Windows 11 network credentials

Hi MartinWalker6,

Thank you for posting in the Microsoft Community Forums.

1. Check network discovery and sharing settings

First, make sure that the network discovery and sharing settings are properly configured on all devices.

On Windows 11:

Open Settings > Network and Internet > Advanced Network Settings.

Ensure that Network Discovery and File and Printer Sharing are enabled.

Check the settings under “Private Networks” to make sure they allow network discovery and sharing. 2.

2. Check SMB protocol support

Ensure that the SMB protocol is supported and enabled on all devices (especially SMB 1.0/CIFS, although SMB 3.x is a more modern and secure version).

In the Control Panel:

Go to “Programs” > “Enable or disable Windows features”.

Make sure “SMB 1.0/CIFS file sharing support” is checked and enabled. 3.

3. Disable password-protected sharing (if required)

If you are sure that you do not need password protected sharing, you can try to disable this feature on the shared folder. Please note, however, that this may reduce security.

In File Explorer:

Right-click on the folder you want to share and select Properties.

Go to the “Sharing” tab and click “Advanced Sharing”.

Uncheck the “Require password protection when sharing this folder” option (if available).

4. Update network drivers

Outdated or corrupt network drivers may cause network sharing problems.

In Device Manager:

Expand the Network Adapters section.

Right-click on your network adapter and select “Update Driver”.

Select “Automatically search for newer driver software”. 5.

5. Check firewall and security software settings

Make sure your firewall and security software are not blocking network sharing.

In Windows Defender Firewall:

Open Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall.

Check the “Allowed applications” list to ensure that file sharing related applications (e.g. SMB services) are allowed through the firewall.

In the security software:

Check the settings of the software to ensure that there are no rules that prevent network sharing or file transfer.

6. Synchronize time and date

Ensure that the system time and date are synchronized across all devices, as protocols such as Kerberos are very time sensitive.

Best regards

Neuvi

Tried all these. No change. Thank you.

Does not answer the question. Lots of information, but not directly relevant to issue of recovering lost credentials for a network on which both computers can "see" each other on the network list, but username and/or password is forgotten by user.

Hi MartinWalker6,

 

Thank you for posting in the Microsoft Community Forums.

 

 

1. Check network discovery and sharing settings

First, make sure that the network discovery and sharing settings are properly configured on all devices.

On Windows 11:

Open Settings > Network and Internet > Advanced Network Settings.

Ensure that Network Discovery and File and Printer Sharing are enabled.

Check the settings under “Private Networks” to make sure they allow network discovery and sharing. 2.

2. Check SMB protocol support

Ensure that the SMB protocol is supported and enabled on all devices (especially SMB 1.0/CIFS, although SMB 3.x is a more modern and secure version).

In the Control Panel:

Go to “Programs” > “Enable or disable Windows features”.

Make sure “SMB 1.0/CIFS file sharing support” is checked and enabled. 3.

3. Disable password-protected sharing (if required)

If you are sure that you do not need password protected sharing, you can try to disable this feature on the shared folder. Please note, however, that this may reduce security.

In File Explorer:

Right-click on the folder you want to share and select Properties.

Go to the “Sharing” tab and click “Advanced Sharing”.

Uncheck the “Require password protection when sharing this folder” option (if available).

4. Update network drivers

Outdated or corrupt network drivers may cause network sharing problems.

In Device Manager:

Expand the Network Adapters section.

Right-click on your network adapter and select “Update Driver”.

Select “Automatically search for newer driver software”. 5.

5. Check firewall and security software settings

Make sure your firewall and security software are not blocking network sharing.

In Windows Defender Firewall:

Open Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall.

Check the “Allowed applications” list to ensure that file sharing related applications (e.g. SMB services) are allowed through the firewall.

In the security software:

Check the settings of the software to ensure that there are no rules that prevent network sharing or file transfer.

6. Synchronize time and date

Ensure that the system time and date are synchronized across all devices, as protocols such as Kerberos are very time sensitive.

 

 

 

Best regards

Neuvi

Nothing works.. We could never able to bring Windows 11 computers on Network and share drives, tried every solution available on internet like common Workgroups, SMB installation, share without password, everything means everything. But nothing worked, It keep asking for network credentials, and it never accepts the right credentials.

We have 3 Windows 11 Pro PCs, and 3 windows 10 pcs, win 10 pc are able to share files between them but windows 11 sucks, Microsoft official support number published on Microsoft India website are invalid numbers. So no option to ask for official support. That's what we call monopoly...

So As far network sharing is concerned, Windows 11 is nothing more then a bigger garbage from Microsoft.