Network file sharing not working between Windows 11 & Windows 10

I have dug out an older Win10 machine and the settings page is slightly different...

Settings > Accounts > Sign-in Options

You should the have the "Manage how you sign in to your device" heading, which lists the methods you can use to sign in (Face, fingerprint, PIN, password etc).

Under that, Require Windows Hello sign-in should be the second section heading, with the required slider to turn off Windows Hello on or off.

As a further test on the W10 machine, I opened File Explorer and in the address bar, and typed \[W11COMPUTERNAME]. When prompted for credentials, I entered my Microsoft email address and password, and the available shares were visible. The only other change I have made to the fresh W11 machine was to enable SMB1 via Windows Features option in Control Panel (not ideal as SMB1 is a risk). This should not be needed for Windows shares but its worth a test.

Doesn't work for me - I don't use Windows Hello or PIN. All accounts are local.

On Accounts > Sign-in Options for the Windows Hello options are "currently unavailable". Under Additional settings the first box is "For improved security only allow Windows Hello..." but it is greyed out. It shows as "on" and I cannot activate it to turn it off. Could this be part of the problem? Is there another way to turn off this setting?

My work around is to use my NAS with shared folders. Copy file from WIN 11 PC to NAS and then get on the target PC and copy file from NAS. Slightly better than the old "sneaker net" of using USB sticks from my early days.

I have two WIN 11's one desktop and one laptop. None of my WIN 10's can see either of them and neither of them can see each other. The WIN 11's can see the WIN 10's and the WIN 10's can see each other. While I appreciate all the newer emphasis on security, Microsoft needs to fix it so a non-technical home network user can make this work without resorting to something like a NAS.

Its not always Windows. I can't remember where it was but also either or both networking hardware driver or router can also affect SMB which is what Windows uses for it. Also other issues may be present in those two points as well for some.

Also Windows 11 may do certain things with SMB that they may not do on Windows 10 so they might also become incompatible. As far as I'm aware they aren't concerned about maintain compatibility between different OS version such as Windows 10 SMB has been incompatible with Windows 7 and possibly Windows 8/8.1 too.

I could definitely see at least with you that the NAS working could be a SMB related issue.

Anyway anyone here spins it though, there's 101 other ways to connect computer over the network. The NAS is one. No need to limit oneself to the problematic Windows network sharing.

Anyway anyone here spins it though, there's 101 other ways to connect computer over the network. The NAS is one. No need to limit oneself to the problematic Windows network sharing.

In that sense, for those interested, I found out that the application Backupper (pro version) includes a sync menu with 2-ways sync that works like a charm between Win10 and Win11.

dashdotdot

Although your reply is correct, it would defeat the entire purpose. It also would be a lot of extra work for something that should have been a 1 minute setup.

Evan a NAS is antiquated and sync software would be my last choice. Since none of the responses work for everyone the one thing that is inevitable is Cloud Storage. Any of the cloud storage environments provides a better solution than NAS or sync software. UNLESS OF COURSE YOU DIDN'T HAVE INTERNET.

I think Microsoft doesn't care about this because the revenue from Cloud storage is much more important.

Thanks Again.

David