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

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143 answers

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-03-17T22:39:15+00:00

    Microsoft really needs to have a well-tested procedure with well written documentation on exactly how to share files between computers that are on the same network, owned by the same person, For a billion dollar company to have such a patchwork system in place is malpractice and frankly should constitute negligence. I have wasted so many hours over the years dealing with this issue of file sharing I feel I should get a refund for any part of my computer purchase that went for the Windows OS.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-03-15T16:55:09+00:00

    Finally fixed.

    Using your own account is just mental as clearly the solution is opaque.

    • I created a new PC user, called 'Dadmin', opted to NOT associate it to a microsoft email.
    • Created a unique password for it
    • Updated 'Dadmin' to be the a windows Admin User (within User account management)
    • Went to the shared folder - Properties - Security - and added 'Dadmin' as account to have access, and gave it read/write access.

    User: INSERT_HOSTNAME\Dadmin

    Password: 'oh, you nearly got me'

    Now you have a new user account and known password which works. Promise.

    And this is prob safer as you're using a spefic account for network access, not your own, so if it's compromised, you can delete, and YOU are not associated to it

    Good luck

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-08-28T16:23:04+00:00

    Microsoft is out of control. When I receive **** on my screen offering Office 365 at a sporadic time, I'm puzzled. I've been a subscriber for at least the past 5 years. The subscription auto updates, but apparently one division of Microshaft can't/doesn't communicate with the other. I can't connect to Office 365 because they don't recognize my account (except to suck the yearly subscription rate).

    The ''credential' issue is some clown at Microshaft's idea of security. Absolute craziness to add so many layers of security, that you can't get where you can do a 'reset' on YOUR OWN piece of equipment and choose your personal level of security. I'm setting up a Linux system to dump the Microsoft insanity.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-09-28T23:14:10+00:00

    This does not work for trying to connect a Windows 11 laptop to a Windows 11 PC.

    It is beyond me why Microsoft cannot develop a simple straight forward system.

    I cannot get a clear answer about which credentials to use or even what "credentials" are.

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  5. Anonymous
    2022-10-17T15:00:49+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???

    I've finally found the solution (above!) -its been stressing me out for weeks so tonight im gonna celebrate!!

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