Network and Internet Turn On or Off Password Protected Sharing in Windows 11


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Network_and_Internet_banner.png

When password protected sharing is turned on, only people who have an account and password on your computer can access shared files and folders, shared printers attached to your computer, and Public folders on the network.

If you wanted to give access to shared items to other people without an account and password on your computer, then you will need to turn off password protected sharing.

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off password protected sharing on your Windows 11 PC.


You must be signed in as an administrator to turn on or off password protected sharing.



Contents

  • Option One: Turn On or Off Password Protected Sharing in Settings
  • Option Two: Turn On or Off Password Protected Sharing in Control Panel


EXAMPLE: "Enter network credentials" prompt for password protected sharing

Enter_network_credentials_for_password_protected_sharing.png





Option One

Turn On or Off Password Protected Sharing in Settings


This option is only available starting with Windows 11 build 22509.1011.


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on Network & internet on the left side, and click/tap on Advanced network settings on the right side. (see screenshot below)

Password_protected_sharing_Settings-1.png

3 Click/tap on Advanced sharing settings on the right side. (see screenshot below)


Password_protected_sharing_Settings-2.png

4 Click/tap on All networks to expand it open. (see screenshot below step 5)

5 Turn On (default) or Off Password protected sharing for what you want.

Password_protected_sharing_Settings-3.png

6 You can now close Settings if you like.




Option Two

Turn On or Off Password Protected Sharing in Control Panel


This option is no longer available starting with Windows 11 build 22509.1011.


1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Network and Sharing Center icon.

2 Click/tap on the Change advanced sharing settings link on the left side in Network and Sharing Center. (see screenshot below)

Password_protected_sharing_Network_and_Sharing_Center-1.png

3 Expand open the All networks. (see screenshot below)

4 Under Public folder sharing, select (dot) Turn on password protected sharing (default) or Turn off password protected sharing for what you want, and click/tap on Save changes.

5 You can now close the Control Panel if you like.

Password_protected_sharing_Network_and_Sharing_Center-2.png



That's it,
Shawn Brink


 

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Phirevixen

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Shawn, my Windows 11 Home Build 22000.832 does not have these options under Advanced Network Settings. I have to use option two to do this. Is there something wrong with my Windows?
 

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Brink

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Shawn, my Windows 11 Home Build 22000.832 does not have these options under Advanced Network Settings. I have to use option two to do this. Is there something wrong with my Windows?
Hello, and welcome. :-)

There's nothing wrong. Option 1 is only available starting with Windows 11 build 22509.1011.
 

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    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
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    Linksys EA9500 router,
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    i7-1065G7 3.9 GHz
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    16 GB LPDDR4-3200
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hsehestedt

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One note regarding this:

When you turn OFF password protected sharing to allow users without a local account on your computer to access a share, you will also need to add EVERYONE to the NTFS file permissions on your share and all files / folders within.


Image1.jpg
 

My Computers

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    Win11 Pro 22H2, Moment 2
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    PC/Desktop
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    Home Built
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    Intel i7-11700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS Prime Z590-A
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    128GB Crucial Ballistix 3200MHz DRAM
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    Realtek (on motherboard)
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    HP Envy 32
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    2560 x 1440
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    1 x 1TB NVMe Gen 4 x 4 SSD
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    2 x 8TB HD
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    Corsair iCue 5000X RGB
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    Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black cooler + 10 case fans
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    CODE backlit mechanical keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1Gb Up / 1 Gb Down
    Browser
    Chromium Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Additional options installed:
    WiFi 6E PCIe adapter
    ASUS ThunderboltEX 4 PCIe adapter
  • Operating System
    Win11 Pro 22H2, Moment 2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 15-BL012DX
    CPU
    Intel i7-7500U
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Dual Intel HD 620 and Nvidia GeForce 940MX
    Sound Card
    Built-in Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    4k 15-inch
    Screen Resolution
    4k (3840 x 2160)
    Hard Drives
    1TB Seagate FireCuda 510 NVMe SSD
    Internet Speed
    1Gb Up / 1Gb Down
    Browser
    Chromium Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    RAM Upgraded from 16GB to 32GB WiFi Upgraded from WiFi 5 to WiFi 6 SSD upgraded from 512GB NVMe SSD to 1TB Seagate FireCuda 510 NVMe SSD

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