Unable to access shared folder on Windows 10 [Super Guide]

Ivan Jenic
by Ivan Jenic
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Unable to access shared folder on Windows 10

Many Windows 10 users reported that Windows is unable to access the shared folder on their PC. This can be an issue, and in today’s article we’re going to show you how to fix this problem.

What can I do if I’m unable to access shared folder on Windows 10? First thing that you should do in order to fix this problem is to enable folder sharing and network discovery. To do that, just check your network settings window. If the problem is still there, make sure that the required services are running and are set to start automatically.

What to do if shared folder is not accessible on Windows 10?

  1. Check the availability of the folder sharing setup on your PC
  2. Enable network discovery
  3. Check your PC’s credentials
  4. Enable all Network services
  5. Run the Shared Folder Troubleshooter

1. Check the availability of the folder sharing setup on your PC

If you are unable to access a shared folder on Windows 10, the first thing to do is to check your system, to ascertain if the File Sharing setup is available. Normally, this setup is built-in on Windows; thus, it is usually present.

To run this check, follow the guidelines below:

  1. Open the Start Menu and click on Settings.settings app windows 10 unable to access shared folder
  2. Select Network and Internet.network & internet windows 10 unable to access shared folder
  3. Under Network and Internet, select Network and Sharing Center.
  4. Now click on Change adapter settings.change adapter options windows 10 unable to access shared folder
  5. Locate your network connection, right-click on it and select Properties.properties network connections windows 10 unable to access shared folder
  6. Navigate to the This connection uses the following items area and then locate the File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks.file and printer sharing for Microsoft networks can't access shared folder
  7. If the option is available, simply check the box next to it; otherwise, proceed.
  8. Click on the Install.
  9. Afterward, click OK.
  10. Exit the window and restart your PC.

If the problem persists, you can try the next fix.

2. Enable network discovery

In case you are experiencing the Windows 10 unable to access shared folder error, it is recommended you check if your PC‘s network is discoverable by other computers. To configure Network discovery on Windows 10, follow the simple steps below:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Select Network and Internet.
  3. In the left panel, click either Wi-Fi or Ethernet (depending on your connection type).network and internet windows 10 unable to access shared folder
  4. Under the Related Settings menu, click on Change advanced sharing options.change advanced sharing options windows 10 unable to access shared folder
  5. Under Advanced options, check if the Make this PC discoverable option is enabled ( On). If it is not enabled (Off), simply enable it by toggling the button to On.turn on network discovery can't access shared folder
  6. Then click on Save changes

If the problem persists after making your PC discoverable, there is obviously another factor in play. Thus, you can try the next solution.

3. Check your PC’s credentials

If you’re unable to access the shared folder on your PC, it’s possible that you have issues with credentials. However, you can fix that by doing the following:

  1. Open the Start Menu and search for control panel.
  2. Select Control Panel.control panel search shared folder
  3. Navigate to User Accounts and click on it.user accounts can't access shared folder
  4. Under User Accounts, locate and select Credential Manager.credential manager can't access shared folder
  5. Locate and click on Windows Credentials.windows credentials network sharing problem in windows 10
  6. Select Add a Windows credential.add a windows credential shared folder can't access
  7. Add other relevant details like Admin username, password and hosting PC‘s IP.credentials information windows 10 unable to access shared folder
  8. Save changes by clicking OK.

If the problem persists after running this, you can try the next solution.

4. Enable all Network services

If you’re unable to access shared folder on your PC, ensure that you enable all relevant network services on your PC. Below is a list of relevant services that should be enabled and run automatically in order for file sharing to work:

  • IPv6
  • SSDP Discovery
  • Publication
  • Function Discovery Provider
  • DNS Client
  • Peer Networking Group
  • Host
  • Function Discovery Result
  • UPnP Device Host
  • Home Group Provider
  • Home Group Listener.

If the problem persists, you can try the next solution.

5. Run the Shared Folder Troubleshooter

There is a designated troubleshooter on Windows 10 that is specially designed for fixing errors such as this. If you’re still unable to access shared folders, running the troubleshooter might be helpful. You can do that by following these steps:

  1. Go to Settings. Locate and click on Update & Security.update & security windows 10 unable to access shared folder
  2. Select Troubleshoot > Shared Folders.troubleshoot windows 10 cannot access shared folder
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish up the process.shared folder troubleshooter unable to access shared folder
  4. Exit program and restart PC.

There you go, these are a couple of solutions that might help you fix Windows 10 unable to access shared folder. Feel free to let us know in the comments section if these solutions helped you fix the problem.

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