Change the password for the default content access account (SharePoint Foundation 2010)
Applies to: SharePoint Foundation 2010
Use this procedure to change the password for the default content access account. The default content access account is the account that is used to crawl content. This account can be overridden by specifying a different account by using a crawl rule. This account must have the Read permission for the content that the account is crawling. It is a best practice to limit the account's access to the content to read-only. If the account password expires and is not updated, the search feature will be unable to crawl content.
Only change the default content access account's password if it has been changed in Active Directory. The credentials that you enter are checked against those on the domain controller. If you enter the new password before the password is changed on the domain controller, an error will result and the settings will not be changed.
Note
This procedure changes only the password for the default content access account. If you specified a different account in a crawl rule, and if you want to change that account's password, you must change the crawl rule.
Follow these steps to configure the password for the default content access account on the computer that is running the SharePoint Central Administration Web site.
To change the password for the default content access account
Verify that you have the following administrative credentials:
- To change the password for the default content access account, you must be a member of the Farm Administrators group (WSS_RESTRICTED_WPG Windows security group).
Ensure that the SPAdmin service is running on all servers in the farm.
On the home page of the SharePoint Central Administration Web site, under System Settings, select Manage services on server.
Click SharePoint Foundation Search.
On the Configure Microsoft SharePoint Foundation Search Service Settings page, in the Content Access Account section, type the new password in the Password box.
Click OK to save the changes.
Optionally, disable the SPAdmin service on any server in the farm that you do not want to run the service.