Unraid: Fix lost Windows 11 mapped drives

Unfortunately for many, Windows 11 is the gift that keeps giving. And by this I mean the non-stop Windows Updates that always manage to ruin something. Arrrgh!

I am a very mini techhead (everything is relative) but I am always reluctant about Windows 11 updates. Nearly always something goes wrong.

Anyway, a near consistent and recurring fault of Windows Update is losing mapped drives. It has happened to me countless times. I can fix it after a bit of research but it is majorly inconvenient. When I consider that I am just one person on the planet, the lost productivity on a global scale after each Windows Update must be immense.

There are multiple solutions online but I suggest Solution 1 to maintain maximum security plus it is dead easy to implement as well.

Issue: Mapped network drives no longer work after Windows 11 Update

Why did this happen?

Starting from Windows 11 version 24H2, Microsoft has enhanced security and no longer allows access to shared folders in the LAN without a username and password. This can be quite inconvenient for existing systems that are shared without requiring a password.

Possible Solutions

1. Apply user name and password security
2. Allow Insecure Guest Logins via Powershell
3. Enable Insecure Guest Logins via Group Policy

My Initial Setup:

• Unraid version: 6.12.10.
• Windows update applied overnight to: Windows 11, version 24H2.
• Result: Pre-existing mapped drives no longer accessible after version 24H2 update.

Solution 1: Apply user name and password security

Pre-requisite: Do not delete your existing mapped drive(s) otherwise you will have to go and manually add them again.

Instructions

1. Add user in Unraid
2. Add user in Windows Credential Manager
3. Shutdown and restart Windows 11
4. You're good to go!

Step 1: Add user in Unraid

Step 2: Add user in Windows Credential Manager

Using the user you have just added in Unraid you will add the user in Windows Credential Manager.

In Windows Search type...Windows Credential Manager... and open.

Click on...Windows Credentials

Click on...Add A Windows Credential

Add the Windows Credentials using the Server Name or Share Name and the user name and password you setup in Unraid in Step 1.

The Windows Credential for the Share name is added as per your user input.

Step 3: Shutdown and Restart Windows 11

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Solution 2: Allow Insecure Guest Logins via Powershell

Disable "Insecure Guest Logins" although note that this may compromise your network.

If you have Windows 11 HOME (24H2), paste the following into powershell (run as admin).

Set-SmbClientConfiguration -RequireSecuritySignature $false

Set-SmbClientConfiguration -EnableInsecureGuestLogons $true

Solution 3: Enable Insecure Guest Logins via Group Policy

Step 1: Press **Win + R**, type `gpedit.msc`, and press Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.

Step 2: Navigate to **Computer Configuration** > **Administrative Templates** > **Network** > **Lanman Workstation**.

Step 3: Double-click **Enable insecure guest logons** and set it to **Enabled**.

Step 4: Apply the changes and restart your computer.