Windows 10 saves passwords in several places. Network shares, Remote Desktop connections, and some apps store theirs in Credential Manager. Web browsers keep their own password lists. Wi-Fi passwords live in your network settings. To fully remove a saved password, you need to delete it from the place it was stored. This guide covers each one, starting with Credential Manager.
Note: Windows 10 reached end of support in October 2025. These steps still work, and they’re nearly identical in Windows 11.
Quick answer
Search for Credential Manager in the Start menu and open it. Click Windows Credentials, expand the entry you want to remove, and click Remove, then Yes. For website passwords, delete them from your browser’s password settings instead.
How to delete saved passwords in Credential Manager
Step 1: Open Credential Manager
Click Start or the search box, type Credential Manager, and open it. You can also go to Control Panel > User Accounts > Credential Manager.
Step 2: Choose the type of credential
You’ll see two tabs at the top:
- Web Credentials: Passwords saved by Internet Explorer and the old version of Microsoft Edge. Modern browsers usually don’t store passwords here.
- Windows Credentials: Passwords for network drives, shared folders, Remote Desktop, Outlook and Microsoft 365 sign-ins, Git, and other apps.
Step 3: Expand the entry
Find the saved login you want to delete and click the down arrow next to it. The entry opens to show the user name and when it was last changed.
Step 4: Remove it
Click Remove and confirm with Yes. The next time that app or network location needs a password, Windows asks you to sign in again.
Be careful with entries starting with MicrosoftAccount, MicrosoftOffice, or virtualapp/didlogical. Deleting them is safe, but it signs you out of those services and you’ll need to sign in again.
Delete saved credentials from Command Prompt
If you have many entries, the command line is faster:
- Open Command Prompt (no admin rights needed for your own credentials).
- Type
cmdkey /listand press Enter to see every saved credential. - Delete one with
cmdkey /delete:TargetName, replacing TargetName with the name after “Target:” in the list. If the name contains spaces, put it in quotes.
Delete saved passwords in your browser
Website passwords are almost always stored by the browser, not Windows.
Microsoft Edge
Open Edge, click the three dots, and choose Settings. Go to Passwords (in some versions it’s under Profiles > Passwords). Find the site, click the three dots or the trash can next to it, and choose Delete. If you’re signed in with sync turned on, the password is removed from your other devices too.
Google Chrome
Type chrome://password-manager into the address bar, select the site, and click Delete. Our guide on removing saved passwords from Chrome has the full steps, including how to clear every password at once.
Mozilla Firefox
Type about:logins into the address bar, select the site on the left, and click Remove.
Delete saved Wi-Fi passwords
Open Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks. Click the network and select Forget. Windows deletes the saved password, and you’ll need to enter it again to reconnect.
From Command Prompt, run netsh wlan show profiles to list saved networks, then netsh wlan delete profile name="NetworkName" to remove one.
Why delete saved passwords?
- You’re giving away or selling the PC. A full reset is better in that case, but clearing passwords is a good first step.
- Someone else uses your computer. Saved passwords can let other people into your accounts.
- A password changed. An old saved password can cause repeated sign-in failures or account lockouts, especially for network drives and Outlook.
- Troubleshooting. Removing a stale credential is a common fix when an app keeps asking for a password.
Tips
- Before deleting, make sure you know the password or can reset it.
- Consider a dedicated password manager if you want saved passwords that are encrypted and synced across devices.
- If you want to check what’s saved before deleting, see our guide on how to find saved passwords in Windows 10.
- Credential Manager asks for your Windows password or PIN if you try to show a saved password, but not to remove one.
Frequently asked questions
Does deleting a credential delete my account?
No. It only removes the saved copy on this PC. Your account and its password stay the same.
Why don’t I see my website passwords in Credential Manager?
Modern browsers like Edge, Chrome, and Firefox store them in their own password managers. Delete them there.
Can I delete all saved passwords at once?
Credential Manager removes one entry at a time. Browsers can clear all passwords through their clear browsing data option by checking Passwords.
Summary
- Open Credential Manager and remove app and network passwords.
- Use cmdkey for bulk removal.
- Delete website passwords in your browser.
- Forget Wi-Fi networks in Settings.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.