The Forgotten Passwords
Windows 11 utilizes the Credential Manager (specifically the Windows Vault) to securely store network passwords. If you frequently connect to a hidden NAS (Network Attached Storage) drive or a secure corporate server, you likely checked the box to “Remember my credentials.” However, due to security policies or specific bug-related behaviors in certain Windows builds, the operating system might automatically delete these saved network credentials upon reboot. This forces you to re-type complex passwords every single time you turn on your computer, disrupting your workflow and causing unnecessary frustration when trying to access shared drives.
Securing the Windows Vault
To ensure your network passwords remain persistently saved across reboots and stop Windows 11 from automatically deleting credentials, you must alter how the network profile manages its security state.
The most common cause of this amnesia is a conflict with local security policies regarding saved credentials for network authentication. Press the Windows key, type Local Security Policy, and press Enter (Note: This is only available on Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions). In the left pane, expand Local Policies and select Security Options. In the right pane, scroll down to find Network access: Do not allow storage of passwords and credentials for network authentication. Double-click it. Ensure this policy is set to Disabled. If you are on Windows 11 Home, the issue often stems from the credential being saved as a “Session” credential rather than an “Enterprise” one. Open Credential Manager, delete the offending Windows Credential, and manually re-add it, ensuring the persistence is set to “Enterprise” or “Local Machine.”