How To Fix Windows 11 Network Credentials Pop-Ups When Accessing Shared Folders

Windows KB-1495

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How To Fix Windows 11 Network Credentials Pop-Ups When Accessing Shared Folders. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

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Common Causes

Repeated Windows Security pop-ups asking for a username and password when opening a shared folder usually mean Windows is sending the wrong cached credentials, or none at all. This is common in small office and home office workgroups where computers are not joined to a domain. Clearing the stored credential and entering the correct details typically resolves the issue.

Quick Fix Steps

Open Credential Manager and remove the saved entry for the network computer or NAS.
Reconnect to the shared folder and enter the correct username and password.
Choose Remember my credentials if you want Windows to save the details for future sessions.

Detailed Instructions

Clear Stored Network Credentials

Select Start, type Credential Manager, and press Enter.
Select Windows Credentials.
Look under Generic Credentials for an entry matching the computer name or IP address of the shared folder or NAS (for example, \\OFFICE-PC or 192.168.1.50).
Select the entry to expand it, then choose Remove.
Confirm the removal when prompted.

If you are unsure of the exact computer name, ask the person who set up the shared folder or NAS, or check the network path you use to access it.

Enter Correct Network Authentication Details

Open File Explorer and enter the network path to the shared folder in the address bar (for example, \\OFFICE-PC\SharedDocs).
When the Windows Security prompt appears, enter the username and password for an account on the remote computer or NAS.
Use the format COMPUTERNAME\username if the account is local to that machine (for example, OFFICE-PC\jsmith).
Select Remember my credentials if you want Windows to store the details.
Select OK.

Do not save credentials on shared or public computers. Anyone using that device could access your network folders.

Microsoft account vs local account warning: If you sign into Windows 11 with a Microsoft account (email address), Windows may try to use those credentials to access the shared folder. If the remote computer or NAS only has local user accounts, authentication will fail. Always enter the remote machine's local username in the format REMOTE-PC\username rather than your Microsoft account email.

Troubleshooting

Pop-ups Keep Returning

Confirm the username and password are correct for the remote computer or NAS, not your local Windows account.
Check that the remote computer is powered on and connected to the same network.
Restart both computers and try accessing the shared folder again.
If the NAS or server has been reset, its local user accounts may have changed. Contact the device administrator for current login details.
Verify that both computers are using the same workgroup name. In a workgroup environment, identical usernames and passwords on both machines often allow Windows to pass credentials automatically without prompting.
Check that the system clock is synchronized between both computers. A time difference of more than five minutes can cause authentication failures. Adjust the date and time settings if they differ significantly.
If DNS or NetBIOS name resolution is failing, use the IP address instead of the computer name. For example, enter \\192.168.1.50\SharedDocs instead of \\OFFICE-PC\SharedDocs.
Flush the DNS resolver cache and clear the NetBIOS name cache. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run ipconfig /flushdns, then run nbtstat -R.

Cannot Connect at All

Ensure network discovery and file sharing are enabled on both computers.
Check that the shared folder permissions allow your user account to access it.
Open Windows Security, select Firewall & network protection, then Allow an app through firewall. Ensure File and Printer Sharing is enabled for both Private and Public networks.
Temporarily disable third-party firewall software to test if it is blocking the connection.
For older NAS devices that do not support modern SMB protocols, enable SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support. Select Start, type Turn Windows features on or off, and press Enter. Expand SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support, check SMB 1.0/CIFS Client, select OK, and restart your computer when prompted.
Check that the remote computer allows insecure guest logons if you are attempting to access a share without a password. This setting is disabled by default in recent versions of Windows 11 for security reasons.
Verify the LAN Manager authentication level. Open Local Security Policy (secpol.msc), navigate to Local Policies > Security Options, and check Network security: LAN Manager authentication level. It should be set to a value compatible with the remote device, such as Send LM & NTLM - use NTLMv2 session security if negotiated for older NAS devices.

If the Remember my credentials checkbox is greyed out, the remote computer or NAS does not support saving credentials for that connection type. You will need to enter the username and password each time, or configure identical local accounts on both machines.

These steps apply to workgroup environments common in small offices without a domain controller. If your organization uses a domain, contact your IT administrator instead.

If you continue to see credential prompts after following these steps, Open a Ticket and our support team will investigate further.

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Still Having Issues?

Need more help? If the issue persists after trying these steps, please open a support ticket and our team will assist you.

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