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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 you try to integrate 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 No access possible with macOS 10.15 or later

The network protocol SMB1 is required to access storage (NAS) of the FRITZ!Box. Because Apple removed SMB1 support from macOS 10.15 (Catalina), you can no longer use SMB to access storage (NAS) of the FRITZ!Box with macOS 10.15 or later.

Therefore, use http://fritz.nas or the FTP protocol, for example with Cyberduck, to access the storage.

2 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 grant access to all folders, the user will also have access to all of the faxes, answering machine messages, and any online storage you may have configured.

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

3 Configuring login to the home network

To access storage (NAS) contents, password protection must be enabled for the FRITZ!Box:

  1. Click "System" in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  2. Click "FRITZ!Box Users" in the "System" menu.
  3. Click on the "Login to the Home Network" tab.
  4. If each user should use a unique password to access the FRITZ!Box, enable the option "Login with FRITZ!Box username and password".
    • If all users should use the same password to access the FRITZ!Box, enable the option "Login with the FRITZ!Box password" and enter a password for accessing the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  5. Click "Apply" to save the settings.

4 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".

5 Enabling SMB support

  1. Click "Home Network" in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  2. Click "Storage (NAS)" in the "Home Network" menu.
  3. Enable the option "Access via network drive (SMB) enabled" in the section "Home Network Sharing".
  4. Click "Apply" to save the settings.

6 Installing the SMB1 protocol for Windows 11 / 10

Starting with Windows 10 version 1709, the network protocol SMB1 required to access storage (NAS) of the FRITZ!Box is no longer installed by default. Therefore, make sure that SMB1 support is installed on your computer:

  1. Click the search symbol in the Windows task bar.
  2. Enter Control Panel in the search field and press Enter.
  3. Click "Programs" and then "Programs and Features".
  4. Click "Turn Windows features on or off".
  5. Enable the option "SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support" or "SMB1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support" in the window "Windows Features" and click "OK".
  6. Click "OK".
  7. Click "Restart now" to complete the installation procedure.

7 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.

8 Configuring the computer's 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.

9 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 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 "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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