Find network access credentials windows 10 or 11

Reported

Anonymous

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?

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.

0 comments

143 answers

Anonymous

2024-12-29T18:45:24+00:00

Finally something that worked for me. thank you
0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2025-01-29T03:36:08+00:00

Okay, I had everything working... then my file server (hosting the shares) was force upgraded to Windows 11 24H2. And since then, nothing can connect to any of the shares, and none of the methods listed here are working. I'm pulling what's left of my hair out.

WHY IS THIS SO DIFFICULT? I shared a folder on one PC, and no other PCs on the same damn network logged in with the same Microsoft account can access them... even though I have password protected sharing turned off on all PCs, it keeps prompting for network credentials, and nothing I put into that dialog works. Just a never ending cycle of "The username or password is incorrect".

ANY other ideas? Any idea why this 24H2 upgrade broke things that were working fine?

HELP
0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2025-02-10T06:57:22+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!

Thanks for your tip CAH17. I don't yet understand it, but entering my phone number (without country code) and Microsoft Account password allowed to connect to my other laptop to see the shared folders. Weird to me that it doesn't work with my Microsoft Account email address. I didn't try skipping the password like you did. Remote Desktop login still isn't working, but I don't need that right now.

Just to be clear about my situation - I'm trying to connect from my Windows 11 laptop to my Windows 10 laptop at home.

Thanks for your help. Using my Microsoft user ID and password worked for me.
0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2025-02-10T17:41:37+00:00
I have the same issue. I am trying to connect my Windows 10 desktop, that I use as a file server, to my Windows 11 laptop. This worked fine until the most recent update, now it asks "Enter network credentials". But unlike above, the username is preset to the name of the laptop and I cannot change it to my phone number. The logon password to the laptop does not work and my Windows logon password does not work.

How do I find the password? How do I change the username if I need to? I have tried following the instructions given in the first reply (24 Feb 2022, DaveM121) but what I see in Control Panel does not match what is given there so I never find the option to show the password.

PC

Edition Windows 10 Pro
Version 22H2
Installed on ‎04/‎02/‎2021
OS build 19045.5371
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19060.1000.0

Laptop
```
Edition    Windows 11 Home
Version    24H2
Installed on    ‎26/‎01/‎2025
OS build    26100.2894
Experience    Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.36.0
```
0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2025-02-10T18:11:56+00:00

OK, I have made some progress. I did not realise that password protection had been switched on by the udate to the laptop. I have switched that off now and the PC can now see the laptop and connect to Users. But in Users I can only see the user "Default", not my user name.

How do I get to see my user name?
0 comments No comments