If a shared folder on one Windows 11 PC will not open from another, check the basics in this order: make sure the host is on and both PCs are on the same local network, set the trusted network profile to Private, enable Network discovery and File and printer sharing, then verify the folder’s permissions. A PC appearing in Network does not by itself mean you have permission to open its folders.
First, identify which kind of file sharing is failing
This guide is for a folder shared between Windows PCs on the same local network (LAN). Nearby Sharing and sharing files over the internet use different paths and should not be troubleshot as LAN folder shares.
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- LAN folder sharing: Use the steps below when you are trying to reach a shared folder or network drive on another PC connected to your local network. Microsoft’s File sharing over a network in Windows guide covers Windows 10 and Windows 11.
- Nearby Sharing: For sending files to nearby supported Windows PCs, follow Microsoft’s separate Nearby Sharing troubleshooting guidance.
- Internet sharing: A Windows LAN share is not an internet file-sharing service. Microsoft points users to OneDrive for sharing files over the internet.
1. Check the host PC and local network
The PC containing the shared folder must be powered on, and both computers need to be connected to the same local network. For Wi-Fi PCs, Microsoft recommends checking that they are on the same router. Install available Windows updates on both PCs, then retry the share.
As Microsoft notes, a connection failure can mean the computer you are trying to reach is turned off or that your account does not have the correct permissions. Those are separate problems, so check the host’s availability before changing sharing settings.
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2. Set the active network to Private only if it is trusted
Windows uses the network profile to control discoverability. A Public profile hides your PC from other devices; a Private profile makes it discoverable and allows file and printer sharing. Only use Private on a network you trust, such as your home network or a managed workplace network—not public Wi-Fi.
- Open Settings > Network & internet.
- Select the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection.
- Under Network profile type, choose Private if this is a trusted network.
Microsoft explains the profile distinction in Essential Network Settings and Tasks in Windows.
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3. Turn on discovery and file sharing
Network discovery and file sharing are distinct settings. On the PC hosting the folder—and on a PC that needs to be visible to others—check both options under Private networks.
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- Go to Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Advanced sharing settings.
- Expand Private networks.
- Turn on Network discovery and File and printer sharing.
Try opening the share again. If the computer is still missing from the network view, check the discovery services next.
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4. Start the network discovery services
If discovery remains unreliable, Microsoft’s troubleshooting guidance lists four services to check. Open the Services console and, for each service, start it if it is stopped and set its Startup type to Automatic.
- Press Windows key + R, enter
services.msc, and press Enter. - Find each service below. Open its properties, set Startup type to Automatic, and choose Start if the service is not running.
- Function Discovery Provider Host
- Function Discovery Resource Publication
- SSDP Discovery
- UPnP Device Host
5. Confirm the folder is shared with the right account
Seeing the host PC does not grant access to every folder on it. On the host, share the specific folder with the account that should connect rather than assuming that the broad Everyone option is required.
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- In File Explorer on the host PC, right-click the folder.
- Select Show more options > Give access to > Specific people.
- Choose or enter the account that should have access, then complete the sharing prompts.
When connecting, use the correct computer and share path, along with an account permitted by the host. If the connection still fails, recheck that the host is on and that the intended account has access to the shared folder.
6. Handle password protection and firewall settings cautiously
Microsoft includes turning off password-protected sharing under Advanced sharing settings > All networks as a troubleshooting option. That reduces access restrictions; it is not the safest default. Consider it only as a deliberate, temporary test on a trusted network, and restore an appropriate password-protection setting afterward.
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Do not routinely turn off Windows Firewall to test a share. Windows Firewall filters network traffic to help block unauthorized access. If firewall rules are involved, check the relevant file-sharing rules for the trusted network instead. Microsoft’s guidance covers Windows Security and firewall protection and inbound SMB firewall controls.
7. Map the share if it works but is hard to find
Mapping a network drive makes an accessible share easier to reach; it does not fix an offline host, a discovery problem, or missing permissions.
- In File Explorer, select This PC > More > Map network drive.
- Enter the path to the shared folder or computer and share.
- Optionally select Reconnect at sign-in, then finish the mapping.
You can inspect shares available on the current PC by entering \localhost in File Explorer. This checks local shares; it does not prove that another computer can reach them.
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