Instructions to fix the error “Network path was not found” in Windows

When a computer, mobile device, or printer tries to connect over the network to a Microsoft Windows computer, for example, the error message "network path was not found" — Error 0x80070035 may appear. The computer cannot make a network connection to the other device.

This error message is usually displayed:The Network Path Cannot Be Found.

The network path was not found error message image will look like this:

Any technical issue on the network can cause this error. Try the troubleshooting methods listed here to resolve or fix this issue.

Instructions to fix error 0x80070035 Windows

• Method 1: Use a valid path name when encountering the Network Path Cannot Be Found error
• Method 2: Some other basic troubleshooting methods
• Method 3: Disable local firewall/third-party antivirus software
• Method 4: Reset TCP/IP
• Method 5: Edit NetBIOS settings
• Method 6: Switch the TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper service to active state
• Method 7: Change Network access: Sharing and security model for local account to Classic
• Method 8: Edit local security settings
• Method 9: Verify that the drive is shared
• Method 10: Check the IP address of the connected device
• Method 11: Enable SMB 1.0
• Method 12: Update driver

Method 1: Use a valid path name when encountering the Network Path Cannot Be Found error

Error 0x80070035 can occur when a user mistypes the network path name. The specified path must point to a valid shared resource on the remote device. Windows file or printer sharing must be enabled on the remote device and the remote user must have permission to access the resource.

Here's how you can share the targeted drive on a remote computer:

1. Right-click on the targeted drive and select Properties from the context menu.

2. In the following dialog box, go to the Sharing tab and check the status of Network Path .

3. If the status shows Not Shared , then click the Advanced Sharing button.

4. Check the box associated with Share this folder and note the share name of the drive.

5. Once done, click Apply > OK to save the changes.

Now, you can check if the drive is accessible after following the steps above.

Method 2: Some other basic troubleshooting methods

Any system anomaly, including the Network Path Cannot Be Found error, can occur when the clocks on two devices are not set to the same. Always keep Windows devices on your local network synchronized via the Network Time Protocol. This can help you avoid the Network Path Cannot Be Found error.

Make sure to use a valid username and password when connecting to remote resources.

If any of the Microsoft system services related to file sharing and printer sharing in the network are faulty, the Network Path Cannot Be Found error can also occur.

Restarting the computer may restore normal function.

Method 3: Disable local firewall/third-party antivirus software

A misconfigured or improperly running firewall on the initiating Windows device can cause the Network Path Cannot Be Found error. Temporarily disable the firewall , either the built-in Windows firewall or third-party firewall software, and then test again to see if the Network Path Cannot Be Found error persists.

If the error is no longer present, users should take additional steps to change their firewall settings to avoid triggering the error again. Note that home desktops are already protected by the broadband router's firewall and do not need a separate firewall, while mobile devices do require their own firewall to protect them.

Another common culprit that often prevents users from connecting to networks, sharing files, and downloading apps from third-party sources is overprotective antivirus software.

It's the job of antivirus software to identify malicious activities and stop them, but sometimes these security programs also start labeling legitimate processes as threats, blocking them altogether.

If you are using a third-party security program on your operating system, you should temporarily disable it and then try connecting to the remote computer and sharing files. If your antivirus software is causing the problem, disabling your antivirus software should fix the problem.

You can also try disabling Windows Defender if you are using it and see if that helps. However, after you are done sharing files, make sure you turn your antivirus back on immediately as leaving it off for a long period of time can expose your PC to threats.

Method 4: Reset TCP/IP

While the average user is not interested in technical issues related to the operation of the operating system, some users want to learn about advanced troubleshooting options. A common method to make Windows network connections more stable is to reset the Windows components running in the background that support TCP/IP network traffic.

The exact steps will depend on the version of Windows you're using. However, this approach typically involves opening the Windows Command Prompt and entering the " netsh " command. For example, the command:

netsh int ip reset

This command will reset TCP/IP on Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. Restarting your computer after executing this command will return Windows to its default state.

