Solved Network problem with wifi laptop and desktop.

Cameraman1955 · Oct 19, 2025

I was thinking of the same to switch of windows hello, but it's still strange I can connect to my laptop but not to my desktop.

MisterEd · Oct 19, 2025

You don't need to log on the other computer. You just need to access shared folders on it. Do you have shared folders on each computer?

I don't depend upon seeing any computer in File Explorer > Network. I create a network shortcut for each computer. I keep the shortcuts in a folder on my desktop. As long as the other computer is turned on and not sleeping these shortcuts always work.

2025-10-19 00_57_09-My Network - File Explorer.webp

For example, the shortcut for computer Darkmatter is \\Darkmatter

SlicEnDicE · Oct 19, 2025

Back to the basics.

Have you checked that both computer networks are set to Private Network and that File and Printer Sharing is enabled for both? Windows sometimes switches WiFi networks to Public after updates.

Cameraman1955 · Oct 19, 2025

MisterEd said:
You don't need to log on the other computer. You just need to access shared folders on it. Do you have shared folders on each computer?

I don't depend upon seeing any computer in File Explorer > Network. I create a network shortcut for each computer. I keep the shortcuts in a folder on my desktop. As long as the other computer is turned on and not sleeping these shortcuts always work.

View attachment 149675

For example, the shortcut for computer Darkmatter is \\Darkmatter

View attachment 149676

Thanks I have the shortcut of my destop on my computer, the problem I have is that it ask for credentials when I click on it.

Cameraman1955 · Oct 19, 2025

SlicEnDicE said:
Back to the basics.

Have you checked that both computer networks are set to Private Network and that File and Printer Sharing is enabled for both? Windows sometimes switches WiFi networks to Public after updates.

I have check that its on prived.

SlicEnDicE · Oct 19, 2025

Ok, so are you connecting to the computer using the computer name or IP? Try using the exact IP rather than computername. If that worked, reboot both computers, including your router.

I have also had issues with connecting to other computers browsing to them. But Mounting a shared folder directly has worked, you should try this too.

pseymour · Oct 19, 2025

glasskuter said:
Then try logging in to both devices one time using a password. All the instructions say to set up credentials with a password, not a pin. Well a pin is windows Hello just the same as a fingerprint and facial recognition are also Windows Hello.

This is the correct answer. Windows Hello is local only, meaning the PIN or whatever data you use to authenticate are never passed to the other computer.

Go to Settings, Accounts, Sign-in Options. Disable "For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts." You will be prompted for admin credentials if the current user is not an admin. Log out of Windows, and sign back in with the Microsoft account's password. Now, you should be able to get to the other machine. You can go back to using Hello logons after that, if you want.

glasskuter · Oct 19, 2025

Thank you for clarifying that @pseymour . I knew it was that way with RDP that the user had to login at least once with a password.

All we can do is offer suggestions. We have no control over whether or not they are followed when a user refuses to try them. That said, I'll leave this thread to members who seem to know more about it than I do.

pseymour · Oct 19, 2025

You had it right, @glasskuter. I just added the steps to switch to password logon, because it's not always obvious how to do that.

Cameraman1955 · Oct 20, 2025

I discover something, I did the folowing test, I bring back my desktop to 24H2 ver. 26100.4061 ( May 2025 ) with an older backup file I had, so I have now one computer on 24H2 and my laptop on 25H2 ver. 26200.6899 with the latest updates, and you no what my network works !! Without credentials or password just file sharing as it must be, how is this possible, I think when I run the updates on the desktop its broken again.
Logging in with Windows hello on both computers no passwords.
And the question I have is why is the laptop with 25H2 working normal on the network with all the updates.

ian50 · Oct 20, 2025

@Cameraman1995

Your comment 4:38pm

This works with 26100.4946 and 26200.4946 (ie. 24H2 and 25H2)

With updates more recent than 4946, the network still holds ok with only one network machine updated beyond 4946 (all machines still talk to each other as usual). With two or more network machines updated beyond 4946, these updated machines will not talk to each other, although they are all seen on the network.

It's also noticeable that all machines updated past 4946 will still work as normal with a 3rd machine on Win 11 Lite.

I greatly appreciate glasskuter's comments on how she works around this most irritating problem by generating Windows "credentials" for each machine with each other machine. Unhappily, this has not worked for me, as all other suggestions from well-meaning others has not worked either.

Still the insistence on "credentials" yet withholding the ability to infill the tabs, even with two-way "credentials" already defined. I regard this destruction of networking that has worked for 25 years (from Win2k) as despicable.

pseymour · Oct 20, 2025

Amazing that someone will go so far as restore a backup, rather than take a couple of minutes to logon with a password.

ian50 · Oct 20, 2025

@pseymour

Your comment 8:42pm

If that is a reply to my earlier comment, it seems nonsensical.

[Of course after updating, a reboot and logon has to occur]

If you are referring to my comment, could you help clarify how the two are related ?

Cameraman1955 · Oct 20, 2025

pseymour said:
Amazing that someone will go so far as restore a backup, rather than take a couple of minutes to logon with a password.

That's the problem it doesn't work with credentials, I am investigating what pc gives that problem.

pseymour · Oct 20, 2025

Cameraman1955 said:
That's the problem it doesn't work with credentials, I am investigating what pc gives that problem.

You haven't said anywhere that you've logged on to Windows with a password. You've said you added Windows Credentials, which is not the same thing. You've said more than once that you're logging in via Hello.

pseymour · Oct 20, 2025

ian50 said:
@pseymour

Your comment 8:42pm

If that is a reply to my earlier comment, it seems nonsensical.

[Of course after updating, a reboot and logon has to occur]

If you are referring to my comment, could you help clarify how the two are related ?

Did you say something about restoring a backup? If not, it seems unlikely I was referring to your comment.

Cameraman1955 · Oct 20, 2025

pseymour said:
Did you say something about restoring a backup? If not, it seems unlikely I was referring to your comment.

I am sorry for the miss understanding, I was just testing an older build to see the different with th latest build, now I am testing the login metode with the password and switch off windows hello.

gunrunnerjohn · Oct 20, 2025

I'm confused for sure. I created an account on all machines with the same name/password as machines logging in. This works just fine for five machines, four Win11 Pro and one Win11 Home machines. Forget the passcode, you have to use the password for networking, at least Windows peer networking.

pseymour · Oct 23, 2025

@Cameraman1955 I see this thread is marked solved. What was the resolution? It'll be helpful to anyone else who has the same problem and finds this thread.

Cameraman1955 · Oct 24, 2025

pseymour said:
@Cameraman1955 I see this thread is marked solved. What was the resolution? It'll be helpful to anyone else who has the same problem and finds this thread.

@pseymour Yes I was planning to do that, sorry abit busy with work .
What worked for me was logging in to all computers with my password (Microsoft account) and not with Windows Hello. Then, under "Function Discovery Resource Publication," I added workstation with the following command in cmd: sc config fdrespub depend= RpcSs/http/fdphost/LanmanWorkstation
this caused the service to start and that was the problem, it didn't start even if you added automatic.
Everything is now working as it should be.

Solved Network problem with wifi laptop and desktop.

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