Reset the Farm Passphrase in SharePoint 2010

Adding a new server to the farm and you can’t remember that new SharePoint 2010 addition called the Farm Passphrase? No problem! You can use PowerShell to reset / change that forgotten farm passphrase. Note that I said reset and not retrieve. There is currently no option to retrieve the existing farm passphrase.

• Must be a member of the SharePoint_Shell_Access database role on the SharePoint Configuration database. Check Get-SPShellAdmin and Add-SPShellAdmin.
• Open the SharePoint 2010 Management Shell (Start > All Programs > Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Products > SharePoint 2010 Management Shell)
• Enter this at the PowerShell prompt:
  • $passphrase = ConvertTo-SecureString -asPlainText -Force
• Input the new passphrase and hit Enter
• Enter this at the PowerShell prompt:
  • Set-SPPassPhrase -PassPhrase $passphrase -Confirm
• You will be asked to confirm the passphrase by re-entering it
• Re-enter the passphrase and hit Enter
• You will be asked if you are sure that you want to perform this action, type Y (for Yes) and hit Enter
• Your farm passphrase has now been reset!