yet serve different administrative roles and are controlled differently within system settings.