Solved | Windows 10 File Sharing Not Working (6 Fixes)

File Sharing Doesn't Work on Windows 10

Windows 10 network sharing not working and its reasons

Lots of people praise the file-sharing feature because of its convenience and safety in sharing files between different computers in the same LAN. However, some users report that Windows 10 file sharing not working after updates 1803, 1809, or 1903 in File Explorer, and you may receive the following message:

🚫You do not have permission to access \\...
⛔You can't access this shared folder because your organization's security policies block unauthenticated guest access.
🔎Check the spelling of the name. Otherwise, there might be a problem with your network.

Besides Windows 10, you may also encounter Windows 11 network sharing not working. So why Windows cannot access network computers in Windows 10/11? Usually, Windows 10/11 file sharing not working may be caused by the following reasons:

• The file-sharing settings are incorrect.
• You don't have a credential.
• The file-sharing connection is not compatible. 
• The antivirus software prevents Windows file sharing. 
• The SMB 1.0 is disabled in Windows 10 Update.
• Windows Update has bugs. 

If you don't want to try these file sharing not working fixes one by one or you are in desperate need of finding a file sharing method, a free and fast file transfer software is listed below. You can also turn to the solutions to fix Windows 10 file sharing not working directly.

Sharing files with the best alternative - free and easy

Except for accessing shared in File Explorer, you can try different alternatives in the following:

#1: Access shared folders via Command Prompt: Use the command net use [drive letter]: \\[server name]\[share name] to map a shared folder.

#2: Use file sync software: This lets you sync folders to a network drive from various devices like your computer, an external hard drive, or a USB stick. You can schedule automatic sync daily, weekly, or monthly, so you never forget to back up your important files.

The first method is really, you just need to open the command prompt and type the command above. Thus, here I'll show you the second method in detail and share files over a network with the professional yet free file transfer tool - AOMEI Backupper Standard. And you can still use it as a long-term data protection solution.

AOMEI Backupper

Easy and Free File Sharing Software

• Seamlessly synchronize files between computers, or sync files to external drive, NAS, cloud, etc.
• Automatically sync data in daily, weekly, or monthly as needed, without missing any change.
• Widely work with Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista to help you share files across various devices.

Download Freeware
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

100% Secure

If you are using a server system, you can try AOMEI Backupper Server to get rid of file sharing not working on Windows Server 2019, 2016, and others.

1. Download, install, and run this software. Click Sync from the left list. Then select Basic Sync.

2. The Task Name can be modified according to your needs. Click Add Folder to choose the folder that contains the files you want to sync.

3. Click the inverted triangle and select Add Share or NAS Device. 

4. Then, type network path or name in the next window, and you will see all shared folders, select one folder as the destination path and click OK.

5. Click Schedule Sync and enable it, then select daily, weekly, and monthly. To distinguish this sync task from others easily, click Options to write a comment for this task. Click Start Sync to share your files over a network.

Notes:✎...

Once you upgrade to the Professional version, additional sync options like Real-Time Sync, Mirror Sync, and Two-Way Sync, become available for more flexible syncing.

When setting tasks to run daily, weekly, or monthly, the software installs a service to handle scheduled tasks and will sync any missed files at the next system startup.

You can also trigger syncs with events or use the USB plug-in feature, which automatically syncs files when the USB is connected, avoiding manual connections. Be sure not to change the source folder's name, as it will stop syncing.

Besides network drives, folders can also be synced to cloud services like OneDrive. AOMEI Cloud offers 1TB of free storage for 15 days after signing up for extra cloud space.

File sharing not working in Windows 10/11? Try these 6 solutions 

The issue of network sharing not working in Windows 10/11 brings great inconvenience to users. But don't worry, the following are some workable ways to fix the network sharing problem in Windows 10 and 11.

Like any other Windows issue, this issue can be easily fixed just with a simple system restart. Also, try to disable antivirus software. If the problem persists after trying these methods, you may try the following 6 methods.

