Find network access credentials windows 10 or 11

Thanks for all the ideas!

I was trying to access a usb drive attached to my router, not a different PC on the network.

I finally resolved this problem by changing the router USB file sharing Enable authentication to NO

I am not sure this solution turned up in the many other replies, but this worked for me (accessing a windows pro machine):

• On the machine you are trying to reach, go to Sign-in Options, and deselect ´For improved security, only allow Microsoft Hello sign-in ....´ (I do not see this option on all my PCs, but this is the only one I am having a problem with...)

Then use Win-L to lock your machine, and then login using your Microsoft account email and password.

Now go to the other PC, and try accessing it using your Microsoft account email and password.

I can't retrace the exact steps I took since there doesn't seem to be a way to remove the local accounts I created. Still.. I have gotten it to work 2 different ways that I haven't seen posted anywhere else, so hopefully one of these does the trick for you and everyone else. At this point, I'm having the opposite problem of everyone else. I can't find a way to make my computers forget each other. Keep this in mind when it prompts you for the username/password as you may not want to select the part where it offers to remember your credentials. I deleted the credentials from the credentials manager and my computers can still access each other...

Everything below is basically the same for Windows 10(Pro) and 11(Home). It probably doesn't matter whether you have Home or Pro.

Follow these 2 steps first.

1. Make sure your computers have a matching type of network profiles(Private or Public).

-In Windows Search, enter "Wifi". Click your network name. Select Private or Public. It's the same for Win 10/11.

2. Make sure that Network discovery is turned on for the type of network profile you chose.

-In Windows Search, enter "Control Panel". Click "Network and Internet". Click "Network and Sharing Center". Click "Change advanced sharing settings". Enable "File and printer sharing" if you want to be able access folders/files/etc.

At this point, I believe you should be able to see the computer(s) listed under Network in the File Explorer. Try rebooting if you can't. If you try to open one of them, it should be asking for a username/password. If this is the case, continue to the next part. If not, you may be out of luck and the next part probably won't help.

Next part, you need to be able to use a username/password to log in. I've got it working 2 different ways. In my case, the first method is fine because the computers I'm using are both mine and on my own home network. I don't mind that they both use the same username/password. You might want to try the second method if you have different people on different computers(they likely aren't sharing a Microsoft account).

First Method: I saw a Verify option for my Microsoft account. I hadn't noticed it until tonight, so maybe it's new(a couple updates installed so who knows). After verifying, I was able to connect to my computers using my email/password associated with my Microsoft account.

-In Windows Search, enter "Settings". Click "Accounts". Click "Your info". Look for the Verify link/button. It describes it as syncing passwords across your devices or something like that. After you've verified, open the computer under Network in the File Explorer. Enter your Microsoft email/password.

Second Method: It seems that you can just create a local account with a new username/password. Once you do that you can just switch back to your Microsoft account, and it will still let you use the local account credentials to access the computers over the network.

-In Windows Search, enter "Settings". Click "Accounts". Click "Your info". Click "Sign in with a local account instead". Go through the prompts. Now try opening the computer under Network in the File Explorer. Use the username/password you entered when creating the local account. It should work. You can now go back to the "Your info" screen and sign back into your Microsoft account.

but what if I created the local account without password? I just skipped the set password screen so the local account is a passwordless account. When I tried to access this computer on another computer on the same network, It still ask for password!

I' m not sure why I was notified on this answer. I only have 1 computer on my network. It seems I access files on my hard drive through the network instead of directly on the computer.

Another issue was need credentials to access my data on a USB device connected to my router. I finally figured out it wanted the admin password!

Thanks

Al

One additional point. When I go to computer 2, I can connect to Computer 1 without entering any Username or password. I am able to compare and synchronize two folders on different computers. I cannot do this if I connect from Computer 1 to Computer 2.