Can't access share folders in windows 11 in home network

Question

Can't access share folders in windows 11 in home network

Timothy D Lindsey 25

I bought a new desktop computer with Windows 11 Home installed. This new "server" PC stores data for our home network across multiple hard drives.
I'm trying to share out folders on these secondary drives but I'm unable to access them from the other computers (also Windows 11 Home). They don't show up when I enter \servername in File Explorer on the client computers.
All computers are on the same network, and I'm logged into them using the same Hotmail email.

I've followed all the steps identified in YouTube videos and an AI search using Microsoft Edge browser with no success.
Can anyone help me?

Rogue Fitzinger 5 Reputation points

2025-11-04T18:28:58.0966667+00:00

Maybe because with the new 25H2 update says, "Shared network folders cannot be accessed via IP address or hostname."
JulieGNH 10 Reputation points

2025-11-13T19:45:12.16+00:00

My new home Windows 11 Pro Desktop (wired) connection could not see nor allow me to create a shortcut to my Network(hard wired) Buffalo Cloudstor drive. I tried all the help out there and what actually worked was Ivan B's advice to: If it fails, type "Enable or disable Windows features" in the search bar > Search for SMB 1.0 in the list and select "OK." Restart the PC and test. Thank you so much for this help and WTF Microsoft??????

Answer accepted by question author

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Rogue Fitzinger 5 Reputation points

2025-11-04T18:28:58.0966667+00:00

Maybe because with the new 25H2 update says, "Shared network folders cannot be accessed via IP address or hostname."
JulieGNH 10 Reputation points

2025-11-13T19:45:12.16+00:00

My new home Windows 11 Pro Desktop (wired) connection could not see nor allow me to create a shortcut to my Network(hard wired) Buffalo Cloudstor drive. I tried all the help out there and what actually worked was Ivan B's advice to: If it fails, type "Enable or disable Windows features" in the search bar > Search for SMB 1.0 in the list and select "OK." Restart the PC and test. Thank you so much for this help and WTF Microsoft??????

Answer 1

Ivan B 109K Independent Advisor

Hi ,

On PC-Office, run the command Windows Powershll(admin):

Set-SmbClientConfiguration -RequireSecuritySignature $false

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters" RequireSecureNegotiate -Value 0 -Force

In EventViewer, I wanted to confirm if the error was occurring on the PC this is sharing. If there is an error denying the connection from the PC-Office to the SMBServer, such as Error 1388, or a code like this.

However, as you already saw the SMBclient error, follow the command above.

Restart the computer and Try

Credits: https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows11/comments/1fglu70/resolving_network_error_1208/

Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

Thanks

Timothy D Lindsey 25 Reputation points

2025-10-05T22:52:41.83+00:00

OMG! The commands you gave fixed the issue!!!
On my OFFICE PC client I right clicked the start button, selected Terminal (Admin), cut and pasted the following as you suggested:

Set-SmbClientConfiguration -RequireSecuritySignature $false

This then gives a response:
Are you sure you want to perform this action?
Performing operation "Modify' on Target 'SMB Client Configuration'.
[Y] Yes [A] Yes to All [N] No to All [S] Suspend [?] Help (default is "Y"): Y

Next, I pasted the following as one long line:

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters" RequireSecureNegotiate -Value 0 -Force

Nothing was returned but when I closed everything then rebooted, it all worked!

I even logged out and tried on my wife's login and it still worked.

Thank you so very much for your assistant. I'm not sure exactly what those commands did but they gave the desired results.
Timothy D Lindsey 25 Reputation points

2025-10-07T17:44:04.42+00:00

Ivan,

One last question, what do you think the issue was? I don't think it was the parameter addition as I don't have that on my Windows 11 Pro laptop.
It must have been the command "Set-SmbClientConfiguration -RequireSecuritySignature $false". What exactly does this do? Shouldn't this be part of the general guidelines for viewing shared folders over a Windows 11 home network?
Again, thank you so much for your assistance on this issue.

Answer 2

Hi ,

Do the following: Create a local account on both computers with administrator access to folders and try accessing them via IP in Windows Explorer.

If possible, disable IPv6 on the network adapters of the computer being shared and on the office PC.

Start Menu > Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced Network Settings.

Advanced Network Settings > Select the network adapter at the top of the page. > Click the Edit button in the configuration.

More Adapter Options

More Network Adapter Options

Uncheck the "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)" option.

Thanks

Answer 3

Timothy D Lindsey 25

A minor update.

Laptop 1 - Windows 11 Pro (wireless) - Works

Laptop 2 - Windows 10 Home (wireless) - Works

Office PC - Windows 11 Home (wired) - Doesn't work

Server PC - Windows 11 Home (wired) - Has source folders for sharing

Why can't my Office Desktop PC see my shared folders on the server?

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Answer 4

This solved the issue for viewing my server folders from our laptops. But for some reason, it's not working on our office desktop (Win 11 Home) that is hard wired on the same network. I've triple checked the settings you suggested but for some reason it's a no go.

I also wanted to mention what I did on the server side first to share out the folders:

Right click on the server folder you want to share
In the sharing tab, click Advanced Sharing
Click "Share this Folder" and assign a name. I usually just keep the folder name
Click Apply.
Right click on the server folder again.
Click Advanced button
If the group Everyone isn't listed then add it.
Highlight the Everyone group.
Click Edit
Check all the permission boxes
Click Ok

Any idea why I can't see my server folders on a desktop PC that is wired directly into the network with Cat5e cable? I just get a "Windows cannot access \servername" Then "\servername\serverfolder is not accessable. You might not have permission to use this network resource. " Again, I am logged into this desktop computer using the same Hotmail email I use for the laptops as Administrator.

Answer 5

Hi ,On both computers, you can enable these options.

If you're using the same Microsoft account to try to access the folder, you'll need to add security to the folder you're sharing.

Go to the start menu > settings > network and internet > ethernet or wifi network > select Private mode.

Then go back to the previous menu and select advanced network settings > advanced sharing settings.

Mark Network discovery File and printer sharing.

In the Tab all networks Check Share public folders.

Uncheck Password protected sharing.

All that has already been done.

Are you using the same Microsoft account on your desktop and laptop.

Test

Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters.

If the AllowInsecureGuestAuth entry does not exist, right-click and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it AllowInsecureGuestAuth.

Set the value of AllowInsecureGuestAuth to 1.

Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

If it fails, type "Enable or disable Windows features" in the search bar > Search for SMB 1.0 in the list and select "OK." Restart the PC and test.

Credits.: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/2189515/windows-11-24h2-and-insecure-guest-logins-settings

Give feedback if the information was useful or not.

Thanks

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Can't access share folders in windows 11 in home network

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