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This is really strange. I have a shortcut on my windows 11 laptop that can access my shared files on my desktop. Recently, my shortcut has stopped working. I get an error: Windows can't access 192.168.1.95.
If I open a command prompt and ping to 192.168.1.95 which works with no errors:

Pinging 192.168.1.95 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.1.95: bytes=32 time=9ms TTL=127
Reply from 192.168.1.95: bytes=32 time=10ms TTL=127
Reply from 192.168.1.95: bytes=32 time=7ms TTL=127
Reply from 192.168.1.95: bytes=32 time=12ms TTL=127

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.95:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 7ms, Maximum = 12ms, Average = 9ms

I tried to disable my firewall, but I get the same results. Not sure what else it could be. My network is setup as a private, and both are setup the same with private.

Not a firewall issue or a ping wouldn't work. I assume you've rebooted both PCs?

This is a possibility: September security update breaks file shares: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answe ... k-shares-n

Thanks. I'll check my Win11 laptop for that KB5065426 to see if it was installed.

Yeah I've rebooted my pc's twice with no luck. I miss the old days of "Network Neighborhood".

Well I looked in my win 11 laptop and did not see that KB installed.

Somewhat obvious, but the IP didn't change on you did it? An update may have reverted it to DHCP. That wouldn't explain why you can still ping it unless some other device took it's IP.

You mentioned you were using a shortcut. Did you try browsing the IP via file explorer? Maybe the shortcut got messed up.

You can also try browsing the workstation via it's network name in file explorer. Like, if the network name is WORKSTATION try browsing for \\workstation. That should open the shares even if the IP changed.

Can you access the shares from another computer? Maybe the problem is on the laptop.

Just throwing some spaghetti at the wall to see if something sticks.

I tried the network name but I get a pop up saying "Enter network credentials". My desktop does not have a password as it goes right to the desktop. It also says "you can't access this shared folder because your organization's security policies block unauthenticated guess access. These policies help protect your PC from unsafe or malicious devices on the network"

Enter network credentials means your shares are not open to the public (not shared to guests) so you need to use the login credentials of the user account you use on the desktop, and save them.

Windows 10 & 11 really don't allow guest access to shared folders anymore unless you explicitly set the security settings on the share to make it public. You may have had it that way before, and an update locked it back down, or you may have had the credentials saved on the laptop and inadvertently deleted them.

FlyingPenguin wrote: ↑Fri Nov 07, 2025 2:01 am so you need to use the login credentials of the user account you use on the desktop, and save them.

Not sure how to do that because my desktop does not have a password. It boots right to the desktop. For my shared folders that I had on my desktop, I have added "Everyone" which worked before. So are you saying that "Everyone" is no longer valid?

Ah okay. Yes, have run into that before. Not sure why it used to work and now it doesn't for you, because by default Windows won't allow file sharing without a password since early versions of Win7. Unless you disabled it at one time, and a security update re-enabled it recently.

One workaround is to create a second user on the desktop, with a password, and just use that account for sharing files to the laptop. Call the user "laptop" for instance, and make up any password. Browse the shares with the network name instead of the IP the first time, and save the credentials, as Windows usually doesn't give you the login option via IP.

Alternately, you can disable the password requirement for network shares, but be aware, this makes your files visible to ANY device on the network, including potentially malicious devices like, say, a compromised IoT device. I have all my shares from the workstation, file server, and NAS behind passworded accounts for that reason, and also because Windows really REALLY doesn't like sharing files from the guest account with no password anymore. It will constantly fight you.

This should help:
Share Folder in Windows 11/10 Without Password (Local Network):
https://www.windowsdigitals.com/share-f ... -password/

FYI: Although not mentioned in that article, I find it is sometimes necessary to go into the Security tab of the share, after you setup the Sharing tab, and explicitly give the share account permission (be it guest or one you make up for the laptop).

Hope this helps.

OK thanks. So what I could do is add a password to my desktop pc. I guess I should get use to this, because in Linux a password is required during setup.

You don't need one for YOUR user if you don't want one. Just create a 2nd user with a password, and make sure that user has permission to access the shared folders. When prompted for a user name and password on the laptop when accessing the shared folder the first time, give it that second account's credentials and check the box to save it.

However, yes, if you decide to add a password to your main account on the desktop, you could use that as the credentials for accessing the shares from the laptop. There is also a way to have Windows autologin with your password, if you still prefer not to have to enter a password when you use the desktop:
https://www.intowindows.com/how-to-auto ... indows-10/

Me, I have a password on my desktop, but I also use a 4 digit PIN to make it easier to log in. I do not want visitors, be they adults or children, on my workstation, so I always lock it when I walk away.

I don't need to access the shares on the laptop from my desktop. My laptop is on a mesh network by itself. In the past, I was able to access my shares from my laptop to the desktop with no issues. So on my desktop, I probably need to add a password, probably will use a pin # instead, and recheck my security settings for the shares?

The shares are on the desktop, right? If so, yes, you can password your main account on the desktop. Should be no need to mess with the share permissions because your main account will already have permission to access everything on the desktop.

Then on the laptop, browse the desktop path (I'd recommend using the network name and not the IP) and you should be prompted for the username and password you're using on the desktop. Make sure to check the box to save the credentials.

OK thanks Bob. Got it to work. Now...how to make a new shortcut on the desktop or is that no longer possible?

EDIT: I removed my IP address in my shortcut and added the network name. So now it works like before.

Yup. IP would also work, but I find that the network path is more reliable.