Solution:Windows Asks For Password On Shared Folders On The Network

This is the most common problem that I encounter when we make a home network using Windows Workgroup that Windows starts asking for username and password when we try to access a shared folder across the network. The worst condition comes in when Windows asks for only the password. The user name is defaulted to ComputerName\Guest and the field is disabled. I have never been able to logon using ANY password under this situation.
While there are many other reasons for this password protection, one of the solutions that I have found out is an interesting one .. I’ve observed that if we disable the guest account in Windows, that freaky guest login also disappears. To disable the guest account, do the following:
 

Go to Start –> Run –> compmgmt.msc
From the left hand pane, select Local Users And Groups –> Users
In the right hand pane, right click Guest and go to properties.
Check “Account is disabled” option.


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46 responses to “Solution:Windows Asks For Password On Shared Folders On The Network”

  1. Sabby

    My guest account is disable, but still i am getting the same coomputernameguest(grayedout) & underneath that password box. I have no password on my machine..,
    Any help
    Thanks in Advance

  2. Bilal

    windows in some settings requires the destination machine to have a password on it. so, if you are in machine “A” and you want to reach machine “B”, “B” Should have a password on it! I don’t know why for sure but that what I found.

  3. Peek-A-Chu

    Got it peeps! Temp solution, though, still working around it. I enabled the guest account and gave it a password, it’s just like Bilal said. In the computer I am using to access my main machine, I type that guest password when asked for it.
    I’m trying to see if setting up an account on the main machine with the computer name of the second machine will work. If not, I’ll still have the guest account solution.
    It’s described here:
    http://en.kioskea.net/contents/configuration-reseau/partage-fichiers.php3
    Cheers!

  4. Barnz

    Hey guys, I’ve been searching for a solution for this for ages as I didn’t want to enable another account etc.
    I found this thread that opened up 4 days ago, and I didn’t even realise this option existed!
    You can actually turn off password protected sharing under the advanced sharing settings…
    http://www.sevenforums.com/network-sharing/36313-windows-7-network-password-issue.html#post362084
    – has the answers shown in a screenshot.
    Cheers

  5. Sanix

    @Bilal
    This is by design that there should be a username and a password to access a Windows share.
    @Peek-A-Chu
    Password protecting a guest account is the perfect solution for network sharing as it’s secure enough not to give a standard user password to any network app.
    @Barnz
    Great find. I was searching for that in my Windows 7 and found the solution in your comment 🙂

  6. Goran

    Barnz :
    Hey guys, I’ve been searching for a solution for this for ages as I didn’t want to enable another account etc.
    I found this thread that opened up 4 days ago, and I didn’t even realise this option existed!
    You can actually turn off password protected sharing under the advanced sharing settings…
    http://www.sevenforums.com/network-sharing/36313-windows-7-network-password-issue.html#post362084
    – has the answers shown in a screenshot.
    Cheers

    Turning off password protected sharing under the advanced sharing settings does nothing for me. Still can’t access shared folder from XP machine.

  7. Rizwan Haider Siddiqui

    heloo,
    i m using Windows 7 and have an issue of “network password” so i disable guest account and network password is disable at advance setting but i did not work beacuse i still require username and password
    so if any one have its solution then kindly reply me at
    dotmsn@msn.com / network.engineer@msn.com
    Thanks Alot

  8. Dsilva

    Windows XP request for “Guest” Password when the Simple File Sharing is enabled.
    Try This:
    Control Panel>Folder Options> Click on View TAB>, in the Box look and clear “Use simple file sharing (Recommended)”, apply and try access again the computer from the network.
    Font: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307874/EN-us

    1. ImperialDave

      @Dsilva:
      DSilvia, you are awesome. That is the solution to prevent these workstations from forcing the network username into being the “Guest” account.
      I had to shut off Simple File Sharing on the XP machine that was acting as the file sever for my client’s network, and then the normal workgroup username/passwords started authenticating.

