Topic Last Modified: 2009-08-05

The following rules and restrictions apply to passwords for Outlook Live accounts.

Rules

• The minimum length is six characters.
  
• The maximum length is 16 characters.
  
• Strong passwords are at least eight characters long.
  
• The password is case-sensitive.
  
• The password can contain uppercase and lowercase letters, and numbers.
  
• The password can contain the following ASCII text characters: ` ~ ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) _ + - = { } | [ ] \ : " ; ' < > ? , . /
  

Restrictions

The password can't contain:

• Spaces
  
• Non-English characters
  
• The alias part of the e-mail address. For example, if the e-mail address is user@contoso.edu, the password can't contain user. This restriction isn't case-sensitive, so USER or User can't be used in the password for user@contoso.edu.
  
• The answer to the Windows Live ID secret question that helps users reset their password. For example, if the Windows Live ID secret question is Mother's birthplace, and Seattle is the answer, the password can't contain Seattle. This restriction isn't case-sensitive, so SEATTLE or seattle can't be used in the password.