Solved Can't access NAS in Windows 11

I am in the process of installing a new Windows 11 Pro desktop and File Explorer does not display my mapped NAS as it did in both my previous Win 8.1 and Win 11 computers. My Windows version is 25H2. I found the following video on YouTube, "Mapped Drives Not Working in Windows 11/10". However, I tried all four methods without success. In the case of the last method I could not find my NAS listed as an option to remap.

As this is a serious issue, I would greatly appreciate assistance in resolving it..

Your question is not clear. Are you saying you do not SEE the NAS drive OR or you saying you get a permissions error when you attempt to access it?

First, do the actions described in the video, especially enabling "network discovery".
But your problem is most likley SMB:
There is something called SMB (Server Message Block) which was deprecated (taken away) in Windows 10/11 because of Microsoft’s “security” paranoia. Microsoft didn’t see it fit to replace this with something else that works, but SMB can be re-installed via “Turn Windows features on and off”. Find any and all SMBs in the list and check it to install and reboot. Hopefully that will fix your problem. This worked for me.

If SMB didn’t fix the problem, then make sure the following services are set to Automatic and turned on (running). You can always experiment and turn off any of the services that did not fix your problem, because some of these can be more of a security risk than SMB (by allowing unwanted connections).
Function Discovery Provider Host fdPHost
Function Discovery Resource Publication FDResPub
Network Connected Devices Auto-Setup
Network Connection Broker
SSDP Discover SSDPSRV
UPnP Device Hos upnphost
Peer Networking Grouping p2psvc
Peer Networking Identity Manager p2pimsvc
Peer Name Resolution Protocol PNRPsvc

Next, the problem may be a firewall issue. The following command (entered in command prompt as admin) may help:
netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group=”Network Discovery” new enable=Yes

Next, there is this weird concept called “master browser computer” (not a browser like Firefox). This is related to SMB and has to do with one computer on the network that has the list of other computers on the network. I don’t have a good understand of this, and it sounds like a kludge which is prone to going bad (getting corrupted). To clear up any conflicts, turn off all your computers and routers (and modem). Then boot up one at a time: modem first, routers next, then one computer at a time.

Finally (or maybe you want to do this first): The list of connected devices in Windows Explorer Network can get corrupted and keep showing devices that are no longer there. To clear up the network device list cache, run this command on the command prompt (with upper case R):
nbtstat –R

If nothing works, then you know where the problem lies - 25H2.

glasskuter said:

Your question is not clear. Are you saying you do not SEE the NAS drive OR or you saying you get a permissions error when you attempt to access it?

Click to expand...

I don't see the NAS drive at all.

Make sure SMB is installed firstly.

What do you see if you type the NAS drive IP number into the Address bar?

Windows 11 25H2
Settings > Network > Advanced sharing settings
Under Private networks:
Network discovery > ON.
Set up network connected devices automatically > ON.
File and printer sharing > ON.

Windows Features > SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support
SMB 1.0/CIFS Automatic Removal > Tick.
Other two for Client/Server > Off.

That just addresses SMB 1.0 security issues, NAS boxes are set to use SMB 2 and 3.

NAS boxes
You need to check users and credentials are setup correctly.
Same for Shared folders, permissions and so on.
Facilities like Guest Users should be Disabled.
SMB set to SMB 2 and 3.

In Windows File Explorer once you see stuff listed under Network.
Map the Shared folders, not the NAS Device.
Right click on Shared Folder > Map network drive...

You may have to check other things like IP addresses depending on whether you use fixed addresses or DHCP. Check your Router for connected devices.

Both my old 2012 and new 2020 NAS boxes work with 25H2 no problems as they did with Windows 10 and 8.1

Many details of that video you referenced are not quite correct for current Windows 11 25H2, numerous errors in all 4 "methods".

If you can't ping the NAS from a command prompt, chase that down first.

Thank you all for your prompt replies and suggestions. I would especially like to thank SumpterX and Helmut, for the time and effort talen to post their replies. I believe the issue is now solved, but will do further testing before posting it as such.

