Turn Off Password Protected Sharing in Windows 11

Password protected sharing is a Windows feature that forces anyone trying to access your shared folders or printers over the network to enter a username and password from your PC. Turning it off lets other devices on your local network access those shared resources without credentials, which is convenient for home networks or trusted environments. This guide walks you through the exact steps to disable it in Windows 11, and covers common pitfalls and troubleshooting.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 11 PC with administrative privileges (you’ll need to confirm a UAC prompt).
• Access to the Control Panel (it’s still present in Windows 11, even though Settings is the primary interface).
• Knowledge of your network type: password protected sharing only applies to private networks. If your network is set to Public, the option is effectively off already, but you may want to switch to Private first.

Step-by-Step

1. Open Control Panel. Press Win + R, type control, and press Enter. Alternatively, search for “Control Panel” in the Start menu.
2. Navigate to Network and Sharing Center. In Control Panel, click “Network and Internet” (if you’re in Category view) or “Network and Sharing Center” (if you’re in Large/Small icons view). If you’re in Category view, click “Network and Sharing Center” under the “Network and Internet” section.
3. Click “Change advanced sharing settings”. This link is on the left sidebar of the Network and Sharing Center window.
4. Expand the current network profile. You’ll see three sections: Private, Guest or Public, and All Networks. Click the chevron (down arrow) next to “Private” to expand it. If your network is set to Private, this is the profile you need to edit. If you’re on a Public network, expand “Guest or Public” instead—but note that file sharing is usually disabled there anyway.
5. Find “Password protected sharing”. Scroll down within the expanded profile until you see the heading “Password protected sharing”.
6. Select “Turn off password protected sharing”. Click the radio button next to that option.
7. Save changes. Click the “Save changes” button at the bottom of the window. If you see a User Account Control prompt, click “Yes” to allow the change.
8. Verify the change. Reopen the Advanced sharing settings window and confirm that the radio button is still set to “Turn off password protected sharing”.

Common Mistakes

• Editing the wrong profile. The setting is per network profile. If you’re connected to a network that Windows classifies as Public, but you edit the Private profile, the change won’t apply. Always check which profile is active (look for “Active” next to the profile name in the Network and Sharing Center).
• Not saving changes. Forgetting to click “Save changes” is easy, especially if you close the window immediately. Always click it and wait for the confirmation.
• Confusing with “Network discovery” or “File and printer sharing”. Password protected sharing is a separate toggle. If you turn it off but file sharing is off, others still can’t access your folders. Make sure “File and printer sharing” is enabled in the same profile if you want to share.
• Assuming it affects all networks. The setting applies only to the profile you’re editing. If you switch networks (e.g., from home to a public hotspot), the setting for that new network may still have password protection on.

Tips

• Use it only on trusted networks. Turning off password protected sharing means anyone on the same local network can access your shared folders without authentication. That’s fine for a home Wi-Fi, but not for a coffee shop or office network.
• Set your network to Private. If you’re at home, make sure your network profile is set to “Private” so you can manage sharing settings properly. To change it, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi (or Ethernet), click your connection, and select “Private network”.
• Share specific folders only. Instead of sharing entire drives, share only the folders you want others to see. Right-click a folder > Properties > Sharing tab > Share, and set permissions to “Read” or “Read/Write” as needed.
• Remember the change is system-wide for that profile. Once you turn it off, all shared resources on that network profile become accessible without a password. If you later want to re-enable it, just go back and select “Turn on password protected sharing”.

Troubleshooting

If you’ve followed the steps but other devices still ask for a password, or you can’t access shared folders after turning it off, try the following:

• Check the active network profile. Open Network and Sharing Center and look under “View your active networks”. It will say “Private” or “Public” next to your connection. Make sure you edited the matching profile in Advanced sharing settings.
• Restart your PC. Sometimes the change doesn’t take effect immediately. A simple restart can refresh the network services.
• Verify that file sharing is enabled. In the same Advanced sharing settings, under the same profile, ensure “File and printer sharing” is turned on. Without it, password protection is irrelevant.
• Check firewall settings. Windows Defender Firewall might block SMB (port 445) even if sharing is enabled. Go to Control Panel > Windows Defender Firewall > Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall, and ensure “File and Printer Sharing” is checked for Private networks.
• Ensure all devices are on the same network. If the other device is on a different subnet or a guest network, it won’t see your shared folders even with password protection off.
• Use the “All Networks” section. If you want to disable password protection for every profile at once, expand “All Networks” in Advanced sharing settings and select “Turn off password protected sharing” there. This overrides the per-profile settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is password protected sharing exactly?

It’s a Windows setting that requires anyone trying to access shared folders or printers on your PC to enter a valid username and password from your computer. Turning it off removes that requirement, so anyone on the same local network can access those resources without credentials.

Is it safe to turn off password protected sharing?

It’s safe only on networks you trust, like your home Wi-Fi with a strong password. On public or untrusted networks, leaving it on is recommended to prevent unauthorized access to your shared files.

Will turning it off affect my own access to other computers?

No. This setting only controls how others access your shared resources. It doesn’t change how you access other computers’ shares.

Why do I still get asked for a password after turning it off?

Several reasons: you may have edited the wrong network profile, the other device might be trying to access an administrative share (like C$), or the change hasn’t propagated yet. Restart your PC and verify the active profile.

Can I turn it off for all networks at once?

Yes, in the “All Networks” section of Advanced sharing settings, you can set “Password protected sharing” to off. This applies to all profiles (Private, Guest, and Public).

Does this affect printer sharing?

Yes, password protected sharing applies to both file and printer shares. Turning it off means network printers connected to your PC can be used without a password.

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