Windows 11: How to Find and Manage Your Network Credentials If you are trying to access another computer on your local network or connect to a shared folder, Windows 11 often asks for "Network Credentials." This is a security feature designed to prevent unauthorized users from accessing your private data. If you are staring at a login prompt and don't know what to type, or if you need to update a saved password, here is your guide to finding and managing network credentials in Windows 11.
Part 1: What are Network Credentials? It is a common misconception that "Network Credentials" is a special, separate password. In 99% of cases, your Network Credentials are the same as your Windows Login Password. When another computer asks for credentials to access your machine, you generally need to enter:
Username: Your Windows username (the name you see on your Start Menu or login screen). Password: The PIN or Password you use to log in to your computer.
Part 2: How to View Saved Network Passwords If you have connected to a network drive in the past and want to see the password you used (or update it), you don't need to dig through settings. You can use the hidden "Credential Manager." Windows 11: How to Find and Manage Your
Press the Windows Key + S to open Search. Type "Credential Manager" and select the top result. In the Credential Manager window, click on the Windows Credentials tab (top left). Scroll down to the section labeled "Windows Credentials" . Look for the network address you are trying to access (e.g., 192.168.1.15 or DESKTOP-NAME ). Click the arrow next to it to expand the entry. Click Show next to the Password field. You may need to enter your Windows PIN/Password to reveal it.
Part 3: Troubleshooting: "My Password Isn't Working" If you enter your Microsoft account password or local password and it says "The user name or password is incorrect," try these fixes: 1. Check Your Exact Username Sometimes Windows displays your "Friendly Name" (e.g., "John Doe") on the login screen, but your actual username is different.
Open the Command Prompt (search for cmd ). Type whoami and hit Enter. It will show something like DESKTOP-ABC\John . In the network credentials prompt, try entering the username exactly as it appears after the slash (e.g., just John ). Password: The PIN or Password you use to
2. Use Your Microsoft Email If you sign into your PC using a Microsoft Account (Outlook, Hotmail), your network credentials are likely your email address and your Microsoft password—not a local password.
Username: yourname@outlook.com Password: Your Microsoft Account password.
3. Turn off Password Protected Sharing (Not Recommended) If you are on a trusted home network and just want to share files without entering passwords constantly, you can disable this requirement. Open Control Panel &
Open Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center . Click Change advanced sharing settings on the left sidebar. Expand the section labeled All Networks . Scroll to the bottom and select Turn off password protected sharing . Click Save changes .
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