Windows 11 includes a built-in password manager known as the “Windows Credential Manager.” This system is designed to seamlessly save and autofill passwords for network drives, shared folders, Exchange email accounts, and legacy Windows applications. When you connect to a new secure resource, Windows automatically prompts you to “Remember my credentials.”
While convenient for personal computers, this is a massive security vulnerability in shared workspaces or computers utilized by multiple family members. If you accidentally leave the “Remember my credentials” box checked, anyone using your Windows profile can access your secure network folders without a password prompt. If you want to force Windows to ask for your password every single time you connect to a secure resource, you must disable the credential saving feature.
How to Stop Windows 11 from Saving Passwords
You can disable the credential storage system using the Local Security Policy editor (available in Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions).
- Click the Start button, type secpol.msc, and press Enter to open the Local Security Policy tool.
- In the left-hand navigation pane, expand Local Policies and click on Security Options.
- In the main window on the right, scroll down until you find the policy named: Network access: Do not allow storage of passwords and credentials for network authentication.
- Double-click this policy to open its properties window.
- Change the setting from “Disabled” to Enabled.
- Click Apply, then click OK.
The change takes effect immediately. Windows 11 will no longer offer to save your network passwords, and the Credential Manager will cease storing new network authentication tokens. You will now be required to manually type your password every time you access a secure network location.