This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off password protected sharing on your Windows 11 PC.
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.
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
This option is only available starting with Windows 11 version 22H2 KB5030310 Build 22621.2361.
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)
3 Click/tap on Advanced sharing settings on the right side. (see screenshot below)
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.
6 You can now close Settings if you like.
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)
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.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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