Intermittent file sharing problem on Windows 11 network

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Intermittent file sharing problem on Windows 11 network

EdwinRobertson-6611 20

This is a private Windows 11 network with three computers A, B and C and a printer. All computers running up to date Windows 11. All three successfully see each other in File Explorer, file share and print. Sometimes, and it is often after one of the computers has “fallen asleep” and been reawakened, there is a communication problem. Thereafter, computers A and B see each other in File Explorer and B can file share with A but A can no longer file share with B receiving the error 0x80070035 “The Network Path was not found.” They remain like this until a windows update. Thereafter, it recurs at some point. All this time computer C can see A and B in File Explorer and can file share with them and A and B can see C and file share with it. Computers A and C are Acers and Computer B is a Dell.

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Hi EdwinRobertson-6611

The fact that A and B can see each other, B can access A, and C can access both A and B suggests this is not a general network discovery issue, but a one-way SMB communication problem between A and B.

Since the issue appears after sleep/wake and resolves temporarily after updates, I'd check:

From A, try accessing B using \\B-IP-Address\ShareName instead of \\ComputerName\ShareName. If the IP works but the computer name does not, it points to a name resolution issue.
On B, verify that the Function Discovery Provider Host, Function Discovery Resource Publication, SSDP Discovery, and UPnP Device Host services are running.
Clear any saved credentials for B in Credential Manager on A and reconnect.
When the issue occurs, confirm B's network profile is still set to Private and that File and Printer Sharing remains allowed through Windows Defender Firewall.

Can you also provide the Windows 11 version/build number on all three PCs, and whether file sharing is using local user accounts/passwords or password-protected sharing is disabled? That may help narrow down the cause.