A long while ago ago had written a lengthy reply after spending hours trying most of the suggestions offered without success. I have now deleted it, because I have discovered that the source of the problem lay with my Synology NAS settings, as suggested by Helmut.

NAS Settings: Because my Synology NAS (DiskStation) had been working without issues for years with Windows 8.1 and Windows 11 Pro (earlier version) on previous PCs, I had not changed any settings. However, I delved into the NAS settings and found "Enable Windows net discovery to access files on your DiskStation", which I have now ticked. That was the key. DiskStation now appears under Network in File Explorer. SMB was enabled in DiskStation and, under Advanced Settings, SMB1 is set for both Minimum and Maximum SMB Protocols, as well as for SMB range. The SMB settings can be changed to SMB2 or SMB3 if this is recommended.

I could not have done this without the help and expertise provided. IMO, the Windows 11 Forum is without equal in this regard. I offer the caveat that more testing is required on my part and I would welcome any further suggestions.

Best Regards,
Allan

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

If it's all working, you're done, right?

Ulysses51 said:

SMB was enabled in DiskStation and, under Advanced Settings, SMB1 is set for both Minimum and Maximum SMB Protocols, as well as for SMB range. The SMB settings can be changed to SMB2 or SMB3 if this is recommended.

Click to expand...

You should use the latest version that all of your devices support. As for Windows, SMBv2 came with Vista, and SMBv3 came with Windows 8. Set the Maximum to SMBv3 if you can. Clients will negotiate with your NAS based on whatever SMB versions they each support.

pseymour said:

You should use the latest version that all of your devices support. As for Windows, SMBv2 came with Vista, and SMBv3 came with Windows 8. Set the Maximum to SMBv3 if you can. Clients will negotiate with your NAS based on whatever SMB versions they each support.

Click to expand...

Also in Windows 11 on a clean install in advanced system properties enable in the remote settings "Allow remote connections to this computer".

Clean installs set default to OFF / disabled so check the box otherwise the NAS can't get acknowlegement from the Windows machine to continue the SMB (at whatever level) connection. Could be different for NFS connections but doesn't cause any problems to enable remote connection to the Windows machine. The NAS plus Windows security should ensure only authorised users can access the shares on the NAS and services etc on the Windows machine. If you can get at the command level of the NAS and using SMB you can increase security by sudo smbpasswd -a username for each user allowed to access NAS shares directly from their own client machines.

Cheers
jimbo

What? This setting? That's for remote desktop (RDP) and has nothing to do with SMB.

View attachment 152830

Ulysses51 said:

SMB1 is set for both Minimum and Maximum SMB Protocols, as well as for SMB range.

Click to expand...

As I said, SMB 2 to SMB 3 needs to be enabled, not SMB 1, see my images for 2012 one DSM ver 6.2.4

Ulysses51 said:

Because my Synology NAS (DiskStation) had been working without issues for years with Windows 8.1 and Windows 11 Pro (earlier version) on previous PCs, I had not changed any settings.

Click to expand...

That is what I thought, however, I found the setup of my 2012 Synology NAS was wrong and changed it after 8 years of use, in fact whilst setting up the 2020 model. Both are now the same and working with Windows 11. All shared folders displaying in File Explorer, Network, mapping to drive letter, pinning etc.

As you have it displaying in File Explorer now you are basically there, just a matter of preferred display method of the shared folders.

jimbo45 said:

Also in Windows 11 on a clean install in advanced system properties enable in the remote settings "Allow remote connections to this computer".

Click to expand...

Remote access not required, not part of Home editions of Windows 11 anyway.

View attachment 152834

View attachment 152835

Once again, thank you all for the replies and suggestions. I just changed the setting on my NAS to Minimum SBM2, and Maximum SBM3. I didn't do that previously because all was working and I didn't want to risk changing things. But, after reading the above comments, I took the plunge and everything still works. AS SBM1 is a known security risk, I'm glad that I eliminated it. I will give it further thought but don't think I really need remote connections to my PC as long as I can access my NAS. I use that to load new music files that I can access and playback on my music server and stereo system located in another room. I am now a happy camper.
Regards,
Allan