Unable to Share Files on Home Network

Question

Unable to Share Files on Home Network

Robert Graham 20

I recently purchased two laptops, one for general use, and one for a specific purpose. Since both were running Windows 11 (Windows 11 Home, Version 25H2, OS Build 26200.9711), I updated my desktop computer to Windows 11 also (Windows 11 Pro, Version 25H2, OS Build 26200.9711). I want to share files between the three computers, and tried to set up a home network for file sharing. After following the instructions from several YouTube videos, and the guidance from Microsoft, I set up all three computers next to each other and set each up according to the instructions. After a lot of troubleshooting steps, I can access the laptops from my desktop, but cannot access the desktop from either laptop. The desktop and both laptops show up in File Explorer under Network for all three computers, but when I click on a network computer on either of the laptops, I get an error message (Windows cannot access \[computer name]; Check the spelling of the name. Otherwise, there might be a problem with your network. To try to identify and resolve network problems, click Diagnose.) When I click on Details, I see Error Code: 0x80070035 on both laptops. I've clicked on Diagnose, and followed the instructions listed (for the solutions that fit), and still get the same error. The Desktop computer IS able to access files on both laptops, so the problem is definitely connected to the laptops.

Any suggestions on how to fix this problem? Thanks in advance.

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Answer accepted by question author

GTS-NJ 1,245 Volunteer Moderator

For non password protected sharing without matching accounts or with a blank password, you may need to enable guest acesss. Try these commands in a Power shell as administrator -

Set-SmbClientConfiguration -EnableInsecureGuestLogons $true -Force
Set-SmbClientConfiguration -RequireSecuritySignature $false -Force

Robert Graham 20 Reputation points

2026-11-05T21:46:23.6266667+00:00

That fixed the problem! I used these commands on all three computer, rebooted them all, and now can see all of the shared files. Thank you! I've been working on this for over a week.

3 additional answers

Your answer

Robert Graham 20 Reputation points

2026-11-05T21:46:23.6266667+00:00

That fixed the problem! I used these commands on all three computer, rebooted them all, and now can see all of the shared files. Thank you! I've been working on this for over a week.

Answer 1

Ivan B 126.9K Independent Advisor

Hi,

Are you using the same Microsoft account on both computers?

Have you tried using the IP address? Do you get the same error when attempting to access it via Windows Explorer?

Please do the following: enable "Network discovery" and "File and printer sharing."

Under the "All Networks" tab, check "Share public folders."

Uncheck "Password protected sharing."

Thanks

Robert Graham 20 Reputation points

2026-11-05T18:01:18.6166667+00:00

I have tried using the IP addresses; the desktop can see both laptops, but the laptops don't. That gives a different error code (0x80004005).

"Share public folder" is checked, and "password protected sharing" is unchecked on all three computers.

Any other suggestions? Thank you!
Robert Graham 20 Reputation points

2026-11-05T18:06:16.08+00:00

I have tried using IP addresses; the desktop can see the files on the laptops, but the laptops give an error message (0x80004005, unspecified error). Network Discovery and File and Printer Sharing is enabled, Share Public Folders is checked, and Password Protected Sharing is unchecked on all three. Any other ideas?

Thank you.
Ivan B 126.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-11-05T18:25:59.85+00:00

Hi,

If that fails, run the following commands in Windows PowerShell (as administrator):

Set-SmbClientConfiguration -RequireSecuritySignature $false

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters" RequireSecureNegotiate -Value 0 -Force

Restart the computer and try again.

Thanks

Answer 2

This did not fix the problem.

Step 1: All computers are on the same network; they can be seen in File Explorer under Network.

Step 2: All three computer have network profile set to Private.

Step 3: All settings were verified for all three computers.

Step 4: All computers are set up to allow Network Discovery.

Step 5: All services were verified to be Running on all three computers.

Step 6: All files were shown in LOCALHOST.

Step 7: Access has been given to Everyone.

Step 8: Trying to map a network drive gives the same exact error message (Windows cannot access [computer name]...)

Step 9: The laptops are new. I did not share files previously.

Step 10: I don't have accounts on the desktop. I'm trying to give access to Everyone, not specific accounts.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

Answer 3

Since the desktop can access both laptops, but neither laptop can access the desktop and both fail with 0x80070035, focus on the desktop’s sharing and discovery path.

Verify all three PCs are on the same network.
- The desktop and both laptops must be connected through the same home network.
On each laptop and the desktop, make sure the network profile is Private.
- File sharing troubleshooting guidance specifically calls this out for Wi-Fi networks.
On the desktop, turn on sharing features again.
- Go to Start > Settings.
- Search for manage advanced sharing settings.
- Open Manage advanced sharing settings.
- Under Private networks, turn on Network discovery and File and printer sharing.
- Under All Networks, turn off password protected sharing.
In File Explorer on a laptop, open Network.
- If the banner says Network discovery is turned off, select the banner and then select Turn on network discovery and file sharing.
On the desktop, make sure the required discovery services are running and set to start automatically.
- Press Windows key + R.
- Type services.msc and select OK.
- For each service below, open Properties. If it is not running, select Start. Set Startup type to Automatic:
  - Function Discovery Provider Host
  - Function Discovery Resource Publication
  - SSDP Discovery
  - UPnP Device Host
- This is especially relevant because the desktop is the one that cannot be opened from the laptops.
Test whether the desktop is actually exposing shares.
- On the desktop, open File Explorer.
- Type \\localhost in the address bar.
- This shows what the desktop is presenting locally as network shares.
Re-share the target folder on the desktop.
- In File Explorer, right-click the folder.
- Select Show more options.
- Select Give access to > Specific people.
- Choose the intended user or Everyone.
If access still fails, map the desktop share from a laptop.
- Open File Explorer.
- Select This PC.
- Select More > Map network drive.
- Enter the desktop share path in the Folder box, or use Browse.
- Select Reconnect at sign-in if needed, then select Finish.
If the problem started after moving to newer Windows builds and the share previously worked, check for SMB access restrictions.
- 0x80070035 can appear with SMB access problems.
- Modern Windows versions can block unauthenticated guest access, require SMB signing, or restrict NTLM scenarios.
- If the desktop share depends on guest access, use valid credentials instead of guest access.
If remote access to the desktop still fails, confirm the account used from the laptops is valid on the desktop.

A disabled account or expired password on the remote computer can prevent connection.

The most likely fixes here are steps 3 through 7 on the desktop, because discovery is working enough for the machines to appear in Network, but the desktop is not accepting or publishing the share correctly to the laptops.