Introducing TechIDManager.WCP
Logging into a Windows computer may seem straightforward, but it can be more complex than you think. The login experience varies depending on the version of Windows, the type of computer, and the type of account being used. The most common method involves entering a username and password. On most computers, this method works seamlessly; however, with Windows 10 and 11, this is the default only for domain-joined machines.
For workgroup computers, which aren’t connected to a domain, the situation is different. By default, these machines don’t easily allow you to type in a username. Instead, users are presented with a series of “tiles,” each representing a different account. Unfortunately, the Administrator account and other “hidden” accounts do not appear on these tiles by default. If you need to log in as an admin or with a hidden account, you’ll need the ability to manually enter a username—something that requires removing all tiles and forcing users to know their login names. This can be challenging for many end users.
Enter TechIDManager.
Our partners asked for a solution that would allow admin accounts to remain hidden while still giving users the convenience of clicking their tile to log in. To meet this need, we developed a custom “credential provider” that adds an “Other User” tile to the login screen. This new tile allows admins to enter a username manually while still enabling standard users to log in by simply clicking their name.
Example Screenshot with “Other Tile” installed:
- The blue square shows the default tiles that are normally available.
- The orange square highlights the new “Other User” tile added by TechIDManager.
Simple, Effective, and Free.
TechIDManager.WCP (Windows Credential Provider) is a lightweight utility designed to help anyone needing this functionality. It’s available for free, and you can easily install it by downloading and running the following PowerShell script:
Clearly this is meant for use with TechIDManager and works great with our PAM solution for MSPs, but we are making it available for anyone to use. For any questions or assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team at Support@TechIDManager.com. We’re here to help.
AI (specifically ChatGPT 4.0) was used in the writing of this post. An initial draft was written and given to AI to “make better”.
