Sharing is one thing that MS has never gotten right. When it works, it works well, but nowdays it's like pulling teeth to get it to work. This is especially true when mixing windows 10 and 11 systems on the network.
My GMKTEC M7 Pro mini pc consistently shows an empty network folder
If you mean that other computers are not shown in the network map:
First try accessing the other computers by computer name :
If it 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
A workaround-If this method allows you to get to the other machine share and the next method below does not work,, create a shortcut to it on desktop, and pin that shortcut to quick access. You can then delete the shortcut from desktop.
Note : If you can not access other computers using computername or ip address, something is wrong with your sharing settings
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You can try the next method to attempt to get the network map to populate. It works for some, but not others.
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
Restart
Make sure these services are set to automatic and running
DNS-Client – Server
Function Discovery Provider Host
Function Discovery Resource Publication
SSDP Discovery
UPNP Device Host
Windows Defender Firewall
set up a NAS on a Beelink Me Mini running Truenas Community and cannot get shares to work.
When you say can not get shares to work, what response do you get? Do the other computers see the networked drive but just can't access shares.?
If you receive a
"You do not have permission" message, then the issue is almost certainly related to permissions or credentials. If that is not the message you receive the following suggestions may not apply to you.
Make sure the shared drive has permissions set properly:
- Right-click the shared drive → Properties → Sharing tab → Advanced Sharing → Permissions
- Ensure that the user or "Everyone" has at least Read and Write(or Full Control if needed).
- Go to the Security tab under the drive’s Properties
- Make sure the user or "Everyone" group is listed and has appropriate access rights
I kept getting the "you do not have permission" error. What fixed this for me was to create a credential on each of my computers for each of the other computers in my network. In other words, each computer should have a credential for all the other computers, even if you use the same local account/password or the same Microsoft account/password on all the computers. Windows does not automatically treat it as the same user across machines for file sharing. Credentials still need to be authenticated per session.
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.
