Can't access the other Windows 11 computers on my home network

Hello Horace,

I am grateful for your detailed input but my problem is not how to setup my desktop. The problem was that I could not make the sharing work despite accepting advice and suggestions from many people. Thankfully, I can now share with others because I have moved from a Microsoft Account to a Local Account for all my users.

Stan, home networking has been broken ever since they removed HomeGroup, which many think was to force us to use OneDrive. These usual fixes are not working for many.

I'm glad you found that a Local Account will work. How about if you now change that back to your MS Account in Settings > Accounts > Your Info > Sign in with a Microsoft Account Instead.

BTW this is the fix for corrupted account: to try a new Local Admin account and if it doesn't have the same problem, to move into it and then when ready delete the old account and convert the new Local to your MS Account. I wonder if this would work here? If not we'll know it's something in the MS account itself that is causing this.

Unfortunately we no longer have the MS Account Troubleshooter which might have fixed this, as they took it down a year ago and haven't replaced it. What often work in lieu of that is to change to a Local Account (even a brand new one) and then change it back to a MS account.

Let me know what you find.

Hello Stan,

It's probably due to the credentials located on your local machine. If you've set up a PIN for logging into Windows 11 and have never logged into the computer using a password, the PASSWORD is not located on the local machine. Since the PIN only works for the local device, and not across the network, you'll need to sign into the computer 1-time using the full password. It should then work after that...at least until an update wipes it out.

Go to Settings

Accounts

Sign-In Options

Under Additional Settings --> TURN OFF "For improved security, only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device

Click into some settings (e.g. Apps) and then click back on "Accounts"

Go back into Sign-in Options

You should not see "Password" located underneath "Security Key"

If after clicking on it you see "You're all set up"

Press "Windows Key + L" to lock your computer

Log into the machine using your full Windows 11 password

You should be all set!

Go to your other computer and try out your credentials.

Hope this helps!

P.S. You can then turn on the "Improved security, only allow Windows Hello" again and resume only using a PIN. The PASSWORD will now be stored.

This was the fix for me. I kept trying to use my PIN and was confusing it with my password. My work and home PCs are on the same network and I log into my work PC using a PIN that is a memorable phrase plus a few odd characters. The password itself was something randomly generated by my password vault program (LastPass) and consists of meaningless numbers, letters, and special characters. I never log in using my password and indeed was not really even remembering that there was a difference between the PIN and a password.

When I finally tried entering my password and not my PIN for the network credentials prompt, everything worked properly.

For many people (myself included) Microsoft calling this a PIN (personal identification NUMBER) is what is confusing. Microsoft now allows your PIN to consist of numbers, letters, and other characters. In other words, it is impossible to distinguish a password from a PIN simply by looking at what characters are allowed - a PIN can now be %yt9&-ert@Ht6 and not just something entirely numerical like 594432. As such, it is no longer intuitive to call it a PIN because for many people, they will associate this with something that is numbers-only, like the PIN associated with your debit card.

If you are on Computer #2 and trying to access Computer #1 on a windows home network, do the following:

1. Go to computer #1 and log in using your password (not your PIN) to ensure it is locally cached on computer #1. If you have never logged in using anything except a PIN, you will need to log in at least once using your password.
2. Make a note of computer #1's username and password. The username will usually be the email address associated with your Microsoft account
3. Go to computer #2 and when prompted for your network credentials, type in the username and password for computer #1

Nevadamistermom -

Thank you so much. I have been battling this issue for days now, I DID NOT want to remove my PIN, and once I followed your steps

If you are on Computer #2 and trying to access Computer #1 on a windows home network, do the following:

1) Go to computer #1 and log in using your password (not your PIN) to ensure it is locally cached on computer #1. If you have never logged in using anything except a PIN, you will need to log in at least once using your password.

2) Make a note of computer #1's username and password. The username will usually be the email address associated with your Microsoft account

3) Go to computer #2 and when prompted for your network credentials, type in the username and password for computer #1

everything worked like gangbusters. I even created this account to make sure to log in and give you the praise you deserved.