Windows 10 cannot connect to some Mac shared folders

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Level 1

11 points

Windows 10 cannot connect to some Mac shared folders

This may be a Windows problem but I can't get much sense out of the Windows side of things.

I have a PC running Windows 10 Pro 1909 build 18363.1256 (updated today) and a MacBook Pro running Big Sur. Until some time in 2020 my network between the 2 worked fine. I could open shared folders and exchange files both ways.

Some time during 2020 some of the networking features stopped working. The current status is:

Both the Mac and the PC can see each other and the opposite systems are listed under network (although I constantly have to re-connect from the Mac to the PC).
I have full write access to all files on all drives on the PC from the Mac.
From the PC I can see the Mac and connected drives. I have full write access to files on the Mac internal drive. I have zero access to files on iCloud folders (that may be the correct situation). I cannot open either of my 2 connected USB drives - I am asked for a user name and password and the message 'Access is denied' is permanently shown. Entering my user name and password gives a message '...you might not have permission to use this network resource.'
File sharing is turned on. I have added the LaCie drive (formatted in exFAT) to the list of shared folders. Its permissions are shown as read/write for all 3 categories, but they are greyed out, so I cannot change them. Info clicking on the LaCie disk in Finder shows 'custom access' with no way to change.

I have searched through multiple Windows side suggestions. The most appropriate seemed to be to turn on some SMB settings, but that did not work. It's not the end of the world to share through the Mac internal drive, but I want to add a bigger USB drive and share it - it does not look as if it would work.

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 11.1

Posted on Jan 11, 2021 9:33 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 14, 2021 9:20 AM in response to melodeonman

Hello melodeonman,

Thank you for the additional details. To confirm, were you able to access iCloud folders in the past, before this issue started?

Also, we understand you have tried creating a new user on Windows to test this issue. However, have you tested this issue on another user on your Mac to see if you are able to access your connected external drives?

If not, it may be worth testing to see what happens. This resource provides steps to create a new user on your Mac: Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac

Let us know how it goes.

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Answer 2

mario49

Community Specialist

Jan 13, 2021 9:57 AM in response to melodeonman

Hello melodeonman,

We'd like to assist with the file sharing issue you're experiencing based on the information you have provided.

Although you may need to contact Microsoft's support team for additional help with troubleshooting file sharing issues on Windows, we do want to provide you with some resources to ensure that file sharing is set up properly on your Mac.

Please review these resources below:

Share Mac files with Windows users

Connect to a Mac from a Windows computer

You also mentioned that you're unable to change the sharing and permissions setting of the LaCie external drive connected to your Mac. To confirm, does this issue also occur with the other external drive you own?

If it is only occuring on the LaCie external drive, you can use Disk Utility to run First Aid and ensure to ensure the drive is functioning properly: Repair a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac

We hope this helps!

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Answer 3

raina_b22

Community Specialist

Jan 16, 2021 11:23 AM in response to melodeonman

Hello melodeonman,

Thank you so much for the details you have provided, and for the troubleshooting you have done so far.

At this point, we would recommend connecting with Apple Support so they can investigate the macOS side of things further with you: Get Support

If the issue does get isolated to Windows, then you can also reach Microsoft's support team for assistance: Contact Microsoft Support

Thank you!

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Answer 4

melodeonman Author

Level 1

11 points

Jan 14, 2021 8:10 AM in response to melodeonman

Thanks for the reply. I have already been through those links (and more) many times, and the settings were all as they should be. Just to be sure I deleted some shares and re-created them (no difference). I created a new Windows user and this was worse - I could not see anything on the Mac.

To summarise: Windows discovers the Mac. With Windows Explorer I can browse and edit all the Mac local files (including system files). I get a permissions error (but no login window) when I try to browse any iCloud folder on the Mac from Windows (desktop, documents etc.). I have the LaCie drive set in System Preferences as shared and it is discovered by Windows. I used 'get info' in Finder and ticked the shared box in addition - made no difference. I ticked the shared box in one of the LaCie sub-folders and it was quickly discovered on Windows, but trying to access the LaCie drive or its sub-folder pops up a login box with 'Access is denied' already there in red. Whatever I type in the password box, or nothing, I get the same access error as above. Permissions for LaCie and one sub-folder are set in System Preferences to Everyone=read/write.

As before, full access to all files (including hard drives) going the other way, Mac to Windows.

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Answer 5

melodeonman Author

Level 1

11 points

Jan 16, 2021 6:11 AM in response to melissa_m77

I did the following.

Created a new user, macuser, on my Mac. I logged in with this user and was able to access all drives. I could see the PC and logged in. I was automatically logged in as guest user, but could see and access all files and drives.
I left my macuser logged in and tried connecting from the PC in case there was a clash of users (mentioned vaguely somewhere in the Windows setup). Same as before - Mac discovered and all public files accessible. LaCie and other USB drive visible, but password screen popped up and login not accepted. I tried the macuser account and it rejected the user name and password that I had just set up. I tried my normal Mac login with the same result.
I created a macuser account on my PC and logged into that. The Mac was not automatically discovered, but after lots of trying I managed to create a network connection, but still could not access the LaCie drive.
I then discovered that I cannot map a network drive or create a link with the PC network connection wizard other than to one of the mac users. Somehow I managed to to create a Quick access link on the PC to the Mac that reveals user and public shares and connected drives. But I still cannot access them.

Whatever I do I am left with the problem that Windows does not automatically recognise the Mac, although I can force it to connect to a public share. But once connected I am still refused access, whichever user name I use, and the user name is generally not recognised.

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Answer 6

melodeonman Author

Level 1

11 points

Jan 23, 2021 6:22 AM in response to raina_b22

Thanks for the help. At the moment I'll hold off calling support as I can imagine that there will be some finger pointing between Mac and Windows. I'll just have to work around the proble. I am considering replacing the PC with a Mac Mini, so that should solve the problem.

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Windows 10 cannot connect to some Mac shared folders

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