Two PC's w/ Windows 11 Pro - Can't Access Each Other on Shared Network

I have two PC's sitting side by side...

Both are running Windows 11 Pro 25H2; and both are using a "Local Account" to login...

They can see each other on my Network, but neither can access each other... despite having Network set to Private, Sharing Enabled, smb1/2/3/etc enabled... guest logins enabled... etc...

PC-1 can see PC-2 on the Network, and can also see the shared folders on PC-2... but can not access those folders.

PC-2 can see PC-1 on the Network, but can not access PC-1 at all.

I'm on an ATT Fiber internet, which is using a modem/router provided by ATT; though I do have access to the router's settings... but if the router is part of the issue, I wouldn't know where to begin looking to make changes to its settings...

I'm presuming there's got to be SOMETHING within Windows itself, that is preventing this from happening... and its been driving me nuts.... I've tried every fix I've been able to find on Google, and nothings worked... so I need some advice from someone with more and better Windows Networking Expertise then I have....

I come from the days when Windows 7 was simply just ... a snap of the finger... you plugged it in, connected the network, and enabled sharing... and BAM. It just worked... but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore with Windows 11...

Nazrex said:

can also see the shared folders on PC-2... but can not access those folders.

Click to expand...

It would be helpful if you could say what happens when a shared file is accessed. Do you get any kind of credentials' pop-up when a shared file is acccessed" If so do this.
CREDENTIALS STOP ASKING FOR -Do on all computers on network

CREATE A WINDOWS CREDENTIAL. All kinds of networking issues are a result of Microsoft tightening security for Windows 11 24h2 and above.
Create a Windows credential for an account & password on all computers on your network you are sharing files between. It must be a password, not a pin. While you can still use a pin, you must restart the device and log into it using a password at least once for this to work.

Even if you are using the same MS account, a credential should be created.

In other words, Each computer should have a credential for each of the other computers it is sharing files or printers to/from.

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 (or its ip address) 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.

@glasskuter - thank you for replying!

glasskuter said:

It would be helpful if you could say what happens when a shared file is accessed.

Click to expand...

They both pop up this little box that says...

Network Error
Windows can not access \\computer name\folder name
You do not have permission to access \\computer name\folder name. Contact your Network Administrator to request access.

Click to expand...

Basically, I can't even see any files... on one PC, all I can see is just a folder that I set to be shared on the network, presuming I would be able to access the contents of said folder, but it won't even let me open that folder... Then on the other PC... all I can see if the other's "pc name" but I cant access anything else on it... can't even see its shared folder.

glasskuter said:

Create a Windows credential for an account & password on all computers on your network you are sharing files between. It must be a password, not a pin.

Click to expand...

Does it HAVE to have a password? I currently have Windows set up to just boot straight up to the desktop...

I hate having to have a password just to boot up & login to my own personal computer; when there's no one else here that I have to secure it from.

I mean if this were an office/work environment, then sure I get needing to secure a workstation with a password... but your own personal home desktop PC?

Nazrex said:

Does it HAVE to have a password? I currently have Windows set up to just boot straight up to the desktop.

Click to expand...

Are you saying that you use Windows Hello (fingerprint, PIN, etc.) to log on, or are you saying the accounts have blank passwords?

Did is you just not assign a password or did you use netpllwiz to set up automatic signin?
MS has tightened the security screws on sharing. If you assigned no password you will have to assign one on each device and create credentials on each for the other.

If it's automatic login you will have to disable that.
Login to each device using the password at least once. Make sure each can access the other's files using the credential you created..
Then you can assign a 4 digit pin to both devices to login with if you wish..

You can then set it so that no login is required when computer wantes from sleep. That way the only time you will use the pin to login is at boot-up.

You don't have to have a password, but you have to enable blank password use if that's what the case is.

Nazrex said:

They can see each other on my Network, but neither can access each other

Click to expand...

Has this started happening recently or have they never been able to communicate correctly?

I set up my networks using this procedure & it has never failed me.
A consolidated network setup checklist for Windows 10 and 11 - my post #4 - TenForums


Denis

pseymour said:

Are you saying that you use Windows Hello (fingerprint, PIN, etc.) to log on, or are you saying the accounts have blank passwords?

Click to expand...

glasskuter said:

Did is you just not assign a password or did you use netpllwiz to set up automatic signin?

Click to expand...

There is no login at all. They both just boot straight to the Windows Desktop.

Though there is a splash screen before the Desktop loads that says "Hello (My Name)" etc... then it loads the Desktop... and personally if I could get rid of that screen, I would.

When I installed Windows 11, I used the option to create and install under a "Local Account" instead of installing under a Microsoft Account, as I do not have one... and it did not require that I create a password .

Try3 said:

Has this started happening recently or have they never been able to communicate correctly?

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Its always been like this, every since I upgraded from Windows 7.... up to Windows 10... and then to 11...

Windows 7, I never had these networking issues.

glasskuter said:

MS has tightened the security screws on sharing.

Click to expand...

Personally, I think its ridiculous that they feel it necessary to "tighten security" for your "home personal computer" ... I mean if it were an office work station, I get it... but for my home, where no one else has access except me and my Wife? Why the heck do I need to "secure" it from her?

WE.. and NOT Microsoft... should be responsible for securing our HOME PC's. If such is necressary...

If your accounts have blank passwords, you need to allow blank passwords to be used for things other than logging into the console (logging into the local PC).

Open RegEdit and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa. Set the LimitBlankPasswordUse value to 0. Restart Windows.

Nazrex said:

Personally, I think its ridiculous that they feel it necessary to "tighten security" for your "home personal computer" ... I mean if it were an office work station, I get it... but for my home, where no one else has access except me and my Wife? Why the heck do I need to "secure" it from her?

Click to expand...

You're using the Pro SKU of Windows, which is available for home use, obviously, but really intended for businesses. Microsoft doesn't know whether you're using it in home or a business, so the default security settings are tighter than Home.

pseymour said:

You don't have to have a password, but you have to enable blank password use if that's what the case is.

Click to expand...

This.
Along with myself googling "allow blank password use windows 11"... and following the steps I found from that...

Seems to have resolved this issue!

I had to reboot one of the two PC's but after that it all suddenly started working!
I now have full access to all shared resources on my network!

Also... @pseymour - I didn't see your second post explaining how to do this through RegEdit.. I'm fighting off a Cold bug atm, took nap for a few hours... and didnt refresh this page while looking up the same, from your first post!

Nice, glad its sorted. Also, naps are fantastic any time. Not to be controversial, but I am staunchly pro-nap.

For folks reading this in the future, if you have PC 1 and PC 2, and you want to access shares on PC 2 from PC 1, you have to allow blank password use on PC 2. That is, allow blank password use on the machine that is hosting the shares.

And for anyone else that finds this thread, if you cloned the machines and try to set up file sharing, they probably have duplicate sids so they cannot share files until you fix that. This "broke" in win 11 24h2 and will be a problem going forward, so you must change the sid or wipe and redo.

andrew129260 said:

And for anyone else that finds this thread, if you cloned the machines and try to set up file sharing, they probably have duplicate sids so they cannot share files until you fix that. This "broke" in win 11 24h2 and will be a problem going forward, so you must change the sid or wipe and redo.

Kerberos and NTLM authentication failures due to duplicate SIDs - Microsoft Support

support.microsoft.com

Click to expand...

If you want to avoid reloading Windows 11 from this problem, see:

W11 25H2 26200.7922 (or earlier) / Cannot login to network shares after update

I had many Windows 11 25H2 systems experiencing this problem and found a workaround for it (no need to reinstall Windows 11).