mediumMultiple Choice
220-1102 Practice Question: A user wants to share a folder on their Windows…
A user wants to share a folder on their Windows 11 PC so that other users on the local network can access files without a password. They have already enabled network discovery and file sharing. Which additional setting must they configure in the Advanced Sharing settings to allow password-less access?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the misconception that enabling Public folder sharing or encryption settings will remove the password requirement, when in fact only disabling password protected sharing directly controls authentication for all shared folders.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Turn off password protected sharing
To allow password-less access to shared folders on a local network, you must disable password protected sharing. When this setting is turned off, Windows 11 does not require users to have a local account and password on the host machine; instead, it grants access based on the 'Everyone' group permissions. This is configured in the 'Advanced sharing settings' under 'All Networks'.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Turn on Public folder sharing
Why it's wrong here
Public folder sharing exposes the shared Public directories to the network; it does not remove the credential prompt for a user-created share. Password-less access requires turning off password-protected sharing, which lets the SMB server accept anonymous or guest connections. Public folder sharing is for sharing the built-in Public profile folders instead.
- ✓
Turn off password protected sharing
Why this is correct
Disabling password protected sharing removes the credential prompt for inbound SMB connections, so local-network users access the share anonymously. Network discovery and file sharing alone still require authentication; this setting satisfies the password-less access requirement.
- ✗
Enable 128-bit encryption
Why it's wrong here
128-bit encryption sets the SMB signing and encryption strength for share traffic; it has no bearing on whether the server demands credentials. Password-less access requires turning off password-protected sharing. Enabling 128-bit encryption is the correct hardening step when you must secure SMB traffic on a share that still authenticates users.
- ✗
Set up a homegroup
Why it's wrong here
Homegroups were removed in Windows 11, so no such setting exists to configure; they also never governed whether a share demanded credentials. Password-less access requires disabling password-protected sharing, which stops the SMB server requiring authenticated credentials. Homegroups were a Windows 7-era mechanism for sharing libraries and printers between trusted PCs.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
MFA Types for Users
Key term
Universal Plug and Play
Universal Plug and Play is a set of networking protocols that allows devices on a network to discover each other and connect automatically without manual configuration.
Key term
Folder
A folder is a logical container used to organize and group digital files, resources, or cloud-based assets within a system or platform.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1202 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1202 exam.