Windows 10: Password help when sharing on a home network

Hello, sorry if this is a repeat question but I've searched the forums and haven't managed to find the answer I'm after and I don't think I fully understand how to set up my home network correctly.


I'm trying to set up a network connection between several computers over my wireless network at home and I would like the access to be password protected. I have set the network as private, turned on file sharing and turned on password-protected sharing. The network access works and the first time I connected through explorer I was asked for a password, however I have never been asked for a password since. Even when both computers are restarted they have full access to each other. Is this expected behaviour? Ideally I would like to be asked for a password whenever I try to establish a connection between the machines. I have a third computer in the house and when this tries to access the other computers through the network it is asked for a password (although I haven't input the password as I don't want this machine to have constant access to the networked computers!). Please let me know if there is a way to achieve what I'm after or if I just misunderstand how password protection should work over a network.

:)

 

Network Sharing

Hi Arya,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

Provide us additional information to assist you better with this issue:

1. Are you trying to share the wireless network connection from Windows device to phone?
   
2. What is the make and model of the phone?
   
3. Which version of Windows is installed on your device?
   

Refer the article ‘Which version of Windows operating system am I running’
to provide the details.

If you’re referring to sharing the Wireless network connection in Windows 10, I suggest you to follow the steps mentioned below.

1. Press Windows + I key on your keyboard and click on Network & Internet.
   
2. On the network & Internet page, click on ‘Mobile hotspot’.
   
3. ‘Turn On’ Share my Internet connection with other devices under Mobile hotspot.
   
4. The default network name and password will be available under Mobile hotspot.
   
5. Enter the same password on the device which you’re trying to connect and check the status of the issue.
   

If you’re trying to share the internet connection, then refer the article
Use your PC as a mobile hotspot
for more information.

If you’re referring to ‘File sharing’, I suggest you to refer the section ‘How do I troubleshoot sharing and folders’ from the article ‘File
sharing over a network in Windows 10’.

Get back to us for further assistance on this issue. We will be happy to help you.

Regards,

Muralidhar

Microsoft Community Moderator

 

Share a folder over a home network without password prompting

There used to be a need for an extra step in some conditions** but I thought that need had disappeared [I still do the extra step routinely so I have not tested its need for several years].

** when using different Windows versions on a network that is connected by an ethernet cable directly between the two computers without any router

You used to have to
1 Set password protected sharing On
2 Create a local Admin account with the same name on every computer and set the same password for each of those accounts.
3 Enter the Admin's password when first challenged [when first trying to access a shared folder across the network].
[4 There was no further call for this password - it was a first-use-only thing.]

Perhaps this is still a useful step? Hopefully, a network buff will chip in soon.

In the meantime, you might check if you have included all the steps in Share Files and Folders Over a Network - TenForumsTutorials and that your Workgroup name is the same on all network computers.

Best of luck,
Denis

 

Windows 10 intermittently prompts for network credentials

Hi,



Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community..

I understand your concern and will assist you to resolve this issue.

I suggest you to follow the steps below and check if it helps.

• 
  Press Window Key, and type Network and sharing
  
• 
  Click on Change Advanced sharing settings
  
• 
  Select all network
  
• 
  Under Home Group connections
  
• 
  Select Use user Account and Password to connect to other computer
  
• 
  If don’t want the password follow the steps below
  
• 
  Select all network
  
• 
  Under password protected Sharing
  
• 
  Turn off Password Protected Sharing
  
  
  

Hope this helps. If the issue remains unresolved, please get back to us and we would be happy to help.