Not able to share across home network (Windows 10)

Hi Gideon. I'm Greg, awarded MVP for eleven years, Volunteer Moderator, and Independent Advisor here to help you until this is resolved.

Unlike Remote Desktop and Connection, Anydesk and Teamviewer just work.

Network sharing has been widely broken ever since they removed Homegroup, causing many to believe this was intentional to push us to OneDrive sharing. More about that option later.

I'll give you everything possible to try for file sharing problems so at least something will work. If you need help performing any steps I am standing by here to help:

See here for how to share files and printers over network after removal of HomeGroup in Version 1803:
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-share-files-...
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/111783-shar...
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-access-files...

To troubleshoot sharing problems:
https://www.lifewire.com/troubleshooting-window...
https://windowsunplugged.blog/2018/03/27/networ...
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/network-computer...
https://superuser.com/questions/1202441/windows...

Make sure DNS Client Server is enabled by one of these methods:
https://wintechlab.com/enable-disable-dns-clien...

If you cannot get past the password protected sharing prompt:
https://www.isunshare.com/windows-10/fix-enter-...
https://www.speedguide.net/faq/windows-is-askin...
https://www.tenforums.com/network-sharing/61689...

If Windows 7 is involved make sure if applicable you have the WIndows Update released to fix Windows 7 sharing issues here: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft...

Test if turning off Controlled Folder access helps: https://www.thewindowsclub.com/controlled-folde...

See these additional resources for when a PC does not show up on network:
http://woshub.com/network-computers-not-showing...
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/network-computer...
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-...

You may want to change to sharing via OneDrive: https://www.computerworld.com/article/3256907/m...

If you want to sign into the same OneDrive account on all PC's then you can sync files by parking them in the OneDrive folder. You can also sync Documents, Pictures and Desktop folders between them using Folder Protection Backup here: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/116029-turn.... This moves those User folders into the OneDrive folder, but it can be done for all User folders from their Properties > Location tab if desired as shown here: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki... .


If you want to express your opinion on this to Microsoft use the Feedback Hub app in Start Menu where developers are tasked to process consumer feedback. They will not even see it here. This is a tech forums staffed mostly by volunteers trying to help others with your problems.

If you want to post back a Share link from your Feedback here others who see this thread can vote it up and add to it.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.


________________________________________________________
Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

Thanks for this. I tried doing everything that applied to my machines, but nothing seems to have changed anything except for one minor thing: Now all of the computers are asking for network credentials instead of just two of the three. I think that happened when I added the folder and printer sharing exception to the firewall on that third machine. Anyway, the computers all see each other, so that's not an issue. It's all very strange because the one computer is only a few months old, another was a complete Windows reinstall a couple months ago, so there shouldn't be any weird settings. But there's nothing that allows for network connections. The files and folders are less of an issue than printer access. OneDrive doesn't help share printers. 

I would Clean Install the printers on each PC which always works, lasts longer and actually saves time. Windows still needs the full feature software to properly run all the features of a printer/scanner, the new apps are not mature enough to be fully reliable. Follow these steps:

1) Power up the printer, if wired unplug it's USB cable from PC.

2) Go to Settings>Apps>Apps and Features to find and Uninstall any printer software.

3) Use one of these methods to remove all of the old printer drivers:
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/101274-unin...
https://helpdeskgeek.com/how-to/remove-uninstal...

4) Now type Control Panel in Start Search, open CP, choose Icon View. In Control Panel open Devices and Printers, right click printer to delete Printer and any scanner or fax of the same name. Restart PC.

5) Go to the printer model’s Support Downloads webpage to download and install the latest full software package. Now is also the time to check for any newer printer firmware to install which matters a lot.

6) Extract Printer software, right click Setup file to Run as Administrator. Follow the setup screens closely as you install the software. For USB it should prompt when to plug in the printer.

Older software may need to be installed in Compatibility Mode to run correctly:
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-install-non-...
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-install-olde...

If you have further problems reply back with results of each step.

Once it's installed and you've run a test print, then scanned it to see that it opens on the desktop, open the Printer software and go into its Settings to set the scan-to file location you prefer, also the email app you want opened for Scan to Email, if applicable.


I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. If you will wait to rate my post until we are done, I will keep working with you until it's resolved.


______________________________________________
Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.