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Knowledge document #1364

Cannot access storage (NAS) configured as a network drive

It is not possible or no longer possible to access storage (NAS) of the FRITZ!Box that is configured as a network drive. When the computer is started or when you try to integrate the internal memory of the FRITZ!Box or a USB storage device connected to the FRITZ!Box as a network drive, one of the following error messages is displayed:

  • "Invalid password or username for: \\fritz.box\[...]"
  • "Enter Network Password
    Enter your password to connect to:
    fritz.box"
  • "Network error: Windows cannot access \\fritz.box.
    Error code [...] The network path was not found."
  • "Network error: Windows cannot access \\fritz.box.
    Error code [...] Unspecified error"
  • "Could not reconnect all network drives"
  • "An error occurred while reconnecting [...]
    Microsoft Windows Network: The network path was not found.
    This connection has not been restored."

Cause

  • The specified path, username, and/or password is incorrect, or the user does not have permission to access NAS contents, or incorrect settings on the computer are preventing access to the USB storage device.

Simply proceed as described below. After each measure, check whether the problem is solved.

Note:All instructions on configuration and settings given in this guide refer to the latest FRITZ!OS for the FRITZ!Box.

1 Setting up FRITZ!Box users

To access storage (NAS) contents, you need a user account with a username and password. Set up a FRITZ!Box user in the FRITZ!Box for this purpose:

  1. Click "System" in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  2. Click "FRITZ!Box Users" in the "System" menu.
  3. Click the (Edit) button for the user who should be allowed to access the storage (NAS) or set up a new user for access to NAS contents:
    1. Click the "Add User" button.
    2. Enter a name and password for the user in the corresponding fields.
  4. Enable the option "Access to NAS contents".
  5. Click the "Add Directory" button.
  6. If the user should be allowed to access all storage available on the FRITZ!Box, enable the option "All storage available on the FRITZ!Box".
    • If the user should only be allowed to access a particular storage or folder, enable the option "Select folder".

      ATTENTION!If you are using an IP telephone with the FRITZ!Box, the user will also have access to all of the messages recorded by the FRITZ!Box answering machine if you grant access to all folders.

  7. In the section "Directory", assign the user read and write permission to the storage.
  8. Click "Apply" to save the settings.

2 Configuring the Windows network type

Windows distinguishes between different network types and changes its firewall settings depending on whether a network is configured as a private network (home network), work network, or public network. For security reasons, it is not possible to access shared files and printers in public networks.

Therefore, make sure that your computer is configured to connect to a private network:

  1. Click (Start) and then (Settings) in the Windows task bar.
  2. Click "Network & Internet" in the "Settings" menu.
  3. If you are using Windows 11, click "Properties" next to the entry for the network connection of the computer.
  4. If you are using Windows 10:
    1. Depending on how the computer is connected, select either "Wi-Fi" or "Ethernet".
    2. Click on the entry for the network connection to the FRITZ!Box.
  5. Enable the option "Private" in the section "Network profile type".

3 Enabling SMBv1 support

Some devices or applications (for example Windows XP) only support the outdated access method SMBv1. If there is no update with SMBv2 or SMBv3 support available for your device or application, enable SMBv1 support in the FRITZ!Box:

  1. Click "Home Network" in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  2. Click "USB / Storage" in the "Home Network" menu.
  3. Enable the option "Enable support for SMBv1" in the section "Home Network Sharing".
  4. Click "Apply" to save the settings.

4 Deleting network drives and setting them up again

Often storage (NAS) cannot be accessed because access rights for NAS contents were changed in the FRITZ!Box after the network drive was set up. Therefore, set up the network drive again:

  1. On the computer, delete any links to the storage (NAS) configured as a network drive.
  2. On the computer, set up the storage (NAS) as a network drive again.

5 Configuring the firewall

  1. Configure the firewall on the computer according to the manufacturer's instructions so that it allows communication via the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol.

6 Adjusting the Windows network settings

  1. Click (Start) and then (Settings) in the Windows task bar.
  2. Click "Network & Internet" in the "Settings" menu.
  3. If you are using Windows 11:
    1. Click "Advanced network settings".
    2. Click "More network adapter options" in the section "Related settings".
  4. If you are using Windows 10:
    1. Click "Change adapter options" in the section "Advanced network settings".
    2. Click on the arrow next to the (Change view) button in the menu bar and select "Details".
  5. Right-click the network adapter that connects the computer to the FRITZ!Box.
  6. Click "Properties".
  7. Enable the "Client for Microsoft Networks" and the "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks".
  8. Click on "OK" to save the settings.

Now you can access the storage (NAS) of the FRITZ!Box.

Note:Other reasons for not being able to access the storage (NAS) can be errors of a security application or the operating system. Refer to the manufacturer of the security software or operating system for information on how to set it up, for example consult the manual.

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