How to Clear Cached Network Share Credentials in Windows 7 Without Reboot (Troubleshooting Guide)


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When working with network shares on Windows 7, you might encounter a frustrating scenario where changed credentials keep getting rejected. This typically happens when:

  • You previously accessed a share using domain credentials
  • Didn't check "Remember my credentials"
  • Later changed the domain password
  • Now getting "Logon failure: unknown user name or bad password"

Unlike saved credentials in Credential Manager, these temporary cached credentials reside in a different location:

Security Account Manager (SAM) cache
LSA (Local Security Authority) subsystem
Kerberos ticket cache

Here's the most effective sequence I've found through extensive testing:

1. Clear Existing Connections

net use * /delete /y

2. Purge Credential Cache from Command Line

cmdkey /delete:10.10.10.10
klist purge

3. Reset Server Session from Client

net session \\10.10.10.10 /delete

4. Force Credential Refresh with PowerShell

$cred = Get-Credential
New-PSDrive -Name "TempShare" -PSProvider FileSystem -Root "\\10.10.10.10\folder" -Credential $cred -Persist
Remove-PSDrive -Name "TempShare"

5. Manual Registry Cleanup (Advanced)

If all else fails, check these registry locations:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Network
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MountPoints2

When IP-based access fails, try these workarounds:

  • Use FQDN instead of IP: \\server.domain.com\share
  • Access through WebDAV: net use * http://server.domain.com/share
  • Create new local user matching domain credentials temporarily

To avoid this situation:

# Always disconnect properly
net use \\server\share /delete

# Use dedicated credential objects
$cred = New-Object System.Management.Automation.PSCredential ("DOMAIN\user", (ConvertTo-SecureString "password" -AsPlainText -Force))
New-PSDrive -Name "X" -PSProvider FileSystem -Root "\\server\share" -Credential $cred

These can help diagnose credential issues:

# List current sessions
net session

# View cached tickets
klist tickets

# Check authentication attempts
Event Viewer -> Windows Logs -> Security

Windows 7 maintains an internal credential cache for network resources even when you don't explicitly choose "Remember password". This becomes problematic when:

  • Domain account passwords change
  • You need to switch between different sets of credentials
  • The cached credentials prevent new authentication attempts

1. Using Command Line Tools

The most effective method is through the Windows command prompt with elevated privileges:

:: First, delete any existing connections
net use * /delete /y

:: Then clear specific credential cache
cmdkey /delete:10.10.10.10

2. Registry-Based Solution

For stubborn cases where credentials persist, modify the registry:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa]
"DisableDomainCreds"=dword:00000001

Note: This requires a reboot to take effect.

3. PowerShell Alternative

For modern environments with PowerShell access:

# Clear all credential manager entries
Remove-Item -Path "Microsoft.PowerShell.Security\Certificate::CurrentUser\My" -Recurse

# Alternative method using WMI
Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_NetworkLoginProfile | Where-Object {$_.Name -like "*10.10.10.10*"} | Remove-WmiObject

When the standard methods fail:

  • IP vs Hostname: Clear credentials for both forms (10.10.10.10 and server.domain.com)
  • Service Dependencies: Restart the Workstation service: net stop workstation /y && net start workstation
  • Explorer Cache: Kill and restart explorer.exe process

For enterprise environments, consider these additional steps:

:: Clear Kerberos tickets
klist purge

:: Reset security subsystem
net stop kdc /y
net start kdc

Remember that some operations may require administrative privileges and could affect other network connections.