Can't access other PC's in my home network

I have a home network set up on my PC so that each one can see the other ones under "Networks". It worked flawlessly for ages. But now, my desktop PC can't see my two laptops, but my laptops can see the desktop. However, when I double click the desktop PC icon from either laptop, it asks for my network credentials. It never used to ask for this information.

Two questions: What network credentials? The ones from the computer that I am on, or the credentials for the computer I'm trying to access?

Also, the password. AFAIK, a password was never set up. I don't have to use one to log onto my computer. And the password they want can't be blank. So I may have to reset the password which I don't know.

KenR70 said:

click the desktop PC icon from either laptop, it asks for my network credentials. It never used to ask for this information.

Click to expand...

. All kinds of networking issues are a result of Microsoft tightening security for Windows 11 24h2 and above.

Create a Windows credential for an account & password on all computers on your network you are sharing files between. It must be a password, not a pin. While you can still use a pin to login to your device, you must restart the device and log into it using a password at least once for this to work.

Even if you are using the same MS account, a credential should be created.

In other words, Each computer should have a credential for each of the other computers it is sharing files or printers to/from.

To create a credential:
Go to Control Panel>Credentials> Windows Credentials>add a windows credential

In the "Internet or network address" box, type the name of the computer on the network that you want to access.
In the User name and Password boxes, type the user name and password that you use for that computer, and then click OK.
Note: It must be a password, not a pin.

This solution seems to have worked. The only issue left is that the icons for my two laptop PC's don't show up under "This PC/Network"

However, the Desktop PC icon shows up on both laptop PC's under "This PC/Network". Ideas?

Computers not seen in network map

Do this on all systems in network..

add "LanmanWorkstation" as an additional startup dependency for the "Function Discovery Resource Publication" (FDResPub) service, which seems to do the trick. To do this, you simply open an elevated command prompt (i.e. use the "run as administrator" right-click context menu option to start cmd.exe), then execute the following command:

sc config fdrespub depend= RpcSs/http/fdphost/LanmanWorkstation

Reboot each device after executing this command, and the devices should see each other more reliably in Network and File Manager


If it still does not show in Network map you can use this method to access the host computer.

• Open File Explorer.
• In the address bar, type the following: \\computername (replace "computername" with the name of the computer you're connecting to).
• Press Enter.
• Note: You can also use ip address in address bar but if you do, assign your devices static ip addresses because they will not always be assigned the same ip address by the router.
• Whichever of these methods allows you to get to the other machine, create a shortcut to it on desktop, and pin that shortcut to quick access in file explorer. You can then delete the shortcut from desktop.

The \\computername method works. However, the command line solution at the top of your response didn't change anything.

Yes that is the most reliable way. The command works for some cases to get devices to show in the network map. Glad you regained access.