Windows 10: Accessing Network shares with no password works on PC-A but not PC-B, why?

Ok so I have 2 Windows 11 PCs, both with the latest OS Win11PRO 24H2, Both machines are logged in with my Microsoft account, we'll call them PC-A and PC-B, both setup with a PIN. They are near Identical, same Windows features, and same group policy settings. We have Share PCs that have no user password, and shares that are open to everyone with read/write access. Everything is isolated so no security concerns with these machines. The issue is specifically with the new Windows 11 machine, PC-B. When I go to open the share drive on the Share PCs, PC-A asks for credentials and I use my local Micr

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How to limit Windows Sharing to one PC on a network?

This sounds like sharing with user accounts. I have password protected sharing turned off. Would I have to enable this (and thusly enter a username/password whenever I connect to the shared folder) to do this? I don't want to screw with usernames and passwords beyond initially setting it up (read: I don't want to enter a username/password when I connect to the folder, I just want to limit access to one particular PC).

The shared folder is on my main PC, and the only PC I want to access it is a laptop on the same network.

 

How to limit Windows Sharing to one PC on a network?

Is the one PC in particular a different PC on the local network?

+1 to what newtekie1 said if you want a quick and simple route.

You could restrict by using Password Protected Sharing in Network and Sharing Center advanced settings. Then create a user or user(s) with credentials (passwords), and add them to shares or remove them from shares. Then if you don't want someone accessing anymore, lock their account, remove it, change the password. Probably above and beyond what you need for this situation though.

 

How to limit Windows Sharing to one PC on a network?

Unfortunately, without having a domain and DC using AD DS or similar, I don't believe you can do the shares how you see them on a home-grade network without simply using accounts and account authorization. You need to treat and view these local accounts as a workstation ID instead of an account logged into your computer like you are now. In that respect, this would make limited access quite easy. Give the user of that computer the ID and password to access your PC on the network and they'll have access to specific shares. You'll be a mini-network admin in no time! *Big Grin

You can have access credentials saved on the PC accessing shares, reducing the need to login every time to access the share.

Another option would be to modify the share in Computer Management. Shared Folders > Shares.

Add a $ at the end of the share name to make it invisible, so you must know the location to access it. You will see examples of this as there are some default shares within Windows already setup this way.

With that you may still want to do as suggested above by newtekie1 with permissions and/or with local accounts to restrict access still so you can assign whom has access to that share.

Beyond that I don't believe there is a way to restrict via PC ID's, because each PC is its own identity, and none are registered to a central server like a domain controller, so using the PC name/ID as a network resource on your home network in the method you want isn't realistic. But if you can manage to accept and view extra created accounts (create them in Computer management too btw...then you have one window for creating and managing accounts and shares) as a PC ID, you'll be fine me thinks.