In Windows 10, you can enable network discovery, file and printer sharing to connect with network drives, folders and devices. But sometimes an upgrade may break connection with those network attachments and you might be looking for the solution. Recently, we came around a similar case where after installing a feature update, we can no longer connect to network attachments and following error message appears:

You can’t access this shared folder because your organization’s security policies block unauthenticated guest access. These policies help to protect your PC from unsafe or malicious devices on the network.

You Can't Access This Shared Folder Because Your Organization's Security Policies Block Unauthenticated Guest Access

If you’re also facing this problem and you do not know how to fix, try below mentioned suggestions and see if they helps.

FIX: You Can’t Access This Shared Folder Because Your Organization’s Security Policies Block Unauthenticated Guest Access In Windows 10

FYI: These fixes will only work in Windows 10 Pro, Education and Enterprise editions.

FIX 1 – Via Group Policy

In Windows 10 Version 1709, Microsoft has disabled access on SMBv2 due to security reasons. You might be well aware of the fact that SMBv1 protocol is not installed on Version 1709 or later and Microsoft recommends users to use SMBv2. However, with SMBv2, insecure guest access is prohibited since Version 1709, while SMBv1 still allows this. But now the problem that you can’t use SMBv1 due to security reasons. So the only option left is to allow guest access on SMBv2, which may however again reduce security on your system. You can refer this Microsoft support article to learn more and manage guest access as per your convenience.

FIX 2 – Via Security Policy Snap-in

1. Press Windows Key + R and put secpol.msc in Run dialog box. Click OK to open Security Policy snap-in.

Local Security Policy Editor

2. Then in Security Policy snap-in window, navigate here:

Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options

You Can't Access This Shared Folder Because Your Organization's Security Policies Block Unauthenticated Guest Access

3. In the right pane of Security Options, look for Microsoft network client: Digitally sign communications (always) which might be set to Enabled and this is the cause for this issue. Double click on security setting and on the configuration sheet, set it to Disabled, which is also the default setting. Click Apply, followed by OK.

You Can't Access This Shared Folder Because Your Organization's Security Policies Block Unauthenticated Guest Access

4. Close Security Policy snap-in. The issue must be resolved now, as no restart required to make changes effective for this security setting.

Hope this helps!

Related: Cannot access shared folder or drive in Windows 10/Server.

44 Comments

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  • Rahul Jain

    Thank you very much @Kapil Arya, Because of your blog I was able to fix one of our production issue. Thanks alot again.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help Rahul!

  • Joe Wallace

    @Kapil Arya, this seems to be broken again after the recent Windows 10 update to Version 2004. This was working fine under 1909, but now it isn’t working. I triple checked that all of my previous settings are still there, and they are.

    Any ideas on how to get around this in version 2004?

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Thanks for your information. I’ll investigate and get back to you.

  • E

    @Joe — i had the same issue with 2004. For 2004 change this registry key:

    HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters
    AllowInsecureGuestAuth = 1

    it is set to 0 after 2004 build upgrade

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Thanks for adding the alternative! Anyone following the registry change advice, kindly check Microsoft’s response before deploying the solution: docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/customize/desktop/unattend/microsoft-windows-workstationservice-allowinsecureguestauth.

  • Joe Wallace

    Thanks E!

  • Alan

    The registry tweak from E fixed my issue….thanks!

  • Brian

    Thanks E!

  • Tony

    Same issue, Same fix…Well Done E!

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help Tony!

  • Afdol Majid

    Work for me to update 2004

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help!

  • V

    THANKS E !

  • J.E.

    After fighting this for months trying to figure this out the regedit was the last edit made and it worked. Thanks for that!!

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad it worked J.E.!

  • Ryviax

    Good Day Community (first post)

    Thank you all for the great work investigating this issue, unfortunately I am still experiencing this with a client.

