I'm trying to share files from my Windows 11 laptop to my Windows 11 PC over the local network. The shared folders appear to be available, but Windows keeps requesting network credentials even though password-protected sharing is disabled. Entering the laptop's name and my usual password is rejected. I also tried my Microsoft account password, since my Windows Hello PIN isn't accepted as a network password, but that failed too. What username and password format should I use, and are there other sharing settings I need to check?
3 Answers
Check the basics on both computers: network discovery and file-and-printer sharing should be enabled, the connection should be set to Private, and the folder’s Sharing and Security tabs must grant access to the account you’re using. If guest access is being attempted, Windows 11 may block it by default, so authenticated access with a real password is the more reliable approach.
On the laptop, open Credential Manager and remove any saved Windows credentials for the PC or shared folder, then reconnect and enter the credentials again. You can also test by creating a dedicated local user on the laptop with a password, granting that user access to the shared folder, and connecting as `LAPTOPNAMEnewusername`. This avoids confusion caused by Microsoft account aliases and PIN-based sign-in.
Password-protected sharing being turned off does not always make SMB access completely unauthenticated, especially on newer Windows 11 installations. Try signing in with the account that exists on the laptop using this format: `LAPTOPNAMEusername`, where `LAPTOPNAME` is the laptop’s computer name and `username` is the Windows account name. Use the account’s actual password—not the Windows Hello PIN. If the laptop uses a Microsoft account, the username may be the Microsoft account email address or the shortened account name shown under Settings > Accounts > Your info. Also make sure that account has both Share and NTFS permissions for the folder.
I had been trying the laptop name with my regular login, but I didn’t realize the Microsoft account and Windows username might be different. I’ll check the account name shown in Settings and use the full `computerusername` format.