Fix: “File Sharing Not Working” Error on Windows 11/10

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It is important to be able to share files with other Windows PCs on your network. But sometimes, “File Sharing Not Working” Error on Windows 11/10. The good news is that there are ways to get the function back. Most of the time, you’ll have problems with your system settings, a lack of permissions, your hardware, or Windows itself.

One of the most important parts of a Windows OS is the ability to share files. It makes it possible for computers on the same Local area network to share files (LAN). But some Windows 11 and Windows 10 users have said that file sharing doesn’t work. In Windows, it is much easier to share files with other people than in other operating systems.

You don’t need any kind of storage device to move files. For network sharing and file sharing, a systematic approach is enough. We mentioned below are the ways to fix “File Sharing Not Working” Error on Windows 11/10. You can also go to the official Microsoft support site for more information about this error.

Ways to fix “File Sharing Not Working” Error on Windows 11/10

Disable the “Password Protected Sharing” Option

Depending on how you’ve set up some settings, File Sharing might not work. For example, the problem might be caused by the fact that you have turned on “sharing with password protection.”

When password-protected sharing is turned on, only people with user accounts on your device can access the files you’ve shared. To fix the problem, follow these steps to turn off the “password protected sharing” setting:

1. Type Control Panel in the Start menu search bar and select the Best match.
2. Click the View by drop-down menu and select Small icons.
3. Select Network and Sharing Center.
4. Click the Change advanced sharing settings option.
5. Expand the All Networks category.
6. Scroll down to the Password protected sharing section and select Turn off password protected sharing.
7. Press the Save changes button.

Enable the “SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support” Option

If the “SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support” feature is turned off, you’ll often run into the problem at hand. Server Message Block, or SMB, is a simple network protocol that lets Windows devices on the same network share files. To fix the problem, follow these steps to turn on the “SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support” option:

1. Type Control Panel in the Start menu search bar and select the Best match.
2. Click the View by drop-down menu and select Small icons.
3. Select Programs and Features.
4. Click the Turn Windows features on or off option on the left.
5. Check the SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support option and press OK.
6. Finally, restart your computer to save these changes.

Re-Enable the File Sharing Tool

This error message shows up most of the time when File Sharing is turned off. So, a simple way out is to turn the tool back on. Here’s what you need to do to turn on the File Sharing tool:

1. Type Control Panel in the Start menu search bar and select the Best match.
2. Click the View by drop-down menu and select Small icons.
3. Select Network and Sharing Center.
4. Click the Change advanced sharing settings option.
5. Expand the Private category.
6. Scroll down to the Network discovery section and select the Turn on network discovery option.
7. Scroll down to the File and printer sharing section and select the Turn on file and printer sharing option. From there, press the Save changes button at the bottom.
8. Finally, restart your device and try running the File Sharing tool.

Use a Different File Sharing Connection

The problem could be caused by the connection you’re using for File Sharing. Most likely, 128-bit encryption is used to protect File Sharing connections on your device. But some Windows devices don’t support 128-bit encryption and instead use either 40-bit or 56-bit encryption.

You’d have to change the encryption level for File Sharing connections to fix the problem. Here’s how to change from one File Sharing connection to another on Windows:

1. Type Control Panel in the Start menu search bar and select the Best match.
2. Click the View by drop-down menu and select Small icons.
3. Select Network and Sharing Center.
4. Click the Change advanced sharing settings option.
5. Expand the All Networks menu and scroll to the File sharing connections section.
6. Select the 40- or 56- bit encryption option and then press the Save changes button at the bottom.

Enable the “File Sharing” Option in the Windows Firewall Settings

The Windows Firewall might also be the reason you’re experiencing the issue at hand. Most of the time, the “File Sharing” option in the Firewall settings will be turned off. So, you can tackle the problem by enabling the “File Sharing” option through these steps:

1. Type Windows Security in the Start menu search bar and select the Best match.
2. Select the Firewall & network protection option on the right-hand side.
3. Click the Allow an app through firewall option.
4. Check the File and Printer Sharing option and then press OK.

FAQ

Why can’t I share a folder in Windows 11?

“Cannot access shared folder in Windows 11” can happen for a number of reasons. There could be a problem with the network settings, the drive settings, or the spelling of the folder names. And sometimes, the user account that owns the folder has permissions that aren’t right.

Why is file share not working?

If Windows file sharing doesn’t work, it could be because sharing is password protected. If you don’t have a user account on this PC or a username and password, you can’t use File Explorer to get to the shared folder. So, you can choose to turn off the feature that requires a password.

Does Windows 11 support file sharing?

On Windows 11, open File Explorer, choose the file or folder you want to share, and then click “Share.” Then choose the way to share, such as email, Nearby sharing, or an app, and follow the on-screen instructions.