    Info Below
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Issue:
    – System
    – Provider
    [ Name] Microsoft-Windows-SMBClient
    [ Guid] {988c59c5-0a1c-45b6-a555-0c62276e327d}
    EventID 31017
    Version 0
    Level 2
    Task 0
    Opcode 0
    Keywords 0x200000000000080
    – TimeCreated
    [ SystemTime] 2020-10-23T16:47:03.5899862Z
    EventRecordID 129
    Correlation
    – Execution
    [ ProcessID] 4
    [ ThreadID] 9136
    Channel Microsoft-Windows-SmbClient/Security
    Computer XXXXXXX-XXXX.domain.local
    – Security
    [ UserID] S-1-X-XX
    – EventData
    UserNameLength 0
    UserName
    ServerNameLength 12
    ServerName \10.1.XXX.XXX
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Local Group Polic
    Computer Configuration > Network > Laman Workstation > “Enable insecure guest logons” = Enabled

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Secpol

    Security settings > Local Policies > Security Options > Microsoft network client: Digitally sign communications (always) = Disabled

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Reviewed regedit.msc found that there was no “AllowInsecureGuestAuth” D-WORD
    Key – [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters]

    Created D-WORD 32bit and set value 1

    Rebooted
    ~~~~~~~~~

    Issue is persistent

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ What is the client’s version?

  • Shamsi

    Thanks this helped

    E
    4 months ago

    @Joe — i had the same issue with 2004. For 2004 change this registry key:

    HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters
    AllowInsecureGuestAuth = 1

    it is set to 0 after 2004 build upgrade

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Thanks for confirming that solution.

  • TJ

    Thanks E and Kapil! RegEdit Worked for me ..

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad it worked!

  • Stephen Lawlor

    Thanks reg key sorted my issue!

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help Stephen!

  • RRP

    But, how safe is that regedit change?

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ From security point of view for your network, Microsoft doesn’t recommends it as safe: docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/customize/desktop/unattend/microsoft-windows-workstationservice-allowinsecureguestauth.

  • Angelo Quaglia

    Thanks a lot!

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help!

  • Steven Burnett

    Finally!
    The regedit was the only solution that worked for me to get access to shortcuts that pointed to a WD MyBook ext storage system.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad to help Steven!

  • Joel Morgan

    HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters
    AllowInsecureGuestAuth = 1
    Worked for me as well on my Win Server 2019 when accessing my Synology DS918+ NAS.
    Thank you.

  • drrd

    “E
    11 months ago”

    HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters
    AllowInsecureGuestAuth = 1

    This worked for me too.
    Great work. Many thanks E!!

  • Steve B

    Found out what you did DOES NOT WORK. With some playing around, you have to also:
    DISABLE : Microsoft network client: digitally sign communications (always)
    if you don’t you can’t log in.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Thanks for adding this Steve!

  • Dave

    I cant find “Parameters” in Lanmanworkstation -running Enterprise N 2004 ?
    Is it something I need to create – newbie regarding amending registry.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Dave, I don’t have Enterprise N 2004, so can’t comment on it. Will need to wait if someone checks and respond here.

  • Dave

    ^^ Thanks Kapil, I have now fixed it for the present though as I tried
    many things am not sure what fixed it. For info I was reading in parallel this
    docs.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/59309/you-cant-access-this-shared-folder-because-your-or.html
    as it spelled out my problem Win 10 PC to a Win7 PC . Have not amended any registry
    but did create a new user on the Win 7 Machine. and I can log in from the win10 machine
    to the Win 7 machine as that user. Part of the problem seemed that the
    Win 7 user ( also me) logs in without a password so my “new user ” has a password
    which apparently the Win 10 machine verifies.
    So all is good ( at least perhaps until the next update -imminent)
    Thanks for maintaining these “blogs” we would be lost without them.
    Dave

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad it was sorted Dave, thanks for your feedback and we’re here to create content for readers like you 😊 Keep visiting!

  • Shalin

    Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).
    In the console tree, select Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Lanman Workstation.
    For the setting, right-click Enable insecure guest logons and select Edit.
    Select Enabled and select OK.

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Thanks for adding these steps!

  • N Babu

    super sir, While using as you was provided its successfully working.
    Thank you so much a lot

  • Kapil Arya

    ^^ Glad I could help 😎

  • dave ingram

    Awesome thanks you so much..

  • Az Aj

    wowwwww ………. PERFECT, Thanks man, @E and @Joe, you guys are well informed. i have been try to connect with a shared folder on another network using vpn but it wasnt working until i stumbled upon this post BOOMMMMM. i tried and it worked. i’m so excited guys. thanks a billion time.

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