Get Credential - PowerShell

Overview

The Get-Credential cmdlet prompts the user for credentials, such as a user name and password, and returns them as a PSCredential object. These credentials can be used to authenticate with remote computers or resources.

Syntax

Get-Credential [-Credential Request] [-Message <string>] [-TargetName <string>] [-TargetType <string>] [-UserName <string>] [-AutoLogon <boolean>] [-Pin <boolean>] [-PinMessage <string>]

Options/Flags

  • -Credential Request: Customizes the credential prompt message.
  • -Message: Specifies the message to display in the credential prompt.
  • -TargetName: Specifies the remote computer or resource name to display in the credential prompt.
  • -TargetType: Specifies the type of remote computer or resource to display in the credential prompt.
  • -UserName: Pre-fills the username field in the credential prompt with the specified value.
  • -AutoLogon: Sets the auto logon flag in the PSCredential object.
  • -Pin: Prompts for a Personal Identification Number (PIN) instead of a password.
  • -PinMessage: Customizes the PIN prompt message.

Examples

Example 1: Get credentials for a remote computer

$credential = Get-Credential -TargetName "MyRemoteComputer"

Example 2: Get credentials with a custom message

$credential = Get-Credential -Message "Please enter your credentials for the remote server."

Example 3: Get credentials and store them in a variable

$credVar = Get-Credential

Common Issues

  • Incorrect credentials: Ensure the user enters the correct credentials when prompted.
  • Access denied: Verify that the user has sufficient permissions to access the remote computer or resource.

Integration

Get-Credential can be integrated with other PowerShell commands to automate complex tasks.

Example: Use Get-Credential to authenticate with a remote registry

Get-Credential | Invoke-Command -ComputerName "MyRemoteComputer" -ScriptBlock { Get-RegistryValue -Key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies }
  • New-Object: Creates new PowerShell objects, including PSCredential objects.
  • Invoke-Command: Executes commands on remote computers or resources.