When you want to share a file or folder with someone, sometimes it is faster to share it over your local network, rather than sending emails or looking for a USB flash drive. Just make sure you are using a private connection. This is known as networking sharing.
Read on to learn how to switch on network sharing in Windows 10 and why you might want to.
How to Enable File Sharing in Windows 10
If you want to allow other people to access the files and printers you share on your computer, you have to configure the Advanced sharing settings options. Here is how you can do it:
- In the Start menu search bar, search for control panel and select the Best match.
- From Network and Internet, select View network status and tasks.
- From the left-hand pane, select Change advanced sharing settings.
- Expand the Private (current profile) menu.
- From Network discovery, select Turn on network discovery and Turn on automatic setup of network connected devices.
- From File and printer sharing, select Turn on file and printer sharing.
Turn On Public Folder Sharing
- Go through steps 1-3 in the first section to access Change advanced sharing settings.
- Expand the All Networks menu.
- Under Public folder sharing, select Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can read and write files in the Public folders.
How to Disable Password Protection
By default, any folder shared using this method is secured with a username and password. If you want to set up file sharing on your local network for people you know, you can turn off password-protected sharing.
This way, people you share the folder with will not have to sign in using their Windows credentials to access it.
Follow these steps to disable password protection:
- Go through steps 1-3 in the first section to access Change advanced sharing settings.
- Expand the All Networks menu.
- Below Password protected sharing, select Turn off password protected sharing.
- Click Save changes.
Share Files and Folders via File Explorer
This Windows 10 in-built feature gives you more options. You can share files with Android, Linux, or Mac Devices as long as they are within the same network.
Here is how you can quickly share files over the network:
- Open File Explorer and browse to the folder you want to share.
- Right-click it and select Properties.
- Select the Sharing tab > Share.
- Within the Network access window, select the group or user you want to share the folder or the file.
- Click Add > Share.
- Copy or email the network path.
- Click Done.
You can use Permission Level to select the level of access for the shared file or folder. You can set it to Read (default) if you want other users to view and open files. If you set it to Read/Write, other users can view, open, change and delete what you are sharing.
How to Use the Advanced Settings
If you share the files or folder with a group but want to set different access levels for group members, you should use the advanced settings to save time. Here is how you can do it:
- Browse File Explorer to the folder you want to share.
- Right-click the folder and select Properties.
- Select the Sharing tab, then click Advanced Sharing.
- Check the Share this folder box.
- Click Permissions > Add and type the name of the user you want to share the file with.
- Select the Check Names button.
- In the Permissions for… window, use the Allow and Deny checkboxes to set the access level.
- Click Apply > OK.
Set Up Network Share the Right Way
While network sharing your folders is quite easy and doesn’t take a lot of time, the hardest part is to get it running properly. The most common problems are the inability to see the shared folder or give users proper permissions. Fortunately, our guide will help you sort that out.
Finally, do not share files over the network if you have connected your laptop to a public network in a coffee shop, airport, library, and so on. You might get hacked and compromise your laptop security.