How to use Credential Manager on Windows 10

Did you save the wrong sign-in info for a network drive? Do you need to transfer your web and Windows 10 credentials to a new installation? Then you need to use Credential Manager, and here's how.

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@Pureinfotech
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Credential Manager on Windows 10
Credential Manager on Windows 10

On Windows 10, Credential Manager is the feature that stores your sign-in information for websites (using Microsoft Edge), apps, and networks (such as mapped drives or shared folders) when you check the option to save your credentials for future logins.

Credential Manager isn’t new since it has been around for a long time, and it allows you to save your login usernames and passwords and view, delete, add, backup, and restore credentials.

This guide will teach you how to use the Credential Manager on Windows 10 to control all your login information.

Edit existing sign-in information from Credential Manager

To update a password or username already stored on Windows 10, use these steps:

  1. Open Control Panel on Windows 10.

  2. Click on User Accounts.

  3. Click on Credential Manager.

  4. Click the Windows Credentials tab (or Web Credentials).

  5. Select the account.

  6. Click the Edit button.

    Windows Credentials

  7. Update the username and password as necessary.

  8. Click the Save button.

    Edit Window Credential

Once you complete the steps, the information will update with the new credentials, which means no more login prompts if you initially saved the wrong username or password or changed the sign-in information.

Delete sign-in information from Credential Manager

To delete an account credential already stored on Windows 10, use these steps:

  1. Open Control Panel.

  2. Click on User Accounts.

  3. Click on Credential Manager.

  4. Click the Windows Credentials tab (or Web Credentials).

  5. Select the account.

  6. Click the Remove button.

    Delete Windows Credential

  7. Click the Yes button.

After you complete the steps, the account credentials will no longer be available on the device, meaning that future logins will require you to enter a username and password.

Add new sign-in information from Credential Manager

To add an app or network credential on Windows 10, use these steps:

  1. Open Control Panel.

  2. Click on User Accounts.

  3. Click on Credential Manager.

  4. Click the Windows Credentials tab.

  5. Click the “Add a Windows credential” (or “Add a certificate-based credential”) option.

    Add Windows Credential option

  6. Specify the internet or network address corresponding to the app or network resource.

  7. Specify the username and password to authenticate.

    Add network credential on Windows 10

  8. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the new account information will be added to your device to sign in automatically the next time you access the apps or network shared.

Backup sign-in information from Credential Manager

To export and backup all your credentials for apps and networks, use these steps:

  1. Open Control Panel.

  2. Click on User Accounts.

  3. Click on Credential Manager.

  4. Click the Windows Credentials tab.

  5. Click the Back up Credentials option.

    Backup Windows Credentials

  6. Click the Browse button to specify a destination for the backup.

    Backup location for .crd Windows Credentials file

  7. Specify a name for the .crd backup file.

  8. Click the Save button.

  9. Click the Next button.

  10. Use the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keyboard shortcut to continue.

  11. Specify a password to protect the Credential Manager file on Windows 10.

  12. Click the Next button.

  13. Click the Finish button.

After you complete the steps, you’ll end up with a .crd file containing all your Windows 10 and web credentials that you can import to another computer or the same device after a clean installation.

Restore sign-in information from Credential Manager

To restore your sign-in information from backup on Windows 10, use these steps:

  1. Open Control Panel.

  2. Click on User Accounts.

  3. Click on Credential Manager.

  4. Click the Windows Credentials tab.

  5. Click the Restore Credentials option.

    Restore Windows 10 credentials option

  6. Click the Browse button.

    Restore .crd Windows Credentials file location

  7. Select the “.crd” files with the backup information.

  8. Click the Open button.

  9. Click the Next button.

  10. Use the “Ctrl + Alt + Delete” keyboard shortcut to continue.

  11. Confirm the password to unlock the Credential Manager backup.

  12. Click the Next button.

  13. Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the step, your device’s credentials for sites, apps, and networks will be restored.

While this guide focuses on Windows 10, Credential Manager has been available for a long time, which means the steps will also work on Windows 8.1 and Windows 7.

About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He is also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.