Windows 7 Credential Manager & Windows Vault

Windows 7 includes a feature called as the Credential Manager. This is not exactly a new feature and is similar to technology in past versions of Windows like Vista or XP, in the sense that it stores your passwords, which you can access & manage easily. However, in Windows 7 Microsoft has added the ability to back up & restore your passwords.

The default storage vault for the credential manager information is referred to as the Windows Vault.

You can use the Windows 7 Credential Manager to save credentials like user-names & passwords so that you  can easily log onto websites or secure computers. You can access the Credential Manager through the Control Panel.

From the Windows 7 Credential Manager, you can :

- Add a Windows credential
- Add a generic credential
- Add a certificate based credential
- Backup and store the Windows Vault
- Restore the Windows vault

All are self explainatory and easy to operate.

Additional resources at MSDN here and here too.

Anand aka HappyAndyK is an end-user Windows enthusiast, a Microsoft MVP in Windows Desktop Experience since 2007, and the Admin of TheWindowsClub.com & WinVistaClub.com.

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