How to Fix the Windows 11 File Sharing Not Working Problem [Tutorial]

How to Fix the Windows 11 File Sharing Not Working Problem [Tutorial]

One of the most powerful features available in modern computing is the use of local area networks that allow you to share movies or music files across all the devices in your home or office. You can use a network to set up a media server, to share printers and scanners or just to share files between two machines. Although in principle networking your computers is fairly simple, in practice it can be a pain to get it running properly. A common problem is the inability of one machine to see shared folders on another machine. In Windows 11 this problem has been fixed to a great extent, but it does still occur.

If you added a new Windows 11 computer to your corporate or home network, you may have already noticed that Windows 11 can't find all (or some) network computers, when you explore 'Network' (from 'File Explorer'), while Windows 7 and 8 PC's can see all of them. The problem exists even after enabling the Network Discovery on the Windows 11 PC.

Issues addressed in this tutorial:
computer not showing display
computer not showing up on network windows 11
computer not showing hard drive
computer not showing in network windows 11
computer not showing available networks
computer not showing available wifi
computer not showing any networks
computer not showing available networks windows 11
computer not showing all available wifi networks
computer not showing file names
computer not showing hotspot
home network computer not showing up
computer not showing my wifi network
computer not showing my network
my computer not showing wireless networks
my computer not showing up on network windows 11
my computer not showing wifi
my computer not showing usb drive
why is my computer not showing available networks
computer not showing wifi networks
computer not showing on network windows 11

This tutorial will apply for computers, laptops, desktops, and tablets running the Windows 11 operating system (Home, Professional, Enterprise, Education) from all supported hardware manufactures, like Dell, HP, Acer, Asus, Toshiba, Lenovo, and Samsung.

[wtxrailfan]

Thanks. Can't believe Windows makes file sharing so damn difficult. It's ridiculous.

[jameshandysam]

Sharing was working perfectly on Windows 10, updated to 11 and it was no longer. Why does Windows not maintain settings between updates, this is 2021 after all!! Thank you so much for this tutorial, worked like a charm

[Karimog-OG]

Dude - you are SO DAMN GOOD : snappy, direct, clear, crisp, precise, to the point : you are a godsent !! if only 10% of the tutorials on youTube were at your standard, that will be game changer.

[tushargarde]

Thanks. Can't believe Windows makes file sharing so damn difficult in windows 11
Great video, straight to the point. Thank you!

[pawnmusic]

Usually, an OS update is supposed to improve your ease of use and user experience, but microsoft was like, "lets make it more difficult to do basic things" There are still people using Windows 7 because of this. What the actual fuk.

[neopickaze]

The only tutorial that works, and answers all the common issues. Well done.

[morisg]

Thank you very kindly for your help, I’m still having problems with the folders that were shared from my desktop 🖥 to my laptop 💻, I cannot figure out how to to disable those folders that are still being shared in the laptop

[howarddavies]

After following your instructions in this tutorial I am now able to access the shared folders of a Windows XP from a Windows 11 but I am still unable to access the Windows 11 shared folders from a Windows XP - The Windows 11 computer icon does show up on the list of Workgroup Computers on a Windows XP but if you click on it you get a message that access is denied - may not have permission to access said resource - Do you have any suggestions on how to solve this problem - Thank you in advance for what ever suggestions you might have

[Ethereald]

OMG, finally a solution that works... I have done so much searching online and majority of content is either outdated (title says windows 11, but conternt is windows 7) or the tutorials are about how to turn on wifi and have nothing to do with my issues... I used this step by step on both my PC's at same time and at end.. all is working again.. Thank you

[kortt]

I've done all this stuff and I still can't access shared files on 2 other Windnows 8.1 pcs on my network. Both of the 8.1 pcs can see each other but my Win11 pc always asks for a password for the shares on the other pcs despite password requirements being turned off everywhere. When trying to access a share on the Winn 11 pc from one of the Win 8 pcs it just says the network path is not available. I'm pretty frustrated with it .

[MakingDarknessTrimble]

Wow! Thank you for this. I have been trying to fix this problem for a week now. Not sure why it was not working etc. One video later and it works! I am shocked and so thankful for you. I have no idea what you made me do to my computer but it freaking worked!

[eYeZiQ]

Great video, straight to the point. Thank you! MS really has their heads up their asses.

[anubhavgupta]

Bro their is no media sharing options in network properties

[thuggins]

Still not working for me. My desktop (ethernet) can see my laptop, but my laptop (wifi) can NOT see my desktop. Both are on the latest Windows 11 build. When I first installed the beta builds, networking and sharing JUST worked. Now, suddenly, it's all broken in the public build.

[danbarr]

Awesome!!. Winter 2021 I updated to Win11Pro for purposes of security needed for some of our tax/accounting software. We have 4 computers on the network. Networking stuff has been awful. Replaced one of the computers last week and the frustration began again. Your vid was a godsend!! One of the machines needed all the tweaks, one needed none, and one became visible on the first step. Awesome!

[danielcir]

Not working... I followed 50 tutorials out there none of them fixed my issue. I can't connect my laptop to my PC and viceversa. Unbelievable.

[michaelmanlolo]

after all this year and trying every tutorial available this is the only thing that works.thank you

[NaheelBhaloo]

I followed your tutorial and it was great. However, since Microsoft removed the control panel function, where the settings existed. Now, it is on the other section and when activating it showing me that its one and discover. However, when I go back one tab and go back it is like it they are turned off again

[BillyEngland]

Fixed our issue, and I came off as a hero in our IT Dept. 5 stars awarded to you! Thanks!

[Quantum]

Thank you! That saved me from either pulling my hair out or throwing my whole computer through a closed window.