File share not accessible from Windows on MacOS Sonoma

Question

File share not accessible from Windows on MacOS Sonoma

I've been using File Sharing on Ventura and earlier for years. From my Windows PC I would normally use Explorer and enter \\mac_ip_address - this would result in a username and password challenge. Entering the username and password would then let my browse the share.

I upgraded my MacBook Air M1 to Sonoma - I get the username and password challenge but this is not accepted (I've ensured that the password is correct). I checked File Sharing was still switched on, SMB was switched on and that Windows File Sharing had my account listed. I double checked by unticking my account, reselecting it and entering my password. This still didn't allow me to connect.

As a last ditch measure I tried doing a clean install of Sonoma (Erase All Content and Settings). I've re-enabled File Sharing, SMB and checked my account and I'm still having the same issue.

Posted on Sep 28, 2023 6:19 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

TheGreenLlama Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 30, 2023 1:20 AM in response to TheGreenLlama

I've just reversed the steps -

Unchecked my account in SMB file sharing

Switched off Share...using SMB

Switched off File Sharing

Then gone back through -

Switched on File Sharing

Clicked Options...

I now have TWO copies of my account listed! One is already checked as 'On'. Connecting to my Mac from Windows now works!

No idea where this 'phantom second account' has come from - bearing in mind this was a clean reinstall!

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Answer 2

Sep 28, 2023 6:30 AM in response to TheGreenLlama

You might want to double-check your Windows settings. If you right click the windows icon, click on search. Type in Turn Windows Features on or off. Select that. Double check that Simple TCPIP, SMB 1.0/CIFS Client, and SMB Direct are all enabled. Make sure you add yourself AND Administrators to the share permissions of any given folder in Windows.

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Answer 3

Barney-15E

Level 10

123,630 points

Sep 30, 2023 4:55 AM in response to TheGreenLlama

Toggling File Sharing Off then On will sometimes fix that problem.

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Answer 4

Sep 28, 2023 6:47 AM in response to Randall_2023

Thanks for the suggestion - "Simple TCP/IP..." wasn't on but that doesn't appear to have made a difference.

EDIT - just to clarify - I've not changed anything on my Windows PC (asides now turning on Simple TCP/IP services) which was connecting to Ventura fine last week.

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