Member Avatar for STP72

I'm a IT tech and I need to learn how to modify a Lotus Notes .id file to reset users passwords. What tool or application can I download to change the password and get user using their email. Please send me your comments because I believe you could you a text editor but I'm not sure.

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Dani AI

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Short answer: do not try to open or edit a Notes .id with a text editor. The ID file is a binary, password‑protected container that holds the user name, certificates and the private key material used for signing/decryption — the private keys inside are encrypted with a key derived from the user password, so manual edits will corrupt the file and break access. (notesmail.com)

What you can do as an admin depends on how the environment was set up. Older Notes/Domino (R5/6/6.5) support the built‑in ID file/password recovery workflow (a quorum of configured Recovery Authorities extracts recovery passwords that the user can enter to regain access). That recovery must have been enabled when users were registered; if it was, the Domino Administrator can use the Certification/Extract Recovery Password function and the user uses File->Recover ID (Wrong Password dialog) to set a new password. If recovery was not enabled, there is no safe way to change the password and keep existing encrypted data. (help.hcl-software.com)

Modern approach (Domino 8.5+) is the ID Vault: admins can centrally store IDs and reset or push new passwords (Admin client -> People & Groups -> Tools -> ID Vaults -> Reset Password) or use the sample web agent that ships with Domino (PwdResetSample.nsf) to let vaulted users reset their password. ID Vault is the recommended path for easier, auditable password resets. ()

Practical checklist for an IT tech stepping in:

  • Do not edit the .id file; make a byte‑level backup first.
  • Check the Person document for an attached ID or a recorded backup in your Domino Directory.
  • Ask whether Password Recovery was configured; if yes, follow Extract Recovery Password and the client Recover ID flow. (help.hcl-software.com)
  • If you have an ID Vault (8.5+), use the Admin client reset or the sample reset agent. ()
  • If neither exists, create a new ID for the user but note any previously encrypted mail or files cannot be decrypted without the old private key.

This expands on and questions and ties to ’s note about using the Admin client: the Admin tools (or ID Vault) are the supported, safe ways to recover or reset Notes passwords — editing the file is not viable. (notesmail.com)

Member Avatar for STP72

Can you use a text editor to change the .id text file?

Member Avatar for ssurdy

I'm a IT tech and I need to learn how to modify a Lotus Notes .id file to reset users passwords. What tool or application can I download to change the password and get user using their email. Please send me your comments because I believe you could you a text editor but I'm not sure.

I also need to know how to either change or retrieve someone's password. Please let me know if you've found a way to do this.
Thanks, S.Surdy

Member Avatar for PEIDER

I also need to know how to either change or retrieve someone's password. Please let me know if you've found a way to do this.
Thanks, S.Surdy

Well .. i am an Lotus developer since 1992
You definitely have no chance to change the password by Editor.
This wouldn't commit with the safety rules which are inherited in the lotus domino system.

You only have the chance to change it with the lotus notes client ... therefore the user has to do this in the preferences sections

As Administrator you have the possibility to manage this with the admin client .. there is a so called password recovery function ... if configured by the administrator ...

if you need more detail infos ... just ask again

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