Question:

How can I enable file sharing between two Windows 11 computers on the same wi-fi network without entering network credentials?

I have followed the steps suggested in other posts, such as sharing the folders, enabling network discovery and file and printer sharing, and pinging the computers, but I still cannot access the files on either computer. I can see both computers on the network, but when I try to open a folder, I get an error message saying either “enter network credentials” or “the path is not correct”. I do not know what my network credentials are, and they are not the same as my PIN or my Microsoft account password. Is there a way to bypass the network credentials or find out what they are? I appreciate any help you can provide.

Answer:

File sharing is a useful feature that allows you to access and transfer files between different devices on the same network. However, sometimes you may encounter problems when trying to share files on Windows 11, such as being asked to enter network credentials or getting an incorrect path error. In this article, we will show you how to fix these issues and share files on Windows 11 without network credentials.

What are network credentials and why do you need them?

Network credentials are a combination of username and password that are used to authenticate your identity and grant you access to a shared resource on the network, such as a folder, a printer, or a drive. Network credentials are usually the same as your Windows login credentials, but they can also be different depending on how the network is configured.

Network credentials are required when password protected sharing is enabled on the network. This is a security feature that prevents unauthorized users from accessing your shared files and folders. However, password protected sharing can also cause inconvenience and confusion, especially if you do not know or remember your network credentials.

How to turn off password protected sharing on Windows 11

One way to share files on Windows 11 without network credentials is to turn off password protected sharing on the network. This will allow anyone on the network to access your shared files and folders without entering a username and password. However, this also means that your shared files and folders will be less secure and more vulnerable to unauthorized access. Therefore, you should only turn off password protected sharing if you trust all the devices and users on the network.

To turn off password protected sharing on Windows 11, follow these steps:

• Open Settings and click on Network & internet.
• Click on Advanced network settings and then click on Sharing options.
• Expand the All Networks section and scroll down to Password protected sharing.
• Select the option Turn off password protected sharing and click Save changes.

You may need to repeat these steps on all the devices that you want to share files with on the network.

How to share a folder on Windows 11

After turning off password protected sharing, you can share a folder on Windows 11 by following these steps:

• Right-click on the folder that you want to share and select Properties.
• Click on the Sharing tab and then click on the Share button.
• In the Choose people to share with window, select Everyone from the drop-down menu and click Add. You can also select specific users or groups if you want to limit the access to the folder.
• Click on the Permission Level column and choose whether you want to give Read or Read/Write access to the folder. Read access allows users to view and open the files in the folder, while Read/Write access allows users to modify and delete the files in the folder.
• Click on Share and then click on Done.

You can now view the shared folder from another device on the network by opening File Explorer and clicking on Network. You can also copy the network path of the shared folder and paste it into the address bar of File Explorer on another device.

How to troubleshoot file sharing problems on Windows 11

If you still cannot share files on Windows 11 without network credentials, you may need to troubleshoot some common file sharing problems. Here are some possible solutions:

• Make sure that both devices are connected to the same network and have network discovery and file sharing enabled. You can check and change these settings in the Sharing options window under Private and Guest or Public sections.
• Make sure that both devices have the same workgroup name. You can check and change the workgroup name in Settings > System > About > Rename this PC > Change settings > Change > Workgroup.
• Make sure that the firewall or antivirus software on both devices is not blocking file sharing. You may need to add an exception or disable the firewall or antivirus temporarily to test the file sharing.
• Make sure that the shared folder has the correct permissions and security settings. You can check and change these settings in the Properties window of the folder under the Sharing and Security tabs.
• Make sure that the network path of the shared folder is correct and does not contain any typos or errors. You can copy the network path from the Sharing tab of the folder properties and paste it into the address bar of File Explorer on another device.

Conclusion

File

sharing on Windows 11 can be a convenient and efficient way to access and transfer files between different devices on the same network. However, sometimes you may encounter problems when trying to share files on Windows 11, such as being asked to enter network credentials or getting an incorrect path error. In this article, we showed you how to fix these issues and share files on Windows 11 without network credentials. We hope this article was helpful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment below.