Data Import & Export

How to Clear a Cached IBM i Password from Excel

WPS Content Manager Oct 9, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to clear or update an expired cached IBM i password that Excel continues to use for connections.

How to Clear a Cached IBM i Password from Excel

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to reconnect to an IBM i system via the IBMDASQL OLE DB provider after a password change.
Observed behavior: Excel continues using an expired cached password even when the save password option is unchecked, which leads to connection failures and eventually disables the user's IBM i profile due to too many failed attempts.

Before you start

Ensure you have your new, valid IBM i username and password ready before modifying the data connection settings in Excel.

Solution 1Recommended

Update Credentials in Excel Data Source Settings

This is the most effective way to safely update or clear the cached password directly within Excel's data settings.

Excel's modern data import features generally manage database credentials internally rather than using the Windows Credential Manager. You can edit these global permissions directly.

Navigate to Data Source Settings

Open Excel, go to the Data tab on the ribbon, click on Get Data, and then select Data Source Settings from the dropdown menu.

Locate the IBM i Connection

At the top of the dialog box, click on Global permissions to view all saved data sources across your application. Find and click on the relevant IBMDASQL data source.

Edit the Permissions

With the data source selected, click the Edit Permissions button. In the window that appears, click the Edit button located under the Credentials section.

Enter New Credentials

Input your current IBM i user name and your newly updated password, then click Save to apply the changes.

Update Credentials in Excel Data Source Settings

Alternative Deletion Method: If editing the credentials does not resolve the issue, you can select the data source and click 'Clear Permissions' to delete the entry entirely. Excel will prompt you to enter fresh credentials the next time you refresh the connection.

Solution 2

Clear Credentials in the Current Workbook

Ensure that individual workbooks are not retaining separate, isolated connection credentials.

Solution 3

Check Windows Credential Manager

Remove saved passwords stored at the Windows system level if older OLE DB connections are bypassing Excel's internal settings.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my IBM i profile get disabled by Excel?

If your password has recently changed but Excel continues attempting to refresh background data using the old cached password, the IBM i system records multiple failed login attempts. This triggers a security mechanism that locks or disables your profile to prevent unauthorized access.

Does unchecking 'Allow saving password' prevent Excel from caching it?

Not always. In certain cases, Power Query or specific OLE DB providers (like IBMDASQL) may still cache credentials in the Global Permissions of Excel's Data Source Settings. You must manually clear them from the Get Data menu to ensure the password is no longer stored.

Are Excel data source passwords stored in Windows Credential Manager?

Modern Excel connections created via Get Data (Power Query) store credentials internally in Excel's Data Source Settings. However, older legacy connections or specific ODBC drivers might still utilize the Windows Credential Manager to store passwords system-wide.

How do I force Excel to prompt for a password every time I connect?

You can ensure Excel prompts for a password by deleting the specific database connection from both 'Global permissions' and 'Data sources in current workbook' in the Data Source Settings menu. Upon reconnecting, ensure that any 'Save Password' or 'Remember my credentials' checkboxes are left unchecked.

Excel & Data Problems