Find network access credentials windows 10 or 11

So, I know the password I was entering was correct only because my Microsoft account refused to allow me to change the password to the same password I was trying to login with claiming I had already used it. I would really like to understand how to use the Credentials Manager in order to determine the correct password, but it only allows me to Edit and Change the Password which isn't what I want to do, and shouldn't be necessary much less fix any problem. From what I can see, when I attempt to view a password it's hashed (encrypted). I'm unable to read what the password is, so is there a way to view the actual password using Credentials Manager or not?

My other question is that I can easily share files and folders around my network if I disable the requirement to have an account on the PCs. To me that's a big security risk, and I'm uncomfortable doing that, but it may be what I have to do if the PC continues to refuse to share files with network devices. Is there anything I can do other than that to enable sharing?

I have the same problem. Everything is correct but there is no access to the shared folders. This has happened since the last patches from Microsoft. As always we will have to wait for someone to discover the bug.

I am not surprised.

I can access my tablet without restriction from my PC and download/upload files but there is no way I can get the tablet to link to the PC so I can download files from the PC to the tablet.

Windows security is just a great bowl of porridge. It seems as if it just good luck if it all works.

I tried understanding the credentials screen. I could change the password, but not see what the current password was which really wasn't the problem. I was entering the correct password, but the network wasn't accepting it as valid. It was, however, valid. I attempted to enter the same password to change it to, and Windows said I had already used that password. Windows was aware of the password, but was failing to allow me into the network, until I changed the password. Once changed the login worked. I was trying to login something from my Meta VR Quest 2 headset into the network to view files on the system.

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!!

Don't get too excited. After a few days I tried to grab a file from one of the two PCs on this network and it IS NOT WORKING AGIAN!!!!

I have tried everything, phone numbers, user names, passwords, Microsoft passwords, and all combinations of them.

I checked and rechecked all sharing settings on both PCs, and rebooted them multiple times.

I can not connect to either of them, from either of them. And no settings have changed.

Total waste of time, easier to e-mail myself files, or even use a thumb drive and move it from room to room. All this after I had spent the time getting it work work, AND THEN all the time allowing permissions on both PCs drives/folders, which took hours to do...

THANKS A LOT MICROSOFT!!! I swear it's like someone at Microsoft read this thread and saw the phone number solution and said "Nope, screw this guy!" and disabled it...