Where to find your network sharing credentials

Your network sharing username and password are not the same as your WiFi password. They control who can access files and folders you share on your computer, while your WiFi password just connects you to the internet. On Windows, you set these credentials yourself when you create a user account. On Mac, they are tied to your Apple ID or local account. The fastest way to find them is to look in the settings where you created them, or to reset them if you have forgotten.

If you are trying to connect to someone else's shared folder, you will need their username and the password they gave you for that specific share. If you are the one sharing files, you control what username and password other people use to access your computer.

Key Takeaways

  • Your network sharing username is the account name you use to log into your computer, and the password is what you type when you start it up.
  • On Windows, open Settings, go to Accounts, and look at the account name shown under "Your info" — that is your username.
  • On Mac, open System Settings, click General, then Users & Groups to see your account name and change your password.
  • If you have forgotten your password, Windows lets you reset it from the login screen; Mac requires your Apple ID or a recovery key.
  • When sharing a folder with someone else, you decide whether they use your main account credentials or a separate guest account you create for them.

Finding your username on Windows

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then click the app. Go to Accounts in the left sidebar. Click Your info at the top. The name shown under "Account" is your network username — this is what other people type when they connect to your shared folders.

If your account shows an email address instead of a straightforward name, that is your Microsoft account username. You can also see your local account name by opening Command Prompt (search for "cmd"), typing whoami, and pressing Enter. The text after the backslash is your username.

Finding your username on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select System Settings. Click General in the sidebar, then Users & Groups (or Users & Accounts on newer versions). Your account name appears next to the lock icon. This is the username other people use when connecting to your shared files.

You can also find it by clicking the Apple menu, selecting About This Mac, and looking at the "Computer Name" field — though this is the device name, not your account name. For the actual account name, the Users & Groups section is the correct place.

Resetting a forgotten password on Windows

If you do not remember your password, go to the Windows login screen and click I forgot my password below the password field. Windows will ask you security questions you set up when you created the account, or it will send a reset link to your email address if your account is connected to Microsoft. Answer the questions or click the link, and you can create a new password.

If you do not remember the answers to your security questions and cannot access your email, you will need to use a password reset disk if you created one before, or contact Microsoft support with proof of ownership. This is why setting up security questions and keeping your recovery email current matters — you cannot bypass these steps without them.

Resetting a forgotten password on Mac

Restart your Mac and hold down Command + R while it boots to enter Recovery Mode. Click Utilities in the menu bar, then Terminal. Type resetpassword and press Enter. A window will open where you can select your account and create a new password. You will need to restart your Mac after you finish.

If you use an Apple ID, you can also restart your Mac, click Forgot password? on the login screen, and follow the prompts to reset it using your Apple ID. If you do not have access to your Apple ID and did not create a recovery key, you will need to contact Apple Support or take your Mac to an Apple Store.

Setting up a separate account for file sharing

Instead of giving someone your main account password, you can create a guest account or a separate user account just for sharing. On Windows, open Settings, go to Accounts, click Other users, and select Add account. You can create a local account with a username and password you choose, then give only those credentials to the person who needs access.

On Mac, open System Settings, go to Users & Groups, click the lock icon to unlock it, then click the plus sign to add a new account. Choose Standard as the account type, give it a name and password, and that person can use those credentials to access your shared folders. This way, if they no longer need access, you can delete the account without affecting your main login.

Connecting to someone else's shared folder

When someone shares a folder with you, they will give you their username and a password. On Windows, open File Explorer, right-click in the empty space, and select Add a network location. Type the path to their shared folder (usually something like \\computername\foldername), then enter their username and password when prompted. Windows will remember these credentials so you do not have to type them every time.

On Mac, open Finder, click Go in the menu bar, select Connect to Server, and type the address of the shared folder (usually smb://computername/foldername). Click Connect, then enter the username and password the owner gave you. The shared folder will appear on your desktop or in the Finder sidebar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my network sharing password the same as my WiFi password?

No. Your WiFi password connects your device to the internet. Your network sharing password controls who can access files on your computer. They are completely separate. You set your WiFi password in your router settings; your network sharing password is your computer account password.

Can I see what password I am using if I have forgotten it?

No, passwords are not stored in a readable form anywhere on your computer for security reasons. If you have forgotten it, you must reset it using the recovery method for your operating system — security questions on Windows, or your Apple ID on Mac.

What if someone else is using my computer and I want to change the password?

On Windows, go to Settings, Accounts, and click Password to change it. On Mac, open System Settings, Users & Groups, select your account, and click Change Password. The next time anyone tries to log in, they will need the new password.

Do I have to give someone my main account password to share files?

No. Create a separate user account on your computer with its own username and password, then share folders from that account instead. This way you keep your main account private and can delete the guest account later without affecting your own files.

Why does my computer ask for a username and password when I try to access a shared folder?

The owner of that folder has set it to require authentication. You need the username and password they assigned to that share. Ask them for the correct credentials — make sure you are typing them exactly as they gave them to you, including capital letters and special characters.