  9. TWiStErRob

    I have found a way to disable the nagging password box in Windows 7 (probably Vista too).
    1. Click Start
    2. Under you user picture, right click Network
    3. Choose Properties (this opens Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network and Sharing Center)
    4. Click Choose homegroup and sharing options in the lower list (this opens Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network and Sharing Center\Homegroup)
    5. Click Change advanced sharing settings… (this opens Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network and Sharing Center\Advanced sharing settings)
    6. The setting right before the last one is: Password protected sharing!
    7. Choose Turn off password protected sharing and you are good to go without any restarts and stuff.
    Bonus: A quicker way: Type “advanced share” and choose Manage advanced sharing settings
    (this will guide you to step 5.)

  10. Scooby Doo

    I had a similar problem to this (Windows 7 stopped being able enumerate or use file shares on an XP machine, even though passwords matched), but none of what’s described here worked. Here’s what I did to fix it. On the Windows 7 machine, in the Group Policy Editor, in the Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options folder, set the “Network Security: LAN Manager authentication level” value to “Send LM & NTLM – use NTLMv2 session security if negotiated”. I don’t really understand why it worked, but that fixed it (no reboot needed).
    This should work between any Windows machine of any release, but for machines without a group policy editor (home, professional etc), follow the instructions at http://www.windowsreference.com/windows-vista/how-to-get-group-policy-editor-in-vista-home-edition/ and use the value ‘1’ (at least I think it’s 1, I’m just guessing). It should have the same effect.
    keywords: Windows 7, Enter security password, sharing, DOMAIN, XP

  11. Scooby Doo

    As an update to my last post, it turns out the date was set wrong on the XP machine. Correcting that would have fixed it instead of the above, I think.

  12. Jan

    I used to view files on my television with an old xbox (not 360!) and XP. I have win7 now but I can’t seem to access them on the xbox. I can see the computer name so at least I know the network itself is ok. But I get that nasty username and password and I have no idea how to make it work. Anyone got an idea?

  13. dodopet

    I tried all the methods that all of you told. But none of them worked. The enter network password box keep poping. Is there any other way..??

  14. marko

    delete the login windows password from the user account on the host machine then try again with network machine it will work now 🙂

  15. J.L.E.

    So um, will formatting fix this? cause i have 2 xp machines and my pc cant access the other pc without that password box popping up. Iv’e tried every xp suggestion here as theres NO WINDOWS 7 on my network. Email me with help plz, LJsHaven@Gmail.com

  16. Davi

    I would like to introduce Windows Password Recovery Tool 3.0 . it not only supports XP, 2000, and NT, I have personally tested it with Vista and windows 7. It works perfectly to reset any local user account to a blank password. I Wrote it to an old 128mb USB flash drive do this. Booting up and clearing a password takes a minute or two works like a charm.
    It also supports cd/dvd

  17. jason

    Another strange solution. I have been working at this problem for hours before I noticed my PC clock was over 4 years behind once I corrected the time. The shares were accessible.

  18. kapil

    hi

  19. leesoloongh

    Guys try this one it worked for me …
    username\guest password prompt
    Steve Winograd [MVP] posted on Sunday, August 12, 2007 9:30 PM
    On the XP Home computer:
    1. Make sure that the Guest account is enabled for access by other
    computers over the network:
    a. Open a command prompt window (Start > Run > cmd).
    b. Type this command, then press Enter:
    net user guest /active:yes
    2. Remove the network password from the Guest account:
    a. Click Start > Run.
    b. Type “control userpasswords2” in the box and click OK.
    c. Click Guest.
    d. Click Reset Password.
    e. Click OK without entering a new password.

    Best Wishes,
    Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)
    Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
    for everyone to see. I’m sorry, but I don’t answer questions
    addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.
    Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
    http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

    1. Darryl

      @leesoloongh: @Joe: @leesoloongh:
      Instant solution for 2 networked XP Home machines! Was also able to instantly access shared folders from my Win7 laptop without password request. No reboot on any of the machines. I researched for hours trying to find this XP HOME cure…now I can sleep…thank you is not enough! Anyone that successfully uses this solution please share.