👉 Solution 1. Configure advanced sharing settings🔥
👉 Solution 2. Turn password protection off🔥
👉 Solution 3. Check for the Computer Browser service
👉 Solution 4. Add a Windows Credential
👉 Solution 5. Enable SMB 1.0 in Windows Feature🔥
👉 Solution 6. Disable IPv6

Solution 1. Configure advanced sharing settings🔥

The file sharing works when you configure the advanced sharing settings correctly, such as, turning on network discovery, and file and printer sharing. For that, follow the steps below: 

1. Go to Start > Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings.

2. Select Turn on Network Discovery to enable network discovery. Select Turn on file and printer sharing to enable file sharing.

3. Click Save Changes to confirm.

Don’t forget to check to make sure Windows Firewall is not blocking file and printer sharing.

1. Go to Start > Control Panel > Windows Defender Firewall.

2. Select Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.

3. Make sure you have selected File and Printer Sharing in the apps and features list. Finally, click OK.

Solution 2. Turn password protection off🔥

The Windows file sharing not working issue may be caused by password-protected sharing. It requires a user account on this PC or username and password, otherwise you cannot access the shared folder in File Explorer. Hence, you can choose to disable the password protection feature. 

1. Go to Start > Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings.

2. Scroll down to find the “Password protected sharing” option, and click Turn off password protected sharing. 

3. Click Save changes to confirm.

Solution 3. Check for the Computer Browser service

Computer Browser service is a feature of Microsoft Windows to let users easily browse and locate shared resources in neighboring computers. Therefore, you can check if it's running in the Services. 

1. Go to Start and type services.msc in Start Search.

2. Find the Computer Browser. Right-click it and select Properties. Check if it is started.

3. If it is stopped select Start or Restart. And make sure that the startup type of this service is set as Automatic, click Apply and OK to complete this operation.

Besides this service, there are multiple services required for file sharing, you still need to check them and be sure it's started and the startup type is automatic.

• Function Discovery Provider Host
• Function Discovery Resource Publication
• SSDP Discovery
• UPnP Device Host

Solution 4. Add a Windows Credential 

Accessing shared folders on a remote server requires a Windows credential, if you don't have one, please create one and then try again. You need to know its IP address, user name, and password. 

1. Open Control Panel, and click on Credentials Manager.

2. Select Windows Credentials and click the Add a Windows credential button.

3. Then, input the IP address, user name and password in the corresponding box and click Save to keep changes. 

Solution 5. Enable SMB 1.0 in Windows Feature🔥

Microsoft disables the SMB1.0/CIFS setting in the latest Windows Update, but it's an essential feature for file sharing. In view of this, you need to enable it in Windows Feature. 

Step 1. Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features > Turn Windows features on or off in order. 

Step 2. Tick SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support and click OK. 

3. Restart your computer for changes to take effect. If the problem still persists, try to update Windows 10 to the latest version. 

Solution 6. Disable IPv6

Disabling IPv6 connectivity on the systems is also an effective solution to fix the Windows 11/10 File Sharing not working issue. Please follow these steps:

1. Open the Run dialogue box by pressing the Windows + R keys, and then input ncpa.cpl to open the Network Connections windows.

2. Right-click on your connected network and choose Properties.

3. Uncheck the box next to "Internet Protocol Version 6" and click OK to save the change.

FAQs about Windows 10 file sharing

Technical Terms Explained

Network Discovery: This is a Windows feature that allows computers and devices on the same network to find and communicate with each other.

File and Printer Sharing: This setting allows users to share files and printers with others on the same network.

Sharing Permissions: Permissions define who can access a folder and what they can do (read, write, or full control).

Tips to Prevent Future Windows 10 File-Sharing Issues

Tip 1: Regularly Update Windows and Drivers: Keeping your operating system and drivers up to date helps avoid compatibility issues and ensures smoother network operations.

Tip 2: Backup Important Files: Regularly back up files using a tool like AOMEI Backupper to prevent data loss in case of sharing failures.

Tip 3: Review Security Settings Periodically: Keep your firewall and antivirus software updated, and ensure they aren’t blocking essential network functions.

Summary

To fix Windows 10 file sharing not working problem, you can try the 6 solutions stated in this article.

Hopefully, one of these solutions resolves your issue. To prevent future problems with network sharing, consider using AOMEI Backupper to sync folders on your computer, auto-sync files to an external hard drive, or sync a folder to a network drive.

Additionally, this software offers other helpful features like cloning files to an external drive, backing up files, and restoring them from backup images. These tools are great for protecting your data. Feel free to try them out for yourself!