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To share files between a Windows PC and a Mac on the same local network, share a folder from one computer using SMB, then connect to it from the other with an account that has permission. Windows can host a share for a Mac, or a Mac can host one for Windows. These steps are for access on the local network—not automatic access over the internet.
Choose which computer will host the folder
The computer holding the files you want to access is usually the simplest host. Keep it awake and connected to the network while the other computer uses the share. Both directions use SMB, but you configure sharing and permissions on the host and enter the host account’s credentials on the client.
| Host computer | Where to enable sharing and set access | What the other computer does |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 or 11 | In File Explorer, share the folder with Give access to > Specific people. | On the Mac, connect in Finder using an SMB address and the authorized Windows account. |
| