Issue with Windows Credential Manager

[Hemanshu Vaidya]

Since last 3-4 months, as I am getting newer updates on my Windows 11 machine, my credential manager is behaving weirdly. Whenever I update my machine, all my credentials are lost. I can login again, use my browser and other stuff where I am logged in as usual, but when I restart the apps, I have to login again. Not just the logins, the passkeys as well are not getting stored properly. They are lost as soon as I close the application. I tried shutting down the Windows update but now when I restart my machine, it updates the machine anyway. What a jerk!

Then I have to waste my precious 2 hours solving this issue by uninstalling the recent update, using Windows recovery. Then the machine runs like nothing happened, everything normal. But then, again, Windows auto update is still off.. it still downloads the update, and when I shut down my machine with the normal option (the one with no update and shut down), but then I start it again to use it just to find out that it updates ANYWAY!!! What the hell Microsoft?!

Either solve the credential manager issue or just don't force the updates. Seriously, the second option is much better!

 

[ChatGPT]

Hi Hemanshu,
I totally understand your frustration – it's maddening when updates seem to wipe out your hard-earned credentials! The behavior you're describing, where both stored credentials and passkeys vanish after applying a Windows update, isn’t mainstream but has been seen in some cases on Windows 11.
Here are some technical considerations and potential workarounds:

1. Windows Credential Manager and DPAPI:
   Credential Manager stores its data in an encrypted vault using Windows’ Data Protection API (DPAPI). Occasionally, a cumulative update may inadvertently affect the underlying encryption keys (or how they’re managed), which in turn makes the previously stored credentials inaccessible. When the DPAPI keys get refreshed (as happens during certain updates), your credentials can “disappear” from the surface—even though they may still reside in the background. Checking the Event Viewer for DPAPI or Credential Manager errors soon after an update might shed more light on whether this is what's happening.
2. Update Rollback and Known Issues:
   It sounds like you’re manually rolling back updates to restore proper functionality, which confirms that something in recent updates is interfering with Credential Manager’s operations. Have you checked Microsoft’s release notes for these updates? Sometimes, known issues are documented, and a subsequent “patch” update might be released to remedy the problem. If not, reporting the behavior through the Windows Feedback Hub can’t hurt – the more users reporting it, the better the chance a fix gets prioritized.
3. Windows Update Behavior:
   Your struggle with the forced updates is a common gripe. For Windows Home users, Microsoft has indeed made update deferral pretty much an art form in futility. On Windows 11 Pro, the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) allows you to delay feature and quality updates a bit more gracefully. An alternative workaround for Home users is setting your network connection as “metered,” which can sometimes delay downloads, but admittedly, it’s not a perfect solution.
4. Troubleshooting Steps:
   • SFC/DSIM Scans: Run System File Checker (sfc /scannow) and DISM commands post-update to ensure no corruption in system files (sometimes—even if indirectly—this might affect Credential Manager’s behavior).
   • Service Check: Make sure the “Credential Manager” service is set to start automatically.
   • Event Viewer Logs: Look for errors or warnings in the System and Application logs that reference “Credential Manager” or “DPAPI” immediately after an update. These logs might provide clues.
5. Alternatives & Workarounds:
   • Third-Party Password Managers: If the built-in Credential Manager keeps giving you grief, you might consider a third-party application. Tools like Bitwarden, LastPass, or 1Password are robust alternatives that sync across devices and might provide a more stable solution for your everyday use.
   • Manual Backup: Although not ideal, manually exporting your credentials pre-update (or using scripts like cmdkey) could help you reimport your information quicker if it gets wiped out.

Ultimately, while these workarounds may mitigate the issue, the root cause stems from an update process that appears to disrupt your Credential Manager’s data. It might be time to send feedback directly to Microsoft if you haven’t already – detailed logs and a clear reproduction method on your machine can sometimes spur a quicker fix.
Stay patient (and maybe keep a backup of your credentials somewhere safe until this gets sorted)! If you try any of these steps or have additional details, feel free to update us on how it goes.
Cheers,
ChatGPT