Network connection between computers

Hi Mandela Nelson,

Please run the following command in PowerShell (Run as administrator) on Windows 11 computer:

Set-SmbClientConfiguration -EnableInsecureGuestLogons $true -Force

Then reboot your computer, and Windows 11 should have access to Windows 10 shared.

I hope that above information is helpful to you.

Hi!

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum.

The fact that Windows 10 can access shares but Windows 11 can’t tells us the problem is on the Windows 11 side.

Let's make a list of the things that you need to check.

• Set network to PRIVATE
• Turn ON Network Discovery + File Sharing (ALL should be on PRIVATE)
• Turn on Network discovery and File and printer sharing Do this on both PCs.

Ensure sharing services are running (on both PCs)

• Press Windows logo key + R.
• Type services.msc and select OK.
• For each of these services, right‑click > Properties:
  • Function Discovery Provider Host
  • Function Discovery Resource Publication
  • SSDP Discovery
  • UPnP Device Host
  • If they are not running, select Start. Set Startup type to Automatic

Lastly, you need to do a test On Windows 11.

Open File Explorer you need to type : \<Windows10ComputerName> or \<Windows10IP> and press Enter.

• You should see the shared folders. If you turned off password protected sharing, access should be direct; if not, use the Windows 10 account name and password.

Do it one by one to ensure you didn't skip any step and let me know once done so I can assist you further.

Take not if there is any error that will appear, this will help us to identify why they are not communicating to each other on the network.

Follow these steps on both the Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs to fix file sharing and allow Windows 11 to access Windows 10.

1. Make sure both PCs are on the same network

• Connect both computers to the same router (Wi‑Fi or Ethernet).
• If using Wi‑Fi, ensure both are connected to the same Wi‑Fi name (SSID).

2. Set the network to Private (especially on Windows 11)

• On Windows 11:
  • Select Start > Settings > Network & internet.
  • Select the active network and set the Network profile to Private.
• On Windows 10: do the same via Settings > Network & Internet and set the network as Private.

3. Turn on Network discovery and File and printer sharing Do this on both PCs.

1. Select the Start button, then choose Settings.
2. In the Find a setting search bar, type manage advanced sharing settings and select Manage advanced sharing settings.
3. In Advanced sharing settings:
   • Under Private networks, turn on Network discovery and File and printer sharing.
   • Under All Networks, if you want easier access while testing, turn off Password protected sharing (you can turn it back on later and use accounts/passwords).

4. Ensure sharing services are running (on both PCs)

1. Press Windows logo key + R.
2. Type services.msc and select OK.
3. For each of these services, right‑click > Properties:
   • Function Discovery Provider Host
   • Function Discovery Resource Publication
   • SSDP Discovery
   • UPnP Device Host
   • If they are not running, select Start.
   • Set Startup type to Automatic.

5. Test access from Windows 11

• On Windows 11, open File Explorer.
• In the address bar, type \\<Windows10ComputerName> or \\<Windows10IP> and press Enter.
• You should see the shared folders. If you turned off password protected sharing, access should be direct; if not, use the Windows 10 account name and password.

6. If still not working: use Network reset on Windows 11 (last resort) Network reset can fix issues where the internet works but shared network drives or PCs cannot be accessed.

1. On Windows 11, select Start > Settings > Network & internet.
2. Select Advanced network settings > Network reset.
3. Select Reset now > Yes.
4. After restart, set the network back to Private and repeat steps 3–5.

Note: After network reset, VPN clients or virtual switches might need to be reinstalled, and connections may default to a Public profile until changed.

References:

• File sharing over a network in Windows
• Fix Ethernet connection problems in Windows
• Fix Wi-Fi connection issues in Windows