Can’t share files.

bimfi · May 19, 2025

I am running windows 11 on my PC, but I am running windows 10 on my laptop. I want to move some files from my PC to my laptop but cannot seem to access one from the other. The first obstacle I encountered was asking for windows credentials, which I had no idea what that meant.
Is there an article or tutorial somewhere that can walk me through to proper steps? Thanks!

Jacee · May 19, 2025

You can try this "walk through" : Why am I *** sometimes getting Enter Network Credentials? - Microsoft Q&A

idgat · May 19, 2025

Sharing between devices - especially with different OSs = has become more and more problematic over the years. More and more posts such as yours on multiple forums across the internet are evidence. Effectively, it's a lottery - one will work perfectly, the next user's won't.

One of the more increasingly popular common alternative options is file sharing storage like Google Drive

Levitate11 · May 19, 2025

Make your life easier by having a matching account on each machine i.e. same username/password.

gunrunnerjohn · May 19, 2025

Here's from a recent thread on the topic, this is a pretty good synopsis of how to beat Win11 networking into submission. I captured this a it has all the hints all in one place.

What I do with every 24H2 Install or Upgrade

In Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Programs and Features\Turn Windows Features on or off.
Check if there are No Ticks are on SMB 1.0/CIFS Client and SMB 1.0/CIFS Server Only a tick on SMB Direct

Make Sure you are on a Private Network NOT Public

Next go into Group Policy (Pro Version Only) gpedit.msc

Computer Configuration, Windows Settings, Security Settings, Local Policies, Security Options
Double click on Microsoft Network Client: Digitally sign communications (always)
Double click on Microsoft Network Client: Digitally sign communications (if server agrees)
Set both of these to "Disabled"
Click on OK.

Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Network, Lanman Workstation
Double click on "Enable Insecure Guest Logons"
Set this to "Enabled"
Click on OK.

Reboot

antspants · May 19, 2025

bimfi said:
The first obstacle I encountered was asking for windows credentials, which I had no idea what that meant.

Are your PC username & password (Microsoft account) Make sure you tick the box to remember them.

Also:

pseymour said:
You may need to disable SMB signing on the Windows 11 device. Open PowerShell with administrator rights, and

Powershell:

Set-SmbClientConfiguration -RequireSecuritySignature $false -Force Set-SmbServerConfiguration -RequireSecuritySignature $false -Force

psychocyr · May 31, 2025

Just to add, you can also change it by going to:

Make sure your network is set to Private

Settings ---> Network & internet ---> Advanced Network Settings ---> Advanced sharing settings ---> All networks.

There's a setting in there for Password Protected Sharing. You can turn that setting off.

bimfi · Jun 2, 2025

Thank you all for your suggestions and comments. I did a lot of different things in order to get the two computers to communicate, and fortunately, it worked!
My issue now is that I don't know where to go after that. When in File Explorer, I click on networks, then the computer I want to connect to. It then shows me the "user icon" which looks like a folder with a connector below it. When I click on that, one computer shows that the folder is empty, and the other shows a default folder and a public folder. Both, of which, are empty.
I guess I was expecting something different, like being able to share files, or transfer files between the two. Was I wrong to expect that, or do I need to do something else?

philip144 · Jun 2, 2025

We work in our home with 4 systems, all Windows 11 Pro preview, and have dumped LAN sharing because MS keeps screwing up the sharing facility. I now use OneDrive as a backup/sharing tool. Three systems are logged to the same account so "sharing" using OneDrive is automatic. The fourth system is a "Family Member" and sharing OneDrive folders is a snap once you figure out the inadequate documentation available.

Levitate11 · Jun 2, 2025

bimfi said:
Thank you all for your suggestions and comments. I did a lot of different things in order to get the two computers to communicate, and fortunately, it worked!
My issue now is that I don't know where to go after that. When in File Explorer, I click on networks, then the computer I want to connect to. It then shows me the "user icon" which looks like a folder with a connector below it. When I click on that, one computer shows that the folder is empty, and the other shows a default folder and a public folder. Both, of which, are empty.
I guess I was expecting something different, like being able to share files, or transfer files between the two. Was I wrong to expect that, or do I need to do something else?

In general, unless you make specific folders available to other users (through security changes), Windows only allows the Public folders to be accessible.

In File Explorer, go to C:\Users\Public on either/both computers. Anything you put in these folders will be visible publicly.

If you want to share other folders (instead of copying to Public) or want more secure sharing to specific users, you can right click on another folder you use and choose "Properties". You then click the Sharing tab. But before I attempt to explain all that, I'm sure someone has already written a tutorial around here on setup, permissions, and privileges for that. I'm sure they will be along soon.

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