How to Reset the Desktop Menu Private Key
Brief Overview
At the very beginning of the boot process, when a user is signed in, the desktop menu generates a unique key for the user that is being used to encrypt the Apps Integrations access tokens and any personal information.
The private key is stored locally and promises that personal information won't be discoverable by others, even in the event of a database leak.
This article explains how to remove the private key, known as "the salt", from Windows and macOS machines.
Private Key in Windows Machines
For Windows, the desktop menu saves the private key in a system application called "Credential Manager". You can access the Credential Manager by following the Microsoft official guide.
Removing Existing Private Keys in Windows
Private keys are being stored per system, per user in different records.
If a user is signed into a the desktop menu system that is associated with company A, the moment he/she signs in into company B, there will be two records in the Credential Manager.
The desktop menu private keys can be removed by following these steps:
- Make sure that the desktop menu is closed and the process isn't running (use Task Manager to validate)
- Open the Credential Manager
- Remove any record that starts with WALKME_NATIVE or walkme-pkk
- Reopen the desktop menu (you'll be required to re-sign in)
Private Key in macOS Machines
For macOSs, the desktop menu saves the private key in a system application called "Keychain Access". You can access Keychain Access by following Apple's official guide.
Removing Existing Private Keys in macOS
Private keys are being stored per system, per user in different records.
If a user is signed into a the desktop menu system that is associated with company A, the moment he/she signs in into company B, there will be two records in the Keychain Access.
The desktop menu private keys can be removed by following these steps:
- Make sure that the desktop menu is closed and the process isn't running (use Activity Monitor to validate)
- Open the Keychain Access
- Remove any record that starts with WALKME_NATIVE or walkme-pkk
- Reopen the desktop menu (you'll be required to re-sign in)