How to fix password protection sharing that wont turn off even though it is turned off

Question

How to fix password protection sharing that wont turn off even though it is turned off

Denovan Randall 25

After 12 sep 2025 security update my one computer cannot connect to the main computer via file share ing. A pop up message with credentials that must be entered keeps poping up . No login details have been set up. The file sharing has access to every one that can connect onto my net work

i have tried everything , nothing seams to work

JIM WAHL 5 Reputation points

2025-12-17T22:09:32.1366667+00:00

I'm with You, none of these ideas work for me either.

Windows world is so screwed up.

I don't really consider either of my computers a client or server.

I have compter A - win 7, compter B -Win 10-(home version). connected together

on eithernet via LinkSys router. I want to be able to copy files from compter A to computer B.

Or compter B to compter A.

None of these comments/ideas state what version of windows they are working with?

Microsoft has so many verison out these days. and none of them are froward or backwards compatable.

several of these suggestions, I don't even have some of the items on my Win 7 of Win 10[home]

example: gpedit.msc not found on of Win 7 or win 10[home]

helpful if people would check their typing. one little wrong letter means

a lot.

Answer accepted by question author

Henry Mai 8,225 Independent Advisor

Hello Denovan, I am Henry and I want to help you with this issue.

The issue is that Windows now blocks insecure guest logons by default, even if you disable password protection.

Workaround: Allow Insecure Guest Authentication. You can refer this configuration link

Note: This reduces security and should only be used on a trusted private network.

Press Windows Key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters
Right-click the right pane → New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Name it: AllowInsecureGuestAuth
Double-click and set Value data = 1.
Click OK, close Registry Editor, and restart the computer.

Now other PCs on your network should connect to the shared folders without requiring credentials.

Instead of re-enabling guest access, you can:

Create a local user account on the main PC (e.g., shareuser).
Give that account permission to the shared folders.
Use those credentials when connecting from other PCs.

I hope you’ll give my recommendation a try and let me know how it goes.

Denovan Randall 25 Reputation points

2025-09-16T10:53:19.63+00:00

Thankyou

Yes i tried those recommendations

what is currently happening is that i have 4 computers

the one that updated on the 13 sep 2025 is the new computer that i got

after the update it does not want to connect to the main computer

but what currently is happening is that it connects to the other 2 computers but when ever i try to access the main computer via file sharing it asks fro credentials

on the main computer there is no credentials set up

because the other two are running from the main computer and one this one is still disconnected from the main computer but is some how still linked to the other 2 without any passwords

im stuck and really need assistance

thanks in advance
Henry Mai 8,225 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-09-16T13:02:55.9166667+00:00
Hello Denovan, Thanks for detailed follow-up.

Since you've already tried the AllowInsecureGuestAuth registry fix (which is a client-side setting), and it didn't work, it means the main computer itself is now actively refusing the connection.

Let's try the server-side fix. Please perform these steps on the main computer that is sharing the files. Sometimes Windows switches a network from Private to Public after updates, which restricts sharing.

On both the main and new computer, go to Settings → Network & Internet.

Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).

Ensure the profile is set to Private (not Public).

Solution 1: Enable Guest Logons on the Main Computer (Server-Side Policy)

A security update may have hardened the main computer's policy, causing it to reject guest logons regardless of what the client computer allows.

On the main computer, press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.

Navigate to: Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Network → Lanman Server

In the right pane, double-click Enable insecure guest logons.

Set it to Enabled, then click OK.

To apply changes: run gpupdate /force in an elevated Command Prompt, or simply restart.

After this, try connecting again from the updated computer.

Solution 2: Clear Cached Credentials on the New Computer

If guest logons are enabled but you still get prompted, cached credentials may be interfering.

On the new computer, open Control Panel → Credential Manager.

Select Windows Credentials.

Look for any saved entries related to the main computer (by name or IP).

Remove them.