Method 5: Edit NetBIOS settings

We press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog box and enter the keyword NCPA.CP. Then right-click on the network you are accessing and select Properties .

Display the new user interface, click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) in the list below and then click on Properties .

Switch to the new dialog box, click Advanced , then select the WINS tab , check Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP and click OK to save.

Method 6: Switch the TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper service to active state

We access the Windows Services interface on the computer, then check whether the TCP/IP NetBios Helper service is in active status or not. If not, click directly on the service and switch to active mode.

Additionally, you should also restart this service to make sure it works. Here is what you need to do:

1. Open Run by pressing Win + R .

2. Type services.msc in Run and press Enter.

3. In the Services window , find TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper and right-click on it.

4. Select Properties from the context menu.

5. In the following dialog box, click the Stop button.

6. Wait for a few seconds and then click Restart.

7. Now, expand the Startup type drop-down menu and select Automatic.

8. Click Apply > OK to save the changes.

Once done, check if that fixes the issue for you.

Method 7: Change Network access: Sharing and security model for local account to Classic

We enter the keyword gpedit.msc in the Run dialog box to access the Local Group Policy Editor. Next, the user clicks on Computer Configuration , selects Window Settings on the right, then selects Security Settings.

Next, click on Local Policies , then click on Security Options , then look to the right to find the Account lock: Limit local acc use of blank password to…

We will switch to Disable by double clicking on this key. Click Apply to save.

Next, you find the key Network access: Sharing and security model for local account to switch to Classic .

Return to the computer interface, we open the Run dialog box and enter the keyword cmd . Next, the user enters the command gpupdate /force to update gpedit.

Method 8: Edit local security settings

Users also access Local Group Policy Editor , then follow the path Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local policies > Security Options .

Next, we find the Network security key: LAN Manager Authentication level and then change it to Send LM & NTLM -user NTLMv2 senssion security if negotiated . Click Apply to save.

Finally open the Run dialog box and type cmd , enter the command gpupdate /force to update gpedit.

Method 9: Verify that the drive is shared

We will verify whether the drive is shared or not, by right-clicking on the folder to be shared and selecting Properties . Click on the Sharing tab and check if the folder is shared or not. If not, click the Share button to share.

Then we choose the person we want to share with and grant permission to that person.

Method 10: Check the IP address of the connected device

We need to check the IP address of the connected machine again because there may be a case where the network address is not connected correctly.

We press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box on the target computer and then enter the cmd command . In the command input interface, press ipconfig / all . The parameters are displayed and you need to pay attention to the IPv4 parameter.

On the shared computer, we also enter cmd in the Run dialog box , then enter the command ping <address=""> of the destination computer> and press Enter.

The displayed results will give the following 4 pieces of information to indicate that the link has been established.

Or we can access Troubleshoot in Windows Settings , then click Network Adapter Troubleshooter to run the connection error checker.

Method 11: Enable SMB 1.0

SMB is a network protocol that allows users to access shared files and printers on Windows. This feature is disabled by default in Windows, but enabling it can help you connect to remote devices and share files over the network.

In this method, you will need to enable SMB to share files. However, the article strongly recommends that you disable SMB after using it as it is known to have some security vulnerabilities that can mess up your system.

Here's what you need to do:

1. Type Control Panel in Windows search and click Open.

2. In the following window, go to Programs > Programs and Features .

3. Select Turn Windows features on or off from the left pane.

4. Now, look for SMB 1.0/CIFS File sharing support and check the corresponding box.

5. Click OK to save the changes and check if the error is now resolved.

Method 12: Update driver

In the Run dialog box interface, enter the keyword devmgmt.msc . Then we find the Network adapters section , click on each driver, and select Update driver .

So you have many ways to fix and check your computer when it cannot connect to computers in the LAN, with the error message Network Path Cannot Be Found.

Hope this article is helpful to you!

See also:

• Fix “A Duplicate Name Exists On the Network” Error
• "Connected With Limited Access" error in Windows
• How to fix A network cable is unplugged error in Windows