Forum Discussion
SMB file share not accessible unless I disable password protected sharing?
- Aug 05, 2025
Yes, you can keep Password Protected Sharing enabled and still access the shared folder — it just requires matching user credentials.
Here’s what you need to do:
1. On the PC that’s sharing the folder, make sure there's a local user account with a password.
2. From the second PC, when prompted for credentials, enter that username and password. If it doesn't work, try entering it as PCName\Username.
3. If you want to avoid repeated prompts, add the credentials manually via Credential Manager:
- Go to Control Panel > User Accounts > Credential Manager.
- Choose Windows Credentials > Add a Windows credential.
- For the network address, enter \\PCName, then the username and password you created on the host machine.
This way, you don’t have to disable password protection, and access remains secure.
Yes, you can keep Password Protected Sharing enabled and still access the shared folder — it just requires matching user credentials.
Here’s what you need to do:
1. On the PC that’s sharing the folder, make sure there's a local user account with a password.
2. From the second PC, when prompted for credentials, enter that username and password. If it doesn't work, try entering it as PCName\Username.
3. If you want to avoid repeated prompts, add the credentials manually via Credential Manager:
- Go to Control Panel > User Accounts > Credential Manager.
- Choose Windows Credentials > Add a Windows credential.
- For the network address, enter \\PCName, then the username and password you created on the host machine.
This way, you don’t have to disable password protection, and access remains secure.