Try reconnecting to the share — this forces Windows to start fresh.
Denovan Randall 25 Reputation points

2025-09-16T13:50:49.4033333+00:00

I tried everything according to what you guided me there still asks for login details when connecting new pc to the main pc

still say login credentials

i do not know what to do further
John Hanson 0 Reputation points

2025-11-29T21:21:12.3766667+00:00

I just got this working. I created new users on my Windows 11 and 10 boxes with the same name and password. On my source box, I had to give file permissions to the user as well as share permissions. Permissions are not clearly stated in all the threads I've read. I think everyone assumes we remember these things. Anyway, 250+ GB of photos is finally copying.

1 additional answer

Your answer

JIM WAHL 5 Reputation points

2025-12-17T22:09:32.1366667+00:00

I'm with You, none of these ideas work for me either.

Windows world is so screwed up.

I don't really consider either of my computers a client or server.

I have compter A - win 7, compter B -Win 10-(home version). connected together

on eithernet via LinkSys router. I want to be able to copy files from compter A to computer B.

Or compter B to compter A.

None of these comments/ideas state what version of windows they are working with?

Microsoft has so many verison out these days. and none of them are froward or backwards compatable.

several of these suggestions, I don't even have some of the items on my Win 7 of Win 10[home]

example: gpedit.msc not found on of Win 7 or win 10[home]

helpful if people would check their typing. one little wrong letter means

a lot.
Denovan Randall 25 Reputation points

2025-09-16T10:53:19.63+00:00

Thankyou

Yes i tried those recommendations

what is currently happening is that i have 4 computers

the one that updated on the 13 sep 2025 is the new computer that i got

after the update it does not want to connect to the main computer

but what currently is happening is that it connects to the other 2 computers but when ever i try to access the main computer via file sharing it asks fro credentials

on the main computer there is no credentials set up

because the other two are running from the main computer and one this one is still disconnected from the main computer but is some how still linked to the other 2 without any passwords

im stuck and really need assistance

thanks in advance
Henry Mai 8,225 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-09-16T13:02:55.9166667+00:00

Hello Denovan, Thanks for detailed follow-up.

Since you've already tried the AllowInsecureGuestAuth registry fix (which is a client-side setting), and it didn't work, it means the main computer itself is now actively refusing the connection.

Let's try the server-side fix. Please perform these steps on the main computer that is sharing the files. Sometimes Windows switches a network from Private to Public after updates, which restricts sharing.

On both the main and new computer, go to Settings → Network & Internet.

Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).

Ensure the profile is set to Private (not Public).

Solution 1: Enable Guest Logons on the Main Computer (Server-Side Policy)

A security update may have hardened the main computer's policy, causing it to reject guest logons regardless of what the client computer allows.

On the main computer, press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.

Navigate to: Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Network → Lanman Server

In the right pane, double-click Enable insecure guest logons.

Set it to Enabled, then click OK.

To apply changes: run gpupdate /force in an elevated Command Prompt, or simply restart.

After this, try connecting again from the updated computer.

Solution 2: Clear Cached Credentials on the New Computer

If guest logons are enabled but you still get prompted, cached credentials may be interfering.

On the new computer, open Control Panel → Credential Manager.

Select Windows Credentials.

Look for any saved entries related to the main computer (by name or IP).

Remove them.

Try reconnecting to the share — this forces Windows to start fresh.
Denovan Randall 25 Reputation points

2025-09-16T13:50:49.4033333+00:00

I tried everything according to what you guided me there still asks for login details when connecting new pc to the main pc

still say login credentials

i do not know what to do further
John Hanson 0 Reputation points

2025-11-29T21:21:12.3766667+00:00

I just got this working. I created new users on my Windows 11 and 10 boxes with the same name and password. On my source box, I had to give file permissions to the user as well as share permissions. Permissions are not clearly stated in all the threads I've read. I think everyone assumes we remember these things. Anyway, 250+ GB of photos is finally copying.

Answer 1

Brandon Heer 0

Unfortunately no solution, but I too am having the same issue - so you're not alone. I've tried all solutions suggested above and no luck.

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