How to fix Windows Cannot Access error in LAN

With some solutions in this article, you can fix the Windows Cannot Access error easily.

1. Use the self-diagnosis feature

Step 1: After receiving the error message as shown below, click Diagnose .

After that, the debugging will automatically proceed.

Step 2: After error scan is completed, click on Try these repairs as an administration .

Select Apply this fix .

Click Close to close the diagnostic and try to connect to another machine on the network.

2. Switch your Public network settings to private

On Windows 7

Step 1: Click on Network (1) => Open Network and Sharing Center (2) .

Step 2: Click on Public network .

Step 3: You can choose Home network or Work network . After that, the network will automatically change from Public to Home network or Work network .

If there is a notice to share in Workgroup, click Cancel to cancel and set it up later.

On Windows 10

Step 1: Click on Network (1) => Network & Internet settings (2) .

Step 2: Click on Ethernet (1) => Network (2) .

Step 3: You tick Private .

3. Enable TCP / IP NetBIOS Helper service

Step 1: Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog box . Next, enter the command services.msc (1) => OK (2) .

Step 2: Find and right-click the TCP / IP service NetBIOS Helper (1) => Start (2) .

4. Turn off firewall

Firewalls are really useful because they are your gateway to protect your computer against intruders. However, a firewall also causes your computer to be unable to access other computers on the LAN.

On Windows 7

Step 1: Go to Start (1) => search with the keyword Firewall (2) => Windows Firewall (3) .

Step 2: Select Turn Windows Firewall on or off .

Step 3: Select Turn off Windows Firewall (1) => OK (2) .

On Windows 10

Step 1: You click on Search (1) or use the keyboard shortcut Windows + S to open. Next, you enter the keyword firewall (2) => Windows Defender Firewall (3) .

Step 2: Select Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off .

Step 3: Check Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (1) => OK (2) .

5. Turn off error setting when no password is set

If the machine does not set a password for the User Account, an error may arise during the access. The treatment is as follows:

On Windows 7

Step 1: Click on Network (1) => Open Network and Sharing Center (2) .

Step 2: Choose Change advanced sharing settings .

Step 3: Select Home or Work (current profile) (1) => Turn off password protected sharing (2) => Save changes (3) .

On Windows 10

Step 1: Click on Network (1) => Network & Internet settings (2) .

Step 2: Select Network and Sharing Center .

Select Change advanced sharing settings .

Step 3: Click on All Networks (1) => Turn off password protected sharing (2) => Save changes (3) .

6. Set up a Guest account

Step 1: Right-click This PC (1) => Manage (2) .

Step 2: Select Local Users and Groups (1) => choose Users (2) => right click on Guest (3) => Properties (4) .

Step 3: You set as shown below (1) => Apply => OK (3) .

With the solutions in this article, you will no longer have the error Windows Cannot Access hindering you. Good luck!

Lesley Montoya

Update 09 January 2021