How to Share a Folder on a Network in Windows: A Practical Guide
Learn how to make folders accessible across home or office computers, set read/write permissions, and troubleshoot common sharing errors.
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If you know what to do, it takes five minutes; if you’re just guessing, it could take an entire afternoon. Follow these steps in order, starting from the computer sharing the folder to the one connecting, plus what to check when things don’t work. This procedure works for Windows 11 and, with slightly different menu names, for Windows 10.
Preparing the network #
These steps must be performed on the computer sharing the folder, and Network discovery must also be enabled on any computers that need to connect.
Go to Settings → Network & Internet, select the connection you are using, and make sure the profile is set to Private network. Windows intentionally blocks all sharing on public networks.
Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Advanced network settings → Advanced sharing settings.
In the Private networks section, turn on Network discovery and File and printer sharing.
Scroll down to All Networks and decide what to do with Password protected sharing:
- On (recommended): anyone connecting must have an account on the computer that is sharing.
- Off: anyone on the local network can enter without credentials. This is convenient for home use, but should be avoided anywhere there are other people or a guest Wi-Fi.
Sharing the folder #
Right-click the folder, choose Properties, and open the Sharing tab.
Click Advanced Sharing, check Share this folder, and give it a name: this is what others will see.
Click Permissions. Here you set the sharing permissions—the ones that apply to anyone coming from the network.
Level What it allows Read Open and copy files, without modifying them Change Open, modify, create, and delete files Full Control All of the above, plus changing permissions By default, the Everyone group is set to Read only. If you have kept password protection on, remove it and use Add to add the users who need access, assigning each one the correct level.
Security permissions, the forgotten step #
This is where almost everyone gets stuck. Windows applies two sets of permissions, and ultimately, the most restrictive of the two wins.
In the same Properties window, open the Security tab: these are the file system (NTFS) permissions, which also apply to anyone using the computer directly. If a user has Change in sharing but only Read in security, they will only be able to read when accessing via the network.
To truly grant write permission:
- in the Security tab, click Edit and then Add;
- type the username (or group name) and confirm;
- select the user and check Change in the Allow column: this includes reading, writing, and deleting.
Remember: set the permissions in both tabs, because the most restrictive one always wins.
A dedicated account for sharing #
Instead of giving everyone your account password, create a local user that exists solely to access the shared folder. This way, you can share those credentials without handing over access to your entire profile, and you can revoke them whenever you want by deleting the account.
On Windows 11 Pro, you do this via Computer Management (right-click Start): Local Users and Groups → Users, right-click → New User. If there are many users, create a group instead and assign permissions to the group rather than to individual people.
On Windows 11 Home, Local Users and Groups is not available. You can use Settings → Accounts → Other users → Add account, choosing to add a user without a Microsoft account, or open a Command Prompt as an administrator:
net user condivisione UnaPasswordRobusta /add
Connecting to the shared folder #
From other computers, type this into the File Explorer address bar:
\\NOMEPC\NomeCondivisione
Instead of NOMEPC you can use the IP address of the computer sharing the folder, which is often more reliable because it doesn’t depend on how the network resolves names. To find it, open Command Prompt on the sharing computer, type ipconfig and look for the IPv4 Address line.
If you need the folder often, map it as a network drive: right-click on This PC → Map network drive, choose a letter, and check Reconnect at sign-in. From then on, it will appear in File Explorer just like any other drive.
From a Mac, open Finder and choose Go → Connect to Server, then type smb://indirizzo-ip/NomeCondivisione.
When it doesn’t work #
The computer does not appear in Network. Network discovery is turned off, the network profile is set to Public, or the Function Discovery Resource Publication service is not running. Try connecting directly using the IP address: this often works even when the icon isn’t visible.
“You do not have permission.” There are two levels of permissions: check the Security tab in addition to sharing settings.
It asks for credentials that don’t work. If the host computer uses a Microsoft account, you must enter the account’s email address as the username, not the name displayed on the screen. Alternatively, use the dedicated local account.
You can see the folder but cannot write to it. One of the two permission levels is set to read-only.
It worked and then stopped after an update. Sometimes updates reset the firewall to default rules: make sure that File and printer sharing is allowed for private networks in Windows Defender Firewall → Allow an app through Windows Firewall. Additionally, recent versions of Windows 11 block access to password-protected shares from other computers (guest access): this is another reason to use an account with a password.
Alternatives to classic sharing #
A NAS, which is a network drive connected to your router, is the tidiest solution when you have more than two computers: it stays on its own and doesn’t depend on whether a PC is running.
The cloud solves sharing between people who are not on the same network; in exchange, files pass through an external service.
Windows Nearby sharing is great for quickly sending a single file to another PC without configuring anything.
FAQ #
What is the difference between sharing permissions and security permissions? #
Sharing permissions only apply to those connecting over the network. Security (NTFS) permissions always apply, even for someone using the computer directly at the screen. When someone connects via the network, Windows checks both and applies the most restrictive one.
Can I share a folder with a Mac? #
Yes, macOS uses the same protocol as Windows (SMB). In Finder, choose Go → Connect to Server and type smb:// followed by the IP address and the name of the share. It also works the other way around, by sharing a folder from the Mac’s sharing settings.
Is the folder still accessible if the computer goes into sleep mode? #
No: if the host computer sleeps or shuts down, the folder disappears from the network. If you need it to be always available, disable sleep in the power settings or move the files to a NAS.
Is it safe to share a folder on a network? #
On a trusted home network, yes, provided you keep password protection active and only share the folders you actually need—never the entire drive. On networks with many devices or those open to guests, sharing without credentials should be avoided.
Why does it work with the IP address but not with the name? #
Because the local network cannot resolve the computer name, which is common with different operating systems or routers that handle names poorly. If it works with the IP, the sharing itself is set up correctly: to avoid typing it every time, reserve that IP address for the PC in your router settings.
How do I stop sharing a folder? #
From the same properties menu: Sharing tab → Advanced Sharing, and uncheck Share this folder. Then, also check the Security tab and remove any users you had added; otherwise, they will retain the permissions you previously granted them.
