Network Credentials Access Error on Windows 10: Solved

Yes, the “Enter network credentials” access error on Windows 10 is solved by adjusting your network discovery and sharing settings, updating your Windows sign-in options, or adding the correct credentials in Credential Manager. This error typically appears when you try to access a shared folder or drive on another computer and Windows insists on asking for a username and password even when none is set. Below are the proven fixes, the reasons behind the error, and how to prevent it from coming back.

Why Windows 10 Asks for Network Credentials

Windows 10 asks for network credentials when it cannot authenticate you to a remote computer’s shared resource. This happens in several common scenarios:

• The remote PC has password-protected sharing turned on, and you haven’t supplied the correct username/password.
• You are using a Microsoft account, and Windows tries to use that account’s credentials instead of the local account on the remote machine.
• The remote computer’s “Network access: Do not allow anonymous enumeration of SAM accounts” policy is enabled, which blocks guest access.
• Your local user account has a blank password, but the remote PC requires a non-empty one.
• Network discovery or file sharing is disabled on one of the machines.

Understanding the cause is half the fix. Most home users hit this because they expect to access shared folders without any password, but Windows 10 defaults to password-protected sharing.

Fix 1: Turn Off Password-Protected Sharing (Home Networks)

If you trust all devices on your home network, disabling password-protected sharing is the quickest fix. Here’s how:

1. Open Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Change advanced sharing settings.
2. Under All Networks, select Turn off password protected sharing.
3. Click Save changes.

After this, other computers on the same network should be able to access your shared folders without entering credentials. Note that this applies to the computer you are trying to access, not the one you are connecting from.

Fix 2: Add the Correct Credentials in Credential Manager

If you do need a password (e.g., the remote PC has a user account with a password), add the credentials manually so Windows doesn’t keep asking:

1. Open Control Panel → Credential Manager → Windows Credentials.
2. Click Add a Windows credential.
3. Enter the remote computer’s name (e.g., DESKTOP-ABC123), the username (e.g., alex or DESKTOP-ABC123\alex), and the password.
4. Click OK and try accessing the share again.

If you use a Microsoft account, you may need to enter your Microsoft account email and password here instead of a local account name.

Fix 3: Use the IP Address Instead of the Computer Name

Sometimes the error is caused by DNS or NetBIOS name resolution issues. Instead of typing \\COMPUTERNAME\share, try \\192.168.1.10\share (replace with the actual IP address of the remote PC). To find the IP address, run ipconfig on the remote machine and look for the IPv4 address under your active network adapter.

Fix 4: Check the “Allow Windows to Manage HomeGroup Connections” Setting

On the remote computer, navigate to Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Change advanced sharing settings → All Networks. Under File sharing connections, select Use 128-bit encryption to help protect file sharing connections (recommended) and ensure the option “Allow Windows to manage homegroup connections” is selected. This setting sometimes interferes with credential prompts.

Fix 5: Modify Local Security Policy (For Advanced Users)

If the error persists, the remote PC may have a security policy that blocks guest access. Open Local Security Policy (type secpol.msc in Run) on the remote computer, then go to Security Settings → Local Policies → Security Options. Find “Network access: Do not allow anonymous enumeration of SAM accounts and shares” and set it to Disabled. Also, check “Network access: Sharing and security model for local accounts” – set it to Classic – local users authenticate as themselves if you want to use specific local accounts.

Fix 6: Update Windows and Network Drivers

Microsoft has released patches that address network credential issues. Make sure both computers have all pending Windows updates installed. Also, update your network adapter drivers via Device Manager (right-click the adapter → Update driver). Outdated drivers can cause authentication failures.

What to Do If You Still See the Error

If none of the above works, try these additional steps:

• Restart both computers – this clears temporary credential caches.
• Ensure both PCs are on the same network and have network discovery enabled (Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Advanced sharing settings → Turn on network discovery).
• Check that the shared folder’s permissions include “Everyone” or the specific user you are using. Right-click the folder → Properties → Sharing → Advanced Sharing → Permissions.
• Temporarily disable third-party antivirus/firewall software that might block SMB traffic (port 445).
• If you are using a Microsoft account, try signing in with your Microsoft account credentials (email and password) instead of a local username.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Windows 10 keep asking for network credentials even after I enter them?

This usually happens because the credentials you are entering are not being saved, or the remote PC is rejecting them due to password-protected sharing being enabled. Try adding the credentials manually in Credential Manager as described above, and ensure you are using the correct username (if the remote PC uses a Microsoft account, use the email address).

Can I bypass the network credentials prompt on a home network?

Yes, by turning off password-protected sharing on the remote computer, you can allow access without a password. However, this makes your shared files accessible to anyone on the local network, so only do this on a trusted network.

What is the difference between a Microsoft account and a local account for network sharing?

When you use a Microsoft account, Windows may try to authenticate using your Microsoft account credentials, which often don’t match the local accounts on other PCs. For network sharing, it’s often easier to create a local user account on the remote PC with a password and use those credentials.

Is it safe to disable password-protected sharing?

It is safe only on a private, trusted network. On public or untrusted networks, keep it enabled to prevent unauthorized access to your files.

Does this error occur on Windows 11 as well?

Yes, Windows 11 has the same error, and the fixes are almost identical. The steps for disabling password-protected sharing and using Credential Manager are the same in both versions.

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