SMB File Sharing not working in Ventura

Since setting up a NAS all of my file sharing issues are resolved. For whatever reason, Ventura, as it is now, is not up to the task and like many people I needed a solution I could implement immediately because I could not just stop working to wait for Apple.

This issue seems to go back to November of 2022 so hopefully Apple is close to a solution but I see no indication there are anywhere near a fix. It's been over a month since a senior advisor told me he was required to check with engineering three times a day on my case and communicate to me any updates - I never heard from that advisor again.

As a workaround I moved my shared folder to my iCloud Drive and shared that folder with the other users. The other users aren't on Ventura. I am sleeping well at night knowing the shared folder is still being backed up by Time Machine (and Backblaze) and I don't have any issues with temp .sb files appearing like Ventura has. It's been stable this way for a number of weeks.

Just an update - I have had several calls from Eng asking for more info and seeming to be converging on the issue. They are asking intelligent questions, referring to our workarounds, trying to understand exactly what is happening.

While I wish I could say a fix is eminent, these are good signs.

Yes- everyone experiencing the SMB sharing not working bug should open a support case. Escalate after the initial screening.

the more open cases the more likely this problem will be fixed and not closed, CNR.

We can only hope .... we have had Macs in our business since 1986 and thought there have been some issues I can never recall such a serious problem that lasted so long. If I was PC-literate I might be considering a switch.

All - During my testing I all of a sudden made this issue go away, accidently.

I turned on "Remote Login" and "Remote Management". (Under Sharing)

Made sure I had permissions for each (click the "i" by each). File Sharing off.

Reboot.

After restart - Turn the remote options off (or leave them on) and enable file sharing.

My mac now will share files across reboots. I do not know why this is working and would rather it didn't, so we can get it fixed. '

Please try this and report what happens.

swixo and all,

Before doing what you said, I had on and off again connections. A restart sometimes would work.

Did your suggestions and I have had 5 different Apple laptops and Mac minis connect without any hiccups. I did have remote Login already enable but none of the boxes under it checked. I have not unchecked either Remote Login or Management. It would be interesting to see if unchecking all boxes and restarting cause problems again....I think your on to something swixo

This further refines what the problem is.....hopefully we can get this to engineering.

Just tried this. It looks like file sharing is working since after connecting to my remote home directory, the remote directory shows up correctly on my local machine. However, nothing in it can be read. I clicked on "Desktop" and I got a box saying "Loading" and a spinning wheel. Nothing worked after that.

Curiously, the server's name showed up twice in the Finder's side panel: once as "jodi.local", which is the name I use to connect to it, and a second time as just "jodi". The former is the one that the Finder showed was mounted. Perhaps the problem is that the finder subsequently tried to access the remote machine using just the unqualified DNS name "jodi", which does not work on my network.

Exactly the same problem I had prior to trying swixo's idea......Ive been connected all afternoon as well as 5 others....however, 1 remote user could not connect.....

Open a an Apple ticket if you have not...squeaky wheel gets the grease

<Edit>: I just remembered......on my box, the shared server is listed in Locations in Finder but will not connect......however, I connect this way --- Finder/go/connect to server/enter the ip of the server then connect

See if that works -- but restart first and leave on Remote Login and Remote Management.....and of course, File sharing is on with appropriate access permissions (click I next to File sharing and make sure the folders are shared with appropriate users and access level)

I also tried swixo's protocol. When I reboot the Mac the Remote Login option automatically turns Off. I turned it On, Remote Management was already On, and I turned File Sharing On. Still having the same **** problem .....

I tried the complicated stuff (it didn't work). The key is to remove your shared item(s) from the share list, then re-add them back, which should restore some custom permissions. When you are on Settings->General->Sharing->File Sharing->Shared Folders, look at the Users list. If you remove and re-add a shared folder, you will get a "Unknown user" with "Custom" permissions. While including this permission goes against all my best instincts (which is probably why I removed it a few releases ago), this permission enables the magic for Ventura to talk with other hosts. (I had the same scenario as many others, an Intel mini and a MBP M1 both running Ventura 13.2.1.) You may have to wait a few minutes or restart to "flush" the settings out and get your Macs talking again.

I tried removing and restoring my home directory. The "Unknown user" did not appear for the shared folder. I think tried it for a folder in my home directory and "Unknown user" did appear with "Custom" permissions. I then found that I could successfully connect to and access "Macintosh HD" from a remote machine (running 13.2). Starting from there, I could go to Users and then my home directory, and from there everything works. Then I dismounted the remote "Macintosh HD" drive and tried again to connect directly to my home directory. As before, the directory appears, but clicking on any of the entries in the directory hangs the Finder and requires a reboot of the remote machine in order to continue.

I tried this (Macbook Air M1 won't connect to iMac upstairs, nor will a Win10 PC next to it) and it worked immediately, as did the Turn off File Sharing, reboot, turn back on. Unfortunately, the effects lasted an hour or two before reverting - I'm assuming the Air going onto standby triggers the problem. I also tried the same on the Air to get the iMac to see it - that also worked for around an hour. Neither the original file share off/on nor your triple switch change was repeatable on a subsequent occasion.

I also found that removing extended attributes has solved (cross fingers) my sharing problems as well. I came about this the long way by trying all the other solutions which at best never worked or worked temporarily. My symptoms sounded like yours where only certain shares were causing problems.

Since my extended attribute removal all shares have behave consistently from all client devices that attached to the server.

Good to hear this worked for you. I am pretty Mac literate, but do not know what "removing extended attributes" means. If you or someone else could outline the precise steps to "remove extended attributes" I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!