If a Windows 10 PC can open a shared folder on a Windows 11 PC but cannot save or edit files, first identify the account being used and check that it has write permission at both the share and folder levels. If the share itself will not open, start with the path, connection, credentials, and SMB client logs instead. The error message is a clue, not a diagnosis; the right fix depends on what fails and what Windows records.
First determine what is failing
On the Windows 10 client, record the complete error text and any code. Test these actions separately: open the UNC path, list the folder, open an existing file, create a new file, and edit an existing file. Note whether the problem affects one account, one client, one folder, or every client. This separates a connection or sign-in problem from a write-permission problem.
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- If the folder opens but creating or changing files fails, check the signed-in network identity and its effective permissions.
- If the folder cannot be opened, verify the path and authentication first, then use the SMB logs to investigate the connection.
- If only the Network view fails but a direct path works, investigate discovery rather than file-write access.
Messages such as “Access is denied,” “You do not have permission to access \servershare,” System error 5, 0x80070035, and STATUS_ACCESS_DENIED can occur in different share-connection scenarios. None proves a single cause by itself. Microsoft’s SMB troubleshooting guidance recommends combining the symptom with connection details and client events.
Check the path and basic network access
On the Windows 10 PC, enter the known share path directly in File Explorer, for example \servershare, using the Windows 11 computer name and actual share name. Confirm that the Windows 11 PC is on and connected to the network. A direct UNC path tests access to the share without relying on the Network browsing view.
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For a trusted home or office network, Microsoft’s Windows network file-sharing guidance says to check that both machines are on the same network, the connection is set to Private, and Network discovery and File and printer sharing are enabled. These settings can help with discovery and connection; they do not grant write permission to a folder.
Inspect SMB sessions and client events
On the Windows 10 client, check which network connections already exist and review the SMB client configuration. Open PowerShell and run:
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Get-SmbConnection
Get-SmbClientConfigurationThen open Event Viewer and inspect Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > SMBClient > Connectivity and Security. Match entries to the time of the failed attempt. Record the event ID, server name, and any message about authentication, signing, or guest access. An existing SMB session can also help identify which account is connected to the server.
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Windows may be connecting with credentials different from the identity you expect. Determine the account actually presented to the Windows 11 PC, then use valid credentials for that server. Do not share passwords when reporting the problem.
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For a write to succeed, the account needs appropriate access both on the SMB share and on the underlying folder or file system. Check the share’s permissions and the folder’s security permissions for the same identity. If one folder fails while another works, compare their permissions before changing anything. Grant only the intended account or group the access it needs rather than broadening access for everyone.
Use security errors to choose the next step
Guest access is blocked
If Windows says that organizational policy blocks unauthenticated guest access, or the Windows 10 SMBClient Security log records event 31017, the issue points to guest authentication. Microsoft recommends connecting with valid credentials for the server or NAS. Insecure guest logons remove protections and can expose a client to malicious-server or man-in-the-middle attacks, so enabling guest access is not a sound general workaround. See Microsoft’s troubleshooting steps for SMB share access.
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Signing compatibility is implicated
SMB signing protects the integrity of data in transit and helps verify server and client identity. Microsoft documents that Windows 11 version 24H2 Enterprise, Pro, and Education require inbound and outbound SMB signing by default; Windows 11 version 24H2 Home does not require either by default. Windows Server 2025 requires outbound signing. These defaults do not establish that signing caused a Windows 10-to-Windows 11 failure: confirm both machines’ exact editions, versions, and configured policies, and look for a matching error. Microsoft does not recommend disabling signing as a workaround. Read Microsoft’s SMB signing guidance.
NTLM restrictions may affect the connection
Authentication policy can also matter in some configurations. Microsoft describes cases where NTLM blocking can deny access to IP-address, workgroup, or NAS targets when Kerberos is unavailable. Check whether the error and client/server configuration actually point to this branch; do not assume it from an access-denied message alone. Where applicable, use the server name rather than an IP-address path and prefer Kerberos over NTLMv2, consistent with Microsoft’s guidance on SMB signing and authentication.
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If the cause is still unclear, give an administrator or support technician enough information to match the failure to the right account, policy, and event:
- Windows editions and builds on both computers, plus whether the failure began after an update.
- The UNC path form used (computer name or IP address), with no password included.
- The complete error text and code, and whether listing, opening, creating, or editing fails.
- The account or domain context used for the connection, relevant SMBClient event IDs and timestamps, and the output of the SMB checks above.
- The effective share and folder permissions for the account that connects.
Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Microsoft says it no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10 after that date. This is important maintenance context, but it does not identify the cause of a particular share-write failure. Microsoft’s file-sharing article includes the support notice.
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