Understanding and Resolving "Enter Network Credentials" Prompts
If you are using a Microsoft Account (where you sign in with an email address), Windows often gets confused when you try to share files locally. enter network credentials
Warning: This is slightly less secure, but great for old home networks. It asks for a secret after the user
The dialog violates the principle of seamless security . It asks for a secret after the user has already established a desktop session, creating cognitive dissonance. As long as Windows uses NTLM and SMB
It is not a bug. It is a feature—a feature that security experts love and normal humans despise. As long as Windows uses NTLM and SMB without cloud identity fallback for workgroups, the dialog will continue to haunt every home network, generating millions of helpdesk calls per year.
Sometimes, weirdly, Windows does want the Microsoft account.
If the prompt pops up and you just want it gone: