Can't Access Shared Folder or Printer? 😳 Real Fix Guide

Note the Exact Error First

Do not start changing settings randomly. When the shared folder or printer refuses to open, note the exact error message or error code Windows shows — that code decides which check below applies to you. Also confirm the basics: both PCs are switched on, connected to the same router or switch, and the folder or printer is actually shared on the host PC.

Ping the Host PC by Name

Open Command Prompt on your PC and ping the PC that is sharing the folder or printer, using its computer name (in the video the host PC is named ACCOUNTS-PC):

ping ACCOUNTS-PC

If you get replies, the host PC is reachable on the network and its name resolves correctly. If it says Request timed out, the two PCs cannot talk to each other — check cables, Wi-Fi and the network profile in Step 3. If it says the host could not be found, the name is not resolving — use the IP address route in Step 4 instead.

Set the Network Profile to Private

On a Public network profile, Windows blocks discovery and sharing by design — this alone causes most "the shared folder is not visible" cases. On both PCs, open Settings → Network & internet → your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection, and set the network profile to Private. Then open Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Advanced sharing settings and turn on Network discovery and File and printer sharing for the Private profile.

Open the Share by IP Address

Press Windows + R, type the host PC's IP address as a network path and press Enter (use the host's real IP — in the video it is 192.168.1.10):

\\192.168.1.10

This one test splits the problem in half. If the shares open by IP but not by PC name, only name resolution is broken — keep using the IP, or fix the name lookup. If the IP also fails, the problem is on the host side: its services (Step 5) or your credentials (Step 6).

Check the Sharing Services

Windows sharing depends on a handful of services. If any of them is stopped, the PC will not share or will not appear on the network. Press Windows + R, open the Services console and check them:

services.msc

On the host PC, the Server service must be running (it is what shares the folders), and on your PC the Workstation service must be running (it is what connects to shares). For the PCs to discover each other in the Network window, also start Function Discovery Provider Host and Function Discovery Resource Publication and set them to Automatic. For a shared printer, the Print Spooler service on the host must be running too. Right-click any stopped service → Start.

Clear Old Connections and Fix Credentials

A very common hidden cause: Windows is silently reconnecting to the host with an old saved password, so every attempt fails even though sharing itself is fine. First disconnect all existing network connections in Command Prompt:

net use * /delete

Then open Control Panel → Credential Manager → Windows Credentials and remove any saved entry for the host PC. Now open the share again (Step 4) and, when Windows asks, enter the actual username and password of an account on the host PC. That account must have a password — Windows blocks network sign-in for accounts with a blank password, which is why a dedicated sharing user with a password on the host PC is the cleanest setup.

Match the Error Code

Use the code from Step 1 to confirm your fix. 0x80070035 — "The network path was not found" means the share could not be reached: recheck the IP address, the Private profile and the services. 0x80070005 — Access denied means you reached the PC but your account has no permission: fix the credentials (Step 6) and the share permissions on the host. System error 1219 — "Multiple connections to a server... are not allowed" means Windows is holding an old connection in a different name: clear it with the command in Step 6. "The specified network password is not correct" means exactly that — the saved or typed password for the host account is wrong.

For a Shared Printer

If it is the printer that will not open, do the same checks on the host PC first: the printer must be shared (Printer Properties → Sharing tab → Share this printer) and the Print Spooler service must be running (Step 5). Then, on your PC, open the host by IP as in Step 4, and double-click the shared printer to install it. If Windows asks for a driver, it normally takes it from the host PC automatically — if that fails, install the printer's driver from its maker's official website on your PC and connect again.