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How to Fix the Enter Network Credentials Persistent Message
Try to add other PC’s network credentials to Credential Manager
8 min. read
Updated onSeptember 23, 2024
updated onSeptember 23, 2024
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Key notes
In order to protect your PC from unauthorized access Windows 11 and 10 use network credentials. However, several users reported certain issues when asked to enter network credentials on Windows 11 and 10. The main culprit for this issue is the Advanced Sharing setting that could be improperly set.
How do I fix network credentials problems on Windows 11?
1. Turn off the Password protection protection sharing
This solution will remove the annoying Enter network credentials message, but it’s a temporary one. After you’ve completed the needed file transfers, turn back the feature on because it’s very useful to protect the network access.
2. Check that your IP addresses are properly assigned
In a local network, you probably assign all computers static IP addresses in order to access them easier.
According to users, your IP address might be set to automatic, and that can sometimes cause issues with network credentials, therefore be sure to check if the IP addresses of your network devices are set to static.
To set your IP addresses to static you can always use your router’s built-in software. If you’re facingtrouble with the static IP address, this guide should help out.
3. Enter your Microsoft credentials
Windows 11 and 10 rely heavily on your Microsoft account, and since you can use your Microsoft account to sign into Windows, you can also use it to access other network devices in your local network.
Users reported that you can fix problems with network credentials simply by entering your Microsoft account username and password instead of your local account’s username and password.
It is important to mention that many network issues are caused by malware, various scripts, andbots. You can secure yourself by installing a Virtual Private Network tool.
4. Enter the computer name in the username field
According to users, you can fix problems with network credentials by entering the name of the computer that you’re trying to access followed by the username.
For example, if the computer you’re trying to access is namedComputer1and you have a user namedMike, you need to enter both the computer name and theusername in the user input field.
In our example, theusername field would beComputer1Mike. Bear in mind not to enter any slashes before the computer name.
5. Use username and password to log in to Windows 11
Users reported that you can’t connect to other network computers if you don’t use a username and password to log in.
This limitation mostly affects users that log in to Windows 10 by using a PIN, therefore if you need to access and share files with others, you might want to temporarily stop using a PIN code for login.
If yourPIN is not working properly, you can get to the bottom of the problem with the help of this article.
6. Add other PC’s network credentials to Credential Manager
After adding the other computer’s information to the Credentials Manager you should be able to access it without any problems.
7. Change Advanced sharing settings
Several users reported that you can fix this problem simply by changing the following Advanced sharing settings.
After making these changes, the problem should be completely resolved.
8. Change your security policies
After making these changes, the problem with this message should be completely resolved and everything will start working again.
9. Change your services
Once you stop the service, check if the problem is resolved.
10. Set your connection to Private
After doing that, the issue should be completely resolved. Keep in mind that you should use this step only on a secure network.
If you’re on a public network, changing these settings might reduce your security, so keep that in mind.
11. Create a new user account
After doing that, you’ll have a new user account on your PC. Switch to a new user account and check if the problem still persists.
If the issue doesn’t appear on a new account, you might want to consider using your new account instead of your main one.
If you’rehaving trouble accessing the Settings app, you may want to take a closer look at our article. Ifyour user account has expired, follow these steps to get things rolling again.
12. Change your user account options
After doing that, the problem should be completely resolved and the password protection setting will work as it should.
How do I fix network credentials problems on Windows 10?
Windows 10 and 11 are not so different so you should know that all the solutions presented above will also work on the old Windows 10 without any problems.
Problems with network credentials can sometimes be hard to fix, but we hope that you managed to fix them after using one of our solutions.
Why do I need to enter network credentials?
Enter network credentialsmessage can appear while trying to access shared drives or directories and prevent you from accessing your files.
So, this means that the network location you are trying to access is protected with a password.
Similar issues that users reported are the following:
You should also read our guide onhow to change the administrator account in Windows 11because it might offer additional information.
We also have a guide onWe can’t sign you in with this credentialerror, so you might want to check it out as well.
If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below.
More about the topics:sign-in issues,user accounts
Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology.
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.
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Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s specialized in Windows errors & software issues.
