Why is network sharing not working in Windows 11?

Network sharing fails in Windows 11 most commonly because Network Discovery is turned off, the network profile is set to Public instead of Private, or Windows Firewall is blocking file sharing ports. Enable Network Discovery in Advanced Sharing Settings and change the network profile to Private to fix most sharing issues.

How do I enable file sharing on Windows 11?

Open Control Panel, go to Network and Sharing Center, click Change advanced sharing settings, and enable both Turn on network discovery and Turn on file and printer sharing under the Private profile. Also change your network profile to Private in Settings, Network and Internet.

Why can Windows 11 not see other computers on the network?

Windows 11 cannot see other computers when Network Discovery is off, the Function Discovery services are stopped, or the network is set to Public profile. Enable Network Discovery, start Function Discovery Provider Host service, and set network profile to Private.

Do I need SMB 1.0 for network sharing in Windows 11?

Only if sharing with older Windows 7, XP, or certain NAS devices that require SMB 1.0. Modern Windows 10 and 11 devices use SMB 2.0 or 3.0 which is enabled by default. Enable SMB 1.0 only as a last resort for legacy device compatibility.

How do I share a folder on a network in Windows 11?

Right-click the folder you want to share, select Properties, go to the Sharing tab, click Advanced Sharing, check Share this folder, set a share name, click Permissions and add the users or Everyone with appropriate access. Then click OK and apply.

Windows 11 Network Sharing Not Working

🔨 Tested & Verified Fix Guide · 2026

Windows 11 Network Sharing
Not Working — 8 Fixes

Can’t see other PCs, folders won’t share, or access denied on your local network? Here are 8 tested fixes to get Windows 11 network sharing working completely.

📅 March 10, 2026⏱ 8 min read 💻 All Windows 11 Versions✅ Tested on Real Devices

💬 Network sharing in Windows 11 is broken by default — Microsoft changed several settings that worked fine in Windows 10. The three most common issues I fix: Network Discovery is off by default on new installs, the network profile defaulting to Public kills sharing, and Function Discovery services not starting. Fix all three in 5 minutes and your whole network comes alive. — Bharat Choudhary, FixTechUSA · Windows Networking Specialist

❌ Symptoms You Are Experiencing:

👥

Other computers not visible — Shared folders inaccessible

Network not showing PCs · Access denied on shared folders · Can’t share files between Windows 11 PCs

Sharing Not Working

Network sharing not working in Windows 11 covers several symptoms: PCs not visible in File Explorer Network, shared folders showing Access Denied, or printer sharing failing. Almost all of these trace back to three root causes: Network Discovery being off, wrong network profile (Public instead of Private), and Windows Firewall blocking file sharing ports. The fixes below address all of them.

🔎 Quick Diagnosis — What Exactly Is Failing?

✅ Can’t see other PCs in Network?Network Discovery is off. Fix 1 + Fix 6 (Function Discovery services) solves it.

❌ PCs visible but Access Denied?Permissions issue. Fix 4 (folder permissions) + Fix 7 (workgroup) fixes it.

✅ Sharing worked before Windows 11 upgrade?Profile reset to Public. Fix 2 (set to Private) + Fix 1 restores it.

❌ Old devices (NAS, Windows 7) can’t connect?SMB 1.0 disabled. Fix 3 enables legacy compatibility.

📋 Table of Contents

Enable Network Discovery and File Sharing
Set Network Profile to Private
Enable SMB Protocol for Legacy Devices
Configure Shared Folder Permissions
Allow File Sharing Through Firewall
Enable Required Sharing Services
Use Same Workgroup Name on All PCs
Map Network Drive by IP Address

🔍 Why Does Network Sharing Fail in Windows 11?

🔌

Network Discovery off — PCs cannot find each other on the network

👥

Public profile — Windows blocks sharing on Public network profile

🛡

Firewall blocking — File sharing ports blocked by Windows Firewall

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📋 Table of Contents

🔍 Why Does Network Sharing Fail in Windows 11?

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