SMB File sharing Credentials needed

Hi Jason Gough,

To resolve it you must either allow a secure authenticated connection to the share or explicitly enable guest access on the client.

To require authentication and use matching local accounts or a service account, please try:

1. Create a local account on the shared PC
   • On the file server open Settings > Accounts > Family & other users > Add account > Add a user without a Microsoft account.
   • Create a username and a strong password.
2. Give that account share and NTFS access
   • Right‑click the shared folder > Properties > Sharing > Advanced Sharing > Permissions > add the new local user and grant the required rights.
   • Properties > Security > Edit > Add the new user and set NTFS permissions.
3. Create the same local account on each connecting PC
   • On each client create a local user with the identical username and password (Control Panel > User Accounts or net user command).
   • Sign in once or store credentials in Credential Manager if you do not want users to switch sign‑in.
4. Ensure Password Protected Sharing and Network Profile
   • Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Advanced sharing settings > Private > Turn on network discovery and file and printer sharing.
   • All machines must be on the Private network profile.
   • Enable Password Protected Sharing if you use authenticated accounts.
5. Reconnect once accounts are in place
   • Use \SERVERNAME\ShareName or map a network drive; Windows will authenticate with the matching local account and stop prompting or rejecting access.

If the problem persists, try:

• On the client run: net use \SERVERNAME\ShareName and capture the exact error text.
• Check Event Viewer on the client: Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > SMBClient for entries about blocked guest access.
• On the server check Security and System event logs for authentication attempts.
• Confirm the server share permissions and NTFS permissions match and that the Guest account is not disabled if you intentionally require guest access.

Hope it helps! If it does, please accept the answer so that the community could benefit from. Thank you :)

Vivian

It seems to me that your case is more complicated than I thought, and it shows that all trials have failed. In this situation, I think the last resort should be this: access the official Microsoft Support for Business contact portal at this URL: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/contactus/

This is the central hub for all business product support. Once on the page, you will be guided through a few steps to get the specific contact details for your issue:

Describe your problem: You can enter keywords like "SMB File sharing Credentials needed."

Select a product: Choose the relevant product, such as "Windows" or "Microsoft 365."

OR get support options: The website will then present you with the most up-to-date contact methods for your region, which often includes a direct phone number for commercial support.

This kind of support will provide you with a live chat that I guess might be more convenient for you to tackle the problem. I'm really sorry for not making any progress in your case, but if you find this support channel helpful, you can leave it as an accepted answer so that it could be spred to those in need. Thank you, and good luck with your case :)

Vivian

Thanks for the reply but that does not work, the error that I get is:-

You cant access this shared folder because your organisations security policies block unauthorised guest access?.

Hi Jason,

Please check the following on the main (shared folder) Windows 11 PC:

Turn Off Password Protected Sharing

Go to Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Advanced sharing settings.

Expand All Networks, then select Turn off password protected sharing, and click Save changes.

Enable Network Discovery and File & Printer Sharing

Under Private network settings, make sure both are turned on.

Verify that all PCs are using the Private (not Public) network profile.

Matching Credentials (Optional but Recommended)

On the connecting Windows 11 PC, ensure that a local user account with the same username and (if possible) blank password exists on both machines.

Alternatively, create identical local accounts with passwords on both systems — Windows will then connect seamlessly using those credentials.

Adjust LAN Manager Authentication Level

Open Local Security Policy → Local Policies → Security Options.

Find Network security: LAN Manager authentication level, and set it to: → Send LM & NTLM – use NTLMv2 session security if negotiated.

Restart afterward.

Check SMB Protocol Compatibility

Ensure that SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support is not required, as it’s deprecated in Windows 11.

Instead, verify that SMB Direct and SMB File Sharing Support are enabled via Windows Features.

Credential Manager Cleanup (Client Side)

On the connecting machine, open Control Panel → Credential Manager → Windows Credentials.

Remove any saved credentials related to the server name or IP, then try reconnecting.

After applying these settings, reconnect to the share using \computername\sharename. It should connect without prompting for credentials.

I hope this helps you get your workgroup shares running smoothly again! 😊 If this resolves the issue or points you in the right direction, please click “Accept Answer” — it lets us know the solution worked and helps others facing similar problems.

Best regards, VP