If you are a Windows user,
Windows Credential Manager is where your usernames and passwords, along with other login information, are stored for later use in a digital library. This includes information about websites and apps, as well as network credentials. In this article,
we explain the key steps for managing your passwords and other sensitive information to ensure you can add, edit, delete and back up your data. Although Windows Credential Manager has been around since Windows 7, this article focuses primarily on the Windows 10 version. However, most of the steps outlined will be similar for earlier versions of Windows.
What does the Windows Credential Manager do?
As a free native Windows password manager, Credential Manager will store login information, including usernames, passwords, and addresses, for use on a local computer or other computers from the same network or server.
What credentials does Windows Credential Manager record?
Saved passwords and other stored information are divided into two categories in the Windows 10 version of Windows Credential Manager: Web credentials, such as website logins, and Windows credentials, such as credentials and information used only by Windows applications and services. This is a simplification of previous versions of Windows, introduced in Windows 8.1. Previously, there were four categories of information stored.
Windows credentials include various types of data, one of which is certificate-based credentials, which are used primarily in a complex corporate network environment. Most users won't need it. However, you can learn more about enabling more complex certificate-based credentials using third-party certificate authorities through the Microsoft support pages. The Windows Credentials category also includes information about installed applications that give your computer or other network users permission to use the affected programs.
This makes Windows Credential Manager an easy way to manage the sensitive information you might need in everyday work and within shared networks.. Programs that access this data may include Microsoft Office, Skype, or OneDrive. Meanwhile, web credentials include general information about your website, such as usernames, passwords, email addresses, and other login details for use on the web.
How do I access the Windows Credential Manager?
Open Control Panel, go to User Accounts, then select Credential Manager. You can also use the search box on the taskbar to search for "credential manager". You will see your two vaults: web credentials and Windows credentials. This is where you will find all of your information stored in these headers. If you have a problem, you can find up-to-date information and support for Windows Credential Manager from Microsoft.
How do I manage saved passwords?
Managing stored credentials is relatively easy. Access Credential Manager as above. To add credentials, select Add Windows credential or Add certificate-based credential, which will prompt you to add additional information. If you choose Add Windows credentials, for example,
you will be given the option to add the required IP address, username and password to these credentials. Once you enter this information and save it, it will be added to your Windows Credential Manager library. In this area, you can also modify and delete the stored information by selecting the Modify or Delete buttons, respectively. Be careful when updating saved information and avoid updating encrypted passwords used by specialized applications (such as virtualization software) through Windows Credential Manager. Instead, update these passwords directly in the app to avoid the risk of damaging your future access.
If this happens, you will need to reinstall and reconfigure the apps in question.
Every time you remove an ID from your list, you will be prompted to re-enter that information the next time you log into the app or website.
It's easy to back up stored passwords by selecting the Back up credentials option in Credential Manager. Once you do this, click Browse to select a destination for your backup. You will be prompted to enter a password to protect the Credential Manager file that will be created. Similarly, you can restore saved passwords to a new computer by selecting Restore Credentials and then selecting a previously created backup file.
security concerns
Windows Credential Manager is an easy to use password manager, which allows you to easily manage sensitive information. Nevertheless,
there have been concerns about hackers potentially accessing saved passwords.
Passwords are stored in plain text in the Credentials Manager file format, so if a hacker has found their way into your system using elevated access (local administrator or system-level access on your device), the passwords Clear text passes are easy to use. Additional encryption measures can help put your mind at ease. However, you must have the necessary technical knowledge to create a more complex method of data protection,
which hampers the user-friendly experience of Windows Credential Manager.
Integrated directly into Windows
The Windows Credential Manager feature in Windows 10 will help users better manage their passwords and other sensitive information on the web and the types of Windows login credentials. It's easy to add, delete, edit, save, and restore information.
Security can be a concern for some users, and Windows 10 has been a prime target for hackers. As Microsoft strives to make its systems more secure, users can experience more peace of mind with additional password encryption. Certainly,
more secure options are available for storing password information. However, for the standard user,
Credential Manager is easy to access and very easy to use. It's a good place to start to manage your sensitive data more carefully.