Find network access credentials windows 10 or 11

Reported
Anonymous
2022-02-24T08:55:06+00:00

I've been running my local (wired) network with password protected sharing turned off.

To reduce the risk of infection I've now turned it on on all the pc's.

The result is that I am now unable to access any of the machines on the network (running windows 10 or 11)

I need to input the username and password

However using whoami locally to get the username, and entering the pin as the password I get

"the username or password is incorrect"

trying to access another machine I get "\XXXXX is not accessible. ... etc."

Is there a simple way I can turn on machine A and determine what credentials are required to access it from another PC via the network?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Internet and connectivity

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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143 answers

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-10-16T21:35:49+00:00

    Been there - done that. Does not work! It has something to do with microsoft's passwordless accounts. I finally - after trying everything I've read everywhere used my PHONE number for user name and skipped the password and it actually connected!

    Go figure!

    OMG!!! I was at my wit's end trying to file share 2 Windows 11 PCs... When I read you post I thought "This isn't going to work, but I am going to try it anyway."

    IT WORKED!!!!??? Why!!??! This makes no sense to me what so ever...

    Can someone explain to me why I needed to enter my phone number and Microsoft Live account password to connect my 2 Windows 11 PCs, both with ALL credentials deleted, and File Sharing Passwords set to OFF?!?!?!?!

    EDIT: My Microsoft password is not needed, but my phone number is needed for the account name???

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-05-21T15:30:07+00:00

    In Control Panel, go to Network and Sharing Center, click on advanced settings, and then turn off password protected sharing.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-09-23T12:31:59+00:00

    Bumping this! Crazy that I could not use my microsoft password nor a credential I created, but creepy that my phone number without a password worked. Jeez, Microsoft

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-03-15T16:52:20+00:00

    Hi Dave, Thank you for your help, however the password is not shown, so I am still stuck. It wont let me change the password either. I had no issues before recent windows upgrades. I have just upgraded to Windows 11 yesterday, half expecting that this would sort it out, but instead I spent all day yesterday putting right what W11 had disrupted. I give up.

    I may end up having to do 100% reset on both machines to sort this lot out, then reinstall everything. I'm not happy.

    Thank you for your help which was most appreciated.

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  5. Anonymous
    2022-09-10T14:33:52+00:00

    I had the same problem and found your thread looking for answers. ok i tried the phone number and no password also and it worked. ???? why does it work.

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