  20. Jim Parsons

    I applied leesoloongh’s two-step solution to my XP Home PC, rebooted, and logged in as Guest.
    This has made a difference in what I see at the Win 7 PC. Now, instead of asking for a password, it just gives me an error message that says: “\\XPNAME is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. Logon failure: the user has not been granted the requested logon type at this computer.”
    I can see the Win 7 files from the XP machine, but not vice versa.
    Jim

  21. Joe

    LEESOLOONGH has the answer for me. I tried 100’s of things for many websites. I did what he prescribed below and it worked like a charm.
    THANK YOU LEE.
    leesoloongh says:
    April 25, 2010 at 6:53 am
    Guys try this one it worked for me …
    username\guest password prompt
    Steve Winograd [MVP] posted on Sunday, August 12, 2007 9:30 PM
    On the XP Home computer:
    1. Make sure that the Guest account is enabled for access by other
    computers over the network:
    a. Open a command prompt window (Start > Run > cmd).
    b. Type this command, then press Enter:
    net user guest /active:yes
    2. Remove the network password from the Guest account:
    a. Click Start > Run.
    b. Type “control userpasswords2? in the box and click OK.
    c. Click Guest.
    d. Click Reset Password.
    e. Click OK without entering a new password.

    Best Wishes,
    Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)
    Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
    for everyone to see. I’m sorry, but I don’t answer questions
    addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.
    Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
    http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

  22. leesoloongh

    Jim Parsons ,
    don’t log in as a Guest in your XP PC .. use your normal account
    and disable the guest account in your XP PC ..
    this is how i did it.
    to disable your guest account go to
    Control Panel > User Account > Guest . and disable the account ..
    then try to enter your XP PC from the Win7 PC.

  23. Jim Parsons

    Hmmm. That (Guest disabled, logged into normal account) was how I started. That’s the state that keeps asking for a password at the Win7 end.
    I never used the Guest account before today, so it was disabled. I enabled it after following your instructions for making sure it didn’t require a password.
    So, I’ve just disabled the XP Guest account, logged in using my normal XP account, and I’m back to the Win 7 request for a password and subsequent log-in failure. This is where I came in. There must be more to it.
    Jim

  24. Keith McDonald

    I had the same problem and its been driving me crazy.
    On a Workgroup network, the Win 7 machine could access shared folders on a Win XP machine. But from the Win XP machine access was blocked by a prompt for a password to access the Win 7 Shared folder. There was no way through the password, even though the two machines have exactly the same User Name and Password.
    I tried several suggestions from this thread and others finally only this worked.
    On the Win 7 machine I set up a new Standard User (not Guest and not Administrator). When I added a password to this new account, I finally got access from the Win XP machine.
    Oh yes – earlier I’d:-
    a) Shared the chosen folder(s) on the Win 7 machine,
    b) Enabled Guest User on the Win7 machine(as suggested above),
    c) Changed the Network Security default as Scooby Doo suggested.
    “On the Windows 7 machine, in the Group Policy Editor, in the Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options folder, set the “Network Security: LAN Manager authentication level” value to “Send LM & NTLM – use NTLMv2 session security if negotiated”.
    Thanks for all the postings on this thread. They’ve made the impossibly obscure possible. Mr Gates should be proud of his ‘easy to use’ software!

  25. Marat

    I have a similar problem that is driving me insane. I have a media player that I have connected to my router so that I may play movies from my computer on my TV. The media player works fine and can see my computers name but I get prompted for a Net User ID and password each time I try and access my computer. Same setup – windows 7 64 bit. I have disabled network password in advanced settings and tried everything mentioned earlier. Any help would be greatly appreciated 🙂

  26. Mantis2k

    Keith M. solved it for me – I had everything configured correctly for windows 7 public sharing with password protected sharng off – except there was one existing user account without a password. Once I gave it a password, my other workstations can now access the windows 7 public share with no login / logon prompt. Seems to be a glitch with windows 7.

  27. mudstuff

    Hi,
    I have a similar issue. I have a HTPC with Win7 on it and one admin account without a password. I can see my Vista laptop and use the shares fine but Win7 shares won’t open on my laptop (over wireless).
    As soon as I set a password it worked which is great but I don’t want a password or to create another account – I have it like this so I can reboot my win7 HTPC from my remote control and it will boot back in to the OS and load my media centre app XBMC from startup.
    Having a password would break this and I’d need to get a keyboard out to enter the password which is not acceptable.
    Any advice??

