How to Turn On or off Password Protected Sharing in Windows 11

Option 1Using Settings

The Settings ⚙️ app is the quickest way to change password protected sharing on current versions of Windows 11. The switch is under Network & internet, in Advanced sharing settings. It controls whether network users need a user account and password to view the files you share from your computer. These steps turn password protected sharing on or off from Settings.

1. Press Win+I to open Settings ⚙️. The Settings app opens with a list of categories on the left.
2. Click Network & internet on the left side. The network options for your PC appear on the right.
3. Click Advanced network settings on the right side. You should see a list of your network adapters and related options.
4. Click Advanced sharing settings under More settings.  Open Advanced sharing settings You should see sections for Private networks, Public networks, and All networks.
5. Click All networks to expand it. The password protected sharing switch is in this section.
6. Set Password protected sharing to On or Off. On is the default. The switch changes right away, and there is no Save button.
7. Approve the User Account Control prompt if one appears. Standard users will be asked for an administrator password. If you are already an administrator, you may only need to click Yes.
8. Close Settings. No restart is needed.

If you are not sure which to pick, leave it on. It is the safer choice, especially on a laptop that joins networks outside your home.

Option 2Using Control Panel

You can also manage password protected sharing in the classic Control Panel 🎛️. This works in current Windows 11 as well as older builds. The setting is in the Network and Sharing Center, under advanced sharing settings and the All networks section. It is useful if you prefer the older layout or the Settings ⚙️ page will not open. These steps turn password protected sharing on or off from Control Panel.

1. Open Control Panel. One way is to search for it in the Start menu.
2. Set View by to Large icons or Small icons. The full list of Control Panel items appears.
3. Click the Network and Sharing Center icon. You should see your active networks and connection details.
4. Click the Change advanced sharing settings link on the left side. You should see the sharing profiles for your network types.
5. Click All networks to expand it. The section opens below the other profiles.
6. Scroll down inside the section to Password protected sharing. It sits below Public folder sharing, Media streaming, and File sharing connections.
7. Select Turn on password protected sharing or Turn off password protected sharing. Turning it on is the default.
8. Click Save changes. If you leave without saving, the old setting stays in place.
9. Approve the User Account Control prompt if one appears. If the change does not stick, check that you are signed in with an administrator account or have an administrator password ready.
10. Close Control Panel. No restart is needed.

To undo the change, open the same page, pick the other option, and click Save changes again.

Summary

When it is active, anyone who tries to open your shared folders must type a valid username and password for an account on your computer. Only turn it off on a network you fully trust, such as a private home network, and think about turning it back on afterward.

You can switch it on or off at any time, using either the Settings app or the Control Panel. The change takes effect straight away, and you do not need to restart your PC. Both methods change the same setting, so whichever you use last is the one that applies.