If you’re struggling with Server Message Block (SMB) file-Sharing issues on macOS Ventura, you’re not alone. 

Today, I’ll walk you through some troubleshooting steps to get your file sharing running smoothly. 

Let’s dive right in! 

1. Check Your Network Connection

SMB file sharing relies on your network. If your connection is unstable, you might experience problems connecting between devices and accessing files. 

1.1 Confirm Your Mac Is Connected

Start by confirming that your Mac is connected to your network. Use any browser to see if you have internet access. 

You can also look for the Wi-Fi icon in the upper right corner of your display. 

1.2 Restart Your Modem/Router

Network devices can experience temporary glitches. Try restarting your router or modem to reload its firmware. 

1. Unplug your router from the power source. 
2. Wait for 5 to 10 seconds. This ensures that the remaining power from the capacitors inside your router is drained. 
3. Reconnect your router to the power source and wait for it to initialize. 

1.3 Restart Your Mac

Restarting your Mac ensures that your network controllers are working. 

Like routers, unexpected problems might occur on your system that can cause network-related issues. 

1. Click on the Apple logo in the upper left corner of your screen. 
2. Now, select Restart from the drop-down menu. 
3. Confirm your action by clicking Restart on the dialog box. 

Related: How to Fix MacBook Stuck on Apple Logo

2. Check SMB Settings

Ensuring your SMB file-sharing settings are configured correctly is crucial to avoid unnecessary troubleshooting steps. 

See the steps below to configure SMB file sharing on Ventura: 

1. Access the Apple Menu by clicking the Apple logo in the upper left corner of your screen. 
2. Now, go to System Settings. 

3. Navigate to General > Sharing. 

4. Enable File Sharing, then click the Info button (i) on the right. 

5. Next, click Options and enable Share Files and Folders Using SMB. 

3. Restart SMB File Sharing

Sometimes, SMB services can encounter temporary issues that prevent proper file sharing. Restarting the service usually resolves SMB-related issues on macOS Ventura. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

1. Click the Apple logo in the upper left corner of your screen. 
2. Now, click on System Settings. 
3. Go to General > Sharing. 

4. Disable File Sharing. 

5. Wait for 2-3 minutes. 
6. Enable File Sharing. 

Try using file sharing on your Mac afterward to confirm if the problem is solved. 

Related: How to Fix com.apple.extensionKit.errorDomain Error 15 on Mac

4. Check Firewall Settings

Your firewall is crucial in protecting your Mac from unauthorized access and threats. 

However, these protective measures can prevent SMB file sharing from working. Make sure that the service is allowed from your Mac’s firewall settings. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

1. Click on the Apple logo in the upper left corner of your screen.
2. Select System Settings from the drop-down menu.
3. Now, go to Network > Firewall. 

4. Click the Options button under Firewall. 

5. Disable the Block All Incoming Connections option. 

6. Under File Sharing (SMB), click the + button and add the device you allow access to your Mac. 

Try using file sharing afterward to see if it works. 

5. Check Folder Permissions

SMB file sharing won’t work if your other devices don’t have permission to access your Mac’s folders and files. 

Here’s how you can change your folder permissions: 

1. Click the Apple logo in the upper left corner of your screen. 
2. Now, click on System Settings. 
3. Go to General > Sharing. 
4. Click the Info button (i) beside File Sharing.

5. Under Shared Folders, click the + button and select the folders you want to share on your network. 

6. Update Mac

There might be an issue with the version of macOS you’re using that causes SMB file sharing not to work. 

To rule this out, see if there are available updates for your Mac and install them. 

Here’s how you can update your Mac: 

1. In the upper left corner of your screen, click the Apple icon to open the Apple Menu. 
2. Now, click on System Settings. 
3. Inside settings, navigate to General > Software Update. 
4. If a new version is detected, follow the prompts to install the update. 

Related: How to Fix Constant ‘Background Items Added’ Notification on Mac

7. Report the Problem to Apple

If none of the solutions above worked, your last option is to call the attention of Apple by reporting the issue. 

They might not be aware of the issue, and reporting it should speed up resolution. 

Submit a feedback for macOS and explain in detail the issue you’re experiencing with SMB file sharing. 

FAQs

Where is File Sharing in Ventura?

Unlike previous macOS versions, file-sharing settings are not stored in Network Settings. To access file sharing settings on your Mac running macOS Ventura, you need to:

1. Access System Settings. 
2. Go to General > Sharing. 
3. Click the Info button (i) beside File Sharing. 

Does macOS support SMB?

Yes. You can use the Server Message Block protocol to share files on your Mac with other Apple devices or Windows. 

How do I change permissions on my Mac Ventura?

1. Open Finder and select a disk, folder, or file.
2. Now, click on File > Get Info. 
3. Expand the Sharing & Permissions tab. 
4. Select a user or group in the Name column and choose a privilege setting: 

• Read & Write: Allow users to open and change the item. 
• Read Only: Allows a user to open an item. 
• Write Only: Turns a folder into a drop box. Users can add items to the folder but can’t open it. 
• No Access: Blocks all access. 

How to fix the “There was a problem connecting to the server” Error on Mac File Sharing? 

If you see this error on your Mac, check your firewall settings and ensure the device you want to connect to is allowed. 

1. Go to System Settings on your Mac. 
2. Navigate to Network > Firewall. 
3. Under Firewall, click the Options button. 
4. Turn off Block All Incoming Connections. 
5. Under File Sharing (SMB), click the + button and add your device. 

How to connect to a server with SMB on Mac?

You can connect to a server with SMB on Mac by doing the following: 

1. Open the Finder on your Mac. 
2. Click on Go in the menu bar and select Connect to Server. 
3. Under the Server Address, type smb:// followed by the IP address or hostname of the server. 
4. Click Connect to proceed. 
5. When prompted, provide the username and password to connect to the server. 

If this guide helped you, please share it.

The post How to Fix SMB File Sharing Not Working in Ventura appeared first on Saint.