How To Fix 00188 - The first three characters of the password must all be different

SAP Error Message - Details

• Message type: E = Error

• Message class: 00 -

• Message number: 188

• Message text: The first three characters of the password must all be different

What causes this issue?

The first 3 characters of the password must be different from each
other.

System Response

The system issues an error message and will not allow you to continue with this transaction until the error is resolved.

How to fix this error?

Choose another password.

Error message extract from SAP system. Copyright SAP SE.

Smart SAP Assistant

• What is the cause and solution for SAP error message 00188 - The first three characters of the password must all be different ?

  The SAP error message 00188, which states "The first three characters of the password must all be different," is related to the password policy enforced by the SAP system. This error occurs when a user attempts to set or change their password, and the first three characters of the new password are not unique.
  Cause:
  The cause of this error is straightforward: the password being set does not comply with the system's password policy, which requires that the first three characters of the password must be different from each other. This is a security measure to ensure that passwords are not easily guessable and to promote stronger password practices.
  Solution:
  To resolve this error, the user should choose a new password that meets the following criteria:
  
  The first three characters of the password must be different from each other.
  Ensure that the password meets any other requirements set by the system (e.g., length, complexity, etc.).
  
  Example:
  If the user attempts to set the password as "AAB123", they will receive the error because the first three characters "AAB" are not all different. A valid password could be "ABC123" or "XYZ456", where the first three characters are unique.
  Related Information:
  
  Password Policy Configuration: The password policy can be configured in the SAP system, and administrators can set various rules regarding password complexity, length, and character requirements. This can be done in transaction code RZ10 or through the profile parameters.
  User Training: Users should be trained on the importance of strong passwords and the specific requirements of the SAP system to avoid such errors in the future.
  SAP Notes: For further details or updates regarding password policies, you can check SAP Notes or the official SAP Help Portal.
  
  By following these guidelines, users should be able to successfully change their passwords without encountering the error message 00188.