  28. Starman44

    On your Windows 7 Machine, Open ControlPanel > UserAccountsAndFamilySafety > Credential Manager
    Choose ‘Add A Windows Credential’
    Enter Username (Use Computer Name of Your Other Computer) followed by backslash, then, ‘HomeGroupUser$’
    Looks Like This:
    UserName: James-PC\HomeGroupUser$
    Password: The Login Password of your other computer
    You should be able to access the shared folders without a login appearing now.

  29. Wesley

    Have you tried running Windows Explorer as an Admin. I was suffering from this exact same thing and I just decided to run it as an admin and it worked perfectly

  30. Damon A

    Same problem here, disabled all but one account, always asks for password. Too frustrating that this is so hard to debug.

  31. 3s

    I thing i’ve found a solution for the password protected sharing.
    when the folder you want to share keeps asking for a password, you must enter the user “guest” into that map. then anyone can access that folder.
    you do it like this: properties on the folder–> sharing tab, here you see a button with share (normally it is popped out) when you click this button there will appear a window where you can add people too a list. here you must add the guest account.
    hope it works for you guys cause it did with me.

  32. mike

    Go into the pc you want to go to and then click on the drive you are sharing, I am assuming that you are sharing the drive, then click properties, then sharing, then advanced sharing and then click permissions. Up top it should say “Everyone”, in the bottom box click ‘full control’, click apply and then ok how ever many times it takes you to get out of all that. Try going to the drive from the other pc, and it should now work. I went from a Win7 64bit to a Win7 32bit pc and this works just fine. My Acronis now sees the other pc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND I can create files and folders on the shared pc now.

  33. renjithkannen

    Hi
    I am facing a strange problem.
    I have two machines connected on network. I have both machines C drives shared for accessing data.
    I configured the network. I can see these shared drives from other machine.
    when i tried to open the c drive; it refuses by saying that user doesn’t have no sufficient rights. Its in a workgroup environment.
    When i try to map the drive from the other machine, it is asking for a password that doesn’t exist at all..
    Any solution ??
    thanx in advance renjith

  34. dosmastr

    uhm… the directions in the article are wrong. there IS NO local users and groups item in ANY pane of the compmgmt program.
    tried Steve Winograd and now the network resource is not available to me lol..
    trying a reboot now.

  35. chuck

    On XP machine goto Local Security Policy, Security Options, Network Access for local accts. Chane to CLASSIC LOCAL USERS AUTHENTICATE THEMSELVES

  36. interal

    i dont see local users and groups either im on win7 home premium 64bit it keeps asking for a password while i disabled that dozens of times and ive added every1 to the shared folders aswell no luck
    this windows sharing bug seems unsolvable

  37. EdK

    Windows 7: Assuming you have the folder you want to share in the public folder. Right click on the folder name; Go to “share with” – advanced sharing settings. Make sure public folder sharing is turned on, and Turn off password protected sharing.

  38. interal

    turned out that windows firewall made it ask for a password. ive added the subnet to the incomming connections to be allowed without verification
    weird thing is : windows firewall stays active if u disable the windows firewall service compleetly
    hope this helps for some of u

  39. Serge

    Scooby Doo, you’re genious!
    It works on Vista too!!!

    1. Sanix

      @Serge: Another thumbs up for Scooby Doo 🙂

  40. Felipe

    In windows XP, just follow “windows home network wizard and turn on windows file sharing. You will not be asked for a password anymore. It worked for me.

  41. sabrina

    Can’t change Permission on a shared folder to any Domain user. I setup a
    shared folder. Give it a name, click on Permission Button. On the Share
    Permission window I click on the Add button to add a domain user. on the
    Select Users or Group window I click on the Location Button to change to the
    Domain only it’s not there. The only thing there is the local machine.
    Also have tried using Control Panel/Admin tools, but get the same thing.
    Back ground info… OS XP Pro w/ DHCP network with Domain. File and Print
    Sharing – on. Simple file sharing – off. Network is working fine, can see all
    other Computers and Domain/Logon server (W2K). Can get e-mail and get on the
    Internet. As well as print to a network Printer.
    So how do I setup Domain user on the shared folder?
    anyone can help me….

  42. modzee

    The best fix is the time issue as mentioned above,just make sure the two pcs r showing d same time and ur good,worked for me in Windows 7 anyways.

  43. Piyush

    Guys, just login with your PC username and password. that’s it…