Internet Explorer can be so frustrating sometimes! I like to save the username and password that I enter when I visit a site that's protected with HTTP(S)-Authentication. And in fact, IE shows me a popup to do so!
But when you close the browser instance and open a new one, you will notice that nothing is saved. And you can enter logon credentials again.
This happens with non-intranet URL's. Like for example your web mail or SharePoint address.
So how to make this work?
This guide is made for IE7 on Windows Vista. But it also works with IE6.
First, make sure that AutoComplete is enabled for user names and passwords. To do this:
- In Internet Explorer, click Tools > Internet Options;
- Switch to the Content tab;
- From the AutoComplete group, Click Settings;
- Enable AutoComplete for User names and passwords on forms;
- Click OK
It's also good to clear all the temporary Internet files. Sometimes something stays behind that doesn't make the solution work.
- Switch back to the General tab;
- From the Browsing History group, Click Delete;
- Click Delete All
- Click OK to close the Internet Options dialog.
Add the web site to the Trusted sites Security Zone
We have to make a security setting change. But because we don't want this change to be applicable to all the sites you visit, we change it only for the 'Trusted sites' zone. So add here the site for which you'd to remember the password to the 'Trusted sites' zone. If you add it to the 'Local Intranet' zone, Internet Explorer sends your Windows credentials to that site (which might be unwanted).
- In Internet Explorer, click Tools > Internet Options;
- Switch to the Security tab;
- Click on the pictogram 'Trusted sites' to select it;
- Click Sites;
- A popup shows up. Type the address of the web site, click Add;
- Click Close;
- Don't close the Internet Options dialog;
The reason why IE doesn't send the password is that it only sends passwords to Intranet sites (with URLs like http://sbserver). I'm sure this is for some kind of security reason. But because you added your URL to the Trusted sites zone, you can enable this setting for this zone.
- In the Internet Options Dialog, Security tab page, click Custom Level;
- Scroll down all the way until you see User Authentication\Logon;
- Select Automatic logon with current user name and password;
- Click OK;
- It might ask you if you're sure or not;
- Click OK to close the Internet Options dialog.
Now go to that web site of yours, provide your logon credentials and make sure you select 'Remember my password'. Hope it works for you too!
Hope this helps,