Unable to access files across computers that are networked together

Question

I have three windows computers.

Device 1 - is a desktop

Device 2 is a Dell laptop

Device 3 is a HP laptop.

Device 1 can see all three devices on the network and can access files on drives in Device 3 but can NOT access files on device 2 drives

Device 2 can see all three devices on the network and can access files on both Device 1 and Device 3 drives

Device 3 can see all three devices on the network and can access files on Device 2 drives but can NOT access files on Device 1 Drive.

All devices have drives/folders shared and have security features turned on so everyone can have full control.

Not sure why Device 2 can access files on Devices 1 and 3 but Device 1 and 3 can not

Scenario 1: When on Device 1 trying to access Device 2 drives i get the following message "Windows can not access \Device 2. You do not have permission to access \Device 2. Contact your network administrator to request access.

Scenario 2: When on Device 3 and trying to access Device 1 drives i get the following message. Enter network credentials coo connect to: Device 1 and it shows my email and wants me to enter a password. The password i enter is my Microsoft account password. When I enter my password it says the username or password is incorrect.

My questions are:

1 - How do I resolve Scenario 1 so Device 1 can read/write files on Device 2.

2 - How do i resolve Scenario 2 so Device 3 can read/writ files on Device 1.

Answer 1

Hi DW,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

When sharing files between Windows 11 Home devices on the same network, access depends on how each PC authenticates incoming connections. Even when folders show Full Control, Windows still requires a valid local sign‑in account on the computer that hosts the files. This is why access works in some directions but not others.

The steps below will provide a simple and reliable way to restore read/write access in both scenarios, please kindly follow:

Scenario 1: Device 1 cannot access files on Device 2 - Use a local sharing account on Device 2

• On Device 2, go to Settings > Accounts > Other users
• Select Add account > Add a user without a Microsoft account
• Create a local user (for example: shareuser) with a password
• Right‑click the shared folder or drive > Properties > Security
• Add shareuser and allow Full control
• From Device 1, connect using:
  • Username: Device2\shareuser
  • Password: the password you created

Scenario 2: Device 3 cannot access files on Device 1 - Use a local sharing account on Device 1 (same steps as above)

You should now be able to access files smoothly across all three devices. Let me know if you need further assistance, feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment" or "Add Answer" if you cannot add comment so your response will be visible. Thanks for your effort.

---

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Answer 2

To resolve the issues you are experiencing with accessing files across your networked computers, you can follow these steps:

For Scenario 1: Device 1 cannot access Device 2

1. Check Network Discovery and File Sharing Settings: Ensure that network discovery and file sharing are turned on for all devices. You can do this by going to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Advanced sharing settings. Make sure to select Turn on network discovery and Turn on file and printer sharing.
2. Check Permissions: Verify that the shared folders on Device 2 have the correct permissions set. Right-click on the folder, go to Properties > Sharing > Advanced Sharing, and ensure that the permissions allow full control for the users or groups that need access.
3. Enable Insecure Guest Logons: If your organization’s security policies block unauthenticated guest access, you may need to enable insecure guest logons. You can do this through the Registry Editor or Local Group Policy Editor as described in the troubleshooting guide.

For Scenario 2: Device 3 cannot access Device 1

1. Check Network Credentials: When prompted for credentials, ensure you are entering the correct username and password. If Device 1 is using a local account, you may need to enter the username in the format Device1\username instead of your Microsoft account email.
2. Check Sharing Permissions: Similar to Scenario 1, ensure that the shared folders on Device 1 have the appropriate permissions set for Device 3 to access them.
3. Enable SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support: If you are using older protocols, ensure that SMB 1.0 is enabled on all devices. Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > Turn Windows features on or off and check SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the access issues between your devices.