The error code 0x80070035 appears with the message "Windows cannot access" followed by a computer name, and the line "The network path was not found". It happens when you try to open a shared folder, a shared printer or a drive on another computer in your home or office network, and Windows cannot find that computer.
The code is not about a damaged file or a virus. It is a path problem: the name you typed cannot be turned into a reachable device, or the other computer is refusing to share. Because two machines are involved, the fix may be on the computer you are using, on the one you are trying to reach, or on the router between them. The sections below check each in the easiest order.
Common causes
1The other computer is off, asleep or on another network
How to tellIts name does not appear in the network list at all
What fixes itWake it up and confirm both machines use the same router
2Network discovery and file sharing are off
How to tellNetwork is set to Public, or sharing options are turned off
What fixes itSet the network to Private and turn on discovery and file sharing
3Computer name does not resolve
How to tellOpening by IP address works but opening by name does not
What fixes itPut the IP address in the path, or fix the name settings on the router
4Firewall or security software blocks sharing
How to tellBegan after a security program was added or updated
What fixes itAllow File and Printer Sharing in the firewall rules for private networks
5Required Windows sharing services not running
How to tellShared folders worked earlier, then stopped after a restart
What fixes itSet Function Discovery services to Automatic and start them
6Wrong or saved credentials
How to tellA prompt for a username appears, or access fails after a password change
What fixes itDelete stale entries in Credential Manager, then log in anew
7Old sharing protocol turned off
How to tellThe target is an older device, a NAS, or a very old PC
What fixes itUpdate the device first; enabling older features is only for trusted private networks
How to fix it, step by step
Confirm the other computer is on and sharing
Make sure the target computer is awake, not hibernating, and connected to the same router. Open the shared folder on that computer once locally, to be sure the share still exists.
Restart both computers and the router
Switch off the router for thirty seconds, then restart both computers. Old network names and cached routes disappear after a restart.
Make the network Private
Open the properties page of your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection in Settings and change the network profile to Private. Public profiles hide the computer on purpose.
Enable discovery and sharing
Open Control Panel, then Network and Sharing Center, then Change advanced sharing settings. For the private profile, tick both discovery and the file and printer option. Do this on both computers.
Type the IP address rather than the name
On the target computer, run
ipconfigin Command Prompt and note the IPv4 address. Back on your own computer press Windows + R and enter\\192.168.1.5, swapping in the address you found. If that opens, name lookup is the culprit, not sharing.Check the computers can see each other
In Command Prompt, run
pingfollowed by the other computer's IP address. Replies mean the network is fine. Failed replies suggest a firewall, a wrong network, or a router isolation setting such as guest mode.Start the discovery services
Open the Services list (Windows + R, then
services.msc) and look for Function Discovery Provider Host and Function Discovery Resource Publication. Make both Automatic and start them. DNS Client and Workstation should also show as running.Clear saved credentials
Search the Start menu for Credential Manager and open the Windows Credentials tab. Delete anything that names the other computer, then reconnect and type the right username and password for it.
Reset the network as a last step
Windows has a Network reset button inside the advanced network pages of Settings. It forgets saved Wi-Fi networks and VPN setups, so write down your Wi-Fi password before you press it.
What error code 0x80070035 means
The number maps to the Windows code for "network path not found". Windows tried to reach a name such as \\OFFICE-PC and received no answer. That means either the machine was not reachable, or the name could not be turned into an address. It does not tell you why.
On a home network you open File Explorer, type the other laptop's name, and see Network Error. Windows cannot access \\LAPTOP2. Error code: 0x80070035. The network path was not found. If typing its IP address works, you only need to fix name lookup or discovery, not the share itself.
Error code 0x80070035 in Windows 10 versus Windows 11
Both versions show the same message, but Windows 11 tightens the defaults more. Guest access to shares is blocked unless allowed, and some older sharing features are not installed by default. On a home network, signing in with a real account on the target computer and sharing the folder to that account is the cleanest route. Turning on weaker options only so an old device works should be limited to a trusted private network.
Windows Features can also hold the answer: open Turn Windows features on or off and check that SMB 1.0 support is not needed by a very old device. Prefer updating that device if you can. If the same sign-in prompts give you a different failure, compare with error code 0x800704f8, which relates to blocked guest sign-in.
Is it your computer, the other computer or the router
| Test | If it passes | If it fails |
|---|---|---|
| Open by IP address | Name lookup is the issue | Sharing or firewall issue |
| Ping the other computer | Network path works | Check router, Wi-Fi and firewall |
| Open the share from a third device | Your computer is the cause | The sharing computer is the cause |
If many devices cannot see each other, look at the router. Some routers keep Wi-Fi guests apart from wired devices. Our guide to WiFi not working can help if the router connection itself is unstable.
Safety notes when changing sharing settings
Share only the folders you need, and give access to named users with a password. Avoid turning off the firewall to test, and never open sharing on public Wi-Fi. If this is a work computer, ask your IT team before changing settings, since policy may control them.
Printers shared from another PC often fail with the same message. See printer not working for the printer-side steps.
Frequently asked questions
What does error code 0x80070035 mean?
It means Windows cannot find the network path to the other computer or shared folder. The target may be off, hidden by sharing settings, or reachable only by its IP address.
How do I fix error code 0x80070035 on Windows 11?
Set the network to Private, switch discovery and sharing on for both machines, and try the IP address in the path. Then clear saved credentials and check that the discovery services are running.
Does error code: 0x80070035 mean my files are damaged?
No. It is a network reachability error. Your files are untouched; Windows only failed to connect to the place where they are stored.
Why does it work with the IP address but not the computer name?
The name could not be matched to an address. Restart the router and both computers, turn on network discovery, or simply keep using the IP address.
Is it safe to enable older sharing features to fix this?
Only as a short test on a private network you trust, and ideally never. The better fix is to update or replace the old device.