Windows: UJAM App Login Loop (Credential Manager Fix)

A common and frustrating issue can occur for users of the UJAM App on the Windows operating system: the application fails to complete the sign-in process. A user may enter the correct email and password, successfully authenticate through their web browser, and see the confirmation to open the UJAM App, only for the application to remain in a logged-out state. This can create a confusing loop, blocking access to products and preventing creative work, despite all user-provided information being correct.

The root cause of this specific login failure is often not related to the UJAM account, the user's password, or the UJAM App itself. Instead, the problem frequently originates from a lesser-known component of the Windows operating system: the Windows Credential Manager. This built-in digital vault is responsible for securely storing login information for a wide variety of applications and network services.

When this vault becomes overloaded and cluttered with thousands of old, obsolete entries from other software, it can reach an un-documented storage limit. This "full" state prevents the UJAM App from saving its own essential login information, causing the sign-in process to fail silently in the background. This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step solution to this problem.

Symptoms

• UJAM App remains in a "logged out" state after successful browser authentication.
• Browser confirms "Open UJAM App," but the app does not sign in.
• No error message is displayed (silent failure).

Cause

This issue is caused by the Windows Credential Manager reaching its undocumented storage limit.

• The UJAM App attempts to save a login token but fails because the vault is full.
• This is frequently caused by third-party applications (commonly Adobe products) generating thousands of obsolete "Generic Credentials" without cleanup.

Resolution 1: Immediate Fix (Clear UJAM Credential)

Perform this step first to force a fresh login token.

1. Close UJAM App:

• Right-click the UJAM icon in the System Tray (bottom-right near clock).
• Select Quit.

2. Open Credential Manager:

• Press Windows Key.
• Type Credential Manager and hit Enter.

3. Locate Credential:

• Select Windows Credentials.
• Scroll to Generic Credentials.
• Find the entry labeled UJAM/default.

4. Remove Entry:

• Expand the entry (arrow icon).
• Click Remove.
• Confirm Yes on the prompt.

5. Retest:

• Relaunch UJAM App.
• Click Sign In and complete the browser authentication.

Resolution 2: Root Cause Fix (Clear Vault Space)

Perform this if Resolution 1 fails. This clears space for the new token to be written.

1. Open Credential Manager > Windows Credentials > Generic Credentials.
2. Identify Clutter:

• Look for repetitive entries (e.g., hundreds of entries starting with Adobe/).
• Look for credentials from uninstalled games or software.

3. Delete Obsolete Entries:

• Remove batches of old/duplicate credentials (removing 20–50 is usually sufficient).
• Note: Removing generic credentials forces a re-login for that specific app. It does not delete accounts.

4. Retest UJAM Login.

Advanced Troubleshooting

If the Credential Manager displays an error or will not open.

Restart Credential Manager Service

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
2. Locate Credential Manager service.
3. Right-click > Restart (or Start).
4. Set Startup type to Automatic.

Repair System Files

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator (cmd).
2. Run command: sfc /scannow
3. Reboot PC upon completion.

A Deeper Understanding: Why This Problem Occurs

To build confidence and provide a complete picture, it is helpful to understand the technical mechanisms at play. The login failure is not a bug in the UJAM App but rather a symptom of a system-level constraint within Windows. This section explains what the Credential Manager is, how modern applications like UJAM use it, and how a full vault leads to the "silent failure" that users experience.

What is the Windows Credential Manager?

The Windows Credential Manager can be thought of as a secure digital keychain or password vault built directly into the operating system. Its primary purpose is to securely store sensitive login information—such as usernames, passwords, and application-specific tokens—so that users and services do not have to re-enter them every time they access a resource.

The security of this vault is robust. It is protected by a core Windows technology called the Data Protection API (DPAPI). This system encrypts the stored credentials using a master key that is uniquely tied to the user's Windows account password. This means that even if someone gained physical access to the computer's hard drive, they could not decrypt the stored credentials without knowing the user's login password. This integration provides a seamless and secure experience, as the vault is automatically "unlocked" when a user logs into their Windows session.

Application Logins, Tokens, and "Generic Credentials"

Modern, security-conscious applications like the UJAM App typically do not store a user's actual password on their local computer. Instead, they use a more secure and flexible system based on authentication tokens. The login process works as follows:

2. The UJAM App initiates the login by sending the user to the official UJAM website via their web browser. This ensures the password is only ever entered on a secure, encrypted web page.
3. After the user successfully authenticates on the website, the UJAM server generates a special, unique, and often temporary digital key called an authentication token.
4. This token is securely passed back from the browser to the UJAM App.
5. The UJAM App then saves this token—not the password—in the Windows Credential Manager for future use. When the app is launched again, it presents this token to the UJAM servers to prove its identity without requiring another password entry.

This token is stored in the vault as a Generic Credential. This is a specific credential type designed for applications to manage their own custom authentication data, keeping it separate from standard Windows domain logins or web browser passwords. Microsoft provides a recommended naming convention for these entries, suggesting a format like CompanyName_ServiceName to ensure they are easily identifiable. This is why the UJAM credential is named UJAM/default, clearly associating it with the application.

The Silent Failure: How a "Full" Vault Blocks Your Login

The final piece of the puzzle is understanding the storage limitations of the Credential Manager. While Microsoft's official documentation does not specify a hard numerical limit for the total number of credentials that can be stored via the standard application programming interface (API), a functional limit does exist. When the vault becomes excessively cluttered with thousands of entries, the operating system will begin to fail any new attempts to write credentials to it.

This leads to the "silent failure" experienced by users:

2. The user initiates the UJAM App login, and the browser portion completes successfully.
3. The UJAM App receives the new authentication token from the server.
4. The app then attempts to perform its final step: saving this token as the UJAM/default generic credential in the Credential Manager.
5. Because the vault is full, the Windows operating system rejects this save operation.
6. This is a low-level system error. Most applications, including the UJAM App, are not designed to specifically check for and report a "Credential Manager is full" error, as it is an uncommon edge case caused by other misbehaving software.
7. As a result, the save operation fails silently. From the user's perspective, everything seemed to work, but because the token was never saved, the app remains in a logged-out state. This explains the confusing and frustrating login loop.

Quick Diagnostic Guide for Credential-Related Issues

To help users quickly identify their issue, the following table maps common symptoms to their likely technical causes and directs them to the appropriate solution within this guide.

Related Articles & Resources

• Sign in | UJAM App
• FAQ | UJAM App
• Microsoft Support: Credential Manager
• How To Access Windows Credential Manager In Windows 11
• Using Credential Manager on Windows: Ultimate Guide
• A Complete Guide to Windows Credential Manager
• Manage Passwords/Credentials Saved on Your Windows Machine
• Does the credential manager have a limit for the number of credentials stored?
• How to Fix Credential Manager Not Working on Windows 10/11
• Stored credential in Credential Manager causes authentication errors