It would appear that windows update has changed my settings for accessing my server shares,and it is asking for credentials etc, I am of course using windows 11 home, this has happened before and Jorge was able to provide a link to correct the issue which has worked fine, but it appears the information no longer corrects the issue.

I am guessing I will have to go down the road of creating a credential package, it would most helpful if I could get some idea of the requirements, do I need to create something on my Unraid servers ? if so where do I access to do it.

I dont have a Microsoft account, so would I just be able to use my windows login details? and advice would very much appreciated.

Thanks T T

This should still work, if it doesn't there may be an issue with the Windows installation.

https://forums.unraid.net/topic/177975-formatted-my-pc-and-installed-fresh-windows-11-now-cant-access-smb-shares/?do=findComment&comment=1478526

11 minutes ago, JorgeB said:

This should still work, if it doesn't there may be an issue with the Windows installation.

https://forums.unraid.net/topic/177975-formatted-my-pc-and-installed-fresh-windows-11-now-cant-access-smb-shares/?do=findComment&comment=1478526

Well I have tried both the options and I still get the credential box, it worked fine when used the first but it seems no longer, there does not appear to be any issue I can see with Windows the server connected fine yesterday but not today.

23 minutes ago, JorgeB said:

This should still work, if it doesn't there may be an issue with the Windows installation.

https://forums.unraid.net/topic/177975-formatted-my-pc-and-installed-fresh-windows-11-now-cant-access-smb-shares/?do=findComment&comment=1478526

I have just tried to enable insecure guest logins a further twice with no change in the credential requirement.

@TopTrainer --- Read through this thread to gain some insight into how things work:

https://forums.unraid.net/topic/191221-some-musings-on-smb-and-samba-and-unraid-and-windows/

One important thing to understand is that Windows allows only a single connection to any server_name. This in combination to this, the SAMBA parameter which allows 'guest'

access to your Unraid server can cause issues that are difficult to troubleshooter. What that parameter does is if you enter an invalid user name in that credential box, you are automatically logged in as a guest. IF you then try to access a share that requires a valid user login, you will be present with a credential box and Windows will always fail to connect because you already have a SMB connection to that server. (That is the reason why I always suggest using Windows Credentials to login. Remember that Linux is case-sensitive and Windows is not!!!!)

2 hours ago, Frank1940 said:

@TopTrainer --- Read through this thread to gain some insight into how things work:

https://forums.unraid.net/topic/191221-some-musings-on-smb-and-samba-and-unraid-and-windows/

(That is the reason why I always suggest using Windows Credentials to login. Remember that Linux is case-sensitive and Windows is not!!!!)

Thanks for your reply Frank, I have managed to succeed for some time using Jorge's link but it is clear to me that it no longer works. I am happy to try to create a more permanent, compliant connection but I need some guidance on how to do it and what is required, I have never had to do this before.

Be sure to note the post about the Windows network type needs to be 'Private'....

On 9/19/2025 at 2:14 AM, Frank1940 said:

Be sure to note the post about the Windows network type needs to be 'Private'....

Frank, thanks for the links you sent containing details of my issues, I am currently tearing out what little hair I have left trying to overcome this problem. I have followed your instructions and also tried a few permeations.

The issues appear to be that the network cant be found, nothing appears under networks, I have tried to keep things relatively simple IE smbuser. universal user etc I have two servers, one main, and an older one that I am in process of converting from reiser to xfs.

There is only myself that has access from a single windows 11 home computer, the network as far as I can establish is Private.

I notice from some of your screen shots your shares are set to Private, mine are not, do they need to be bearing in mind there is only me that has access?

I have tried locating the server using its name and also its LAN IP and nothing is found, I have also tried using a saved link I have before the settings were changed, on clicking it, windows fetches the credential manager and asks for my password, which I guess that means that part is ok, when I put the password in it just states the server name cant be found?

Grateful for your continued support

T T

Using the 'Search' on the Windows taskbar. type 'command prompt' and open it up

Then type

ping ip_address_of_server

If that works, try

ping server_name

You should get something that looks like this:

IF you get both, Great! If not, use the one that works to access your server. (Both should work but that it determined by your router.)

Now read this post:

https://forums.unraid.net/topic/170027-smb-windows-settings-available-through-power-shell-and-linux-samba-tools-informational-posting/

Then try this, Again in search windows, type 'power shell', right-click on it and chose "run as administrator'. Enter this command:

Get-SmbConnection

What this command is showing is any connection that your Windows 11 computer has to any server. mine looks like this:

(The two connections are the mapped drives to my server...)

,Now let's look at the Unraid side of the equation, open the Unraid GUI terminal and type:

smbstatus

On my server I get this:

You can see the names of the users connected as well as their IP addresses. (I have redacted the VPN user info...)

Remember that we can only assume that you are using a standard network configuration using a typical consumer router.

56 minutes ago, TopTrainer said:

I notice from some of your screen shots your shares are set to Private, mine are not, do they need to be bearing in mind there is only me that has access?

IT should not. (Out of precaution for security, I have set mine as 'Private'.) You say that you are the only one. What do you do when you have visitor to your house? Do you share your WiFi? If you do, you have probably just given them access to all of the files on your server! But even if you are using 'Public' for your Unraid access (Which implies that there will being users accessing using 'guest' privileges-- no login credentials required), your Windows 11 computer will (probably) require a login using user name and password to your Unraid server or it will not connect!

EDIT: Give up expecting to find anything under Network in Windows File Explorer. It working seems to be a roll of the dice and expecting a '7' every time. Just 'pin' the server to the 'Quick access' and forget it is even there...

Edited September 22, 2025Sep 22 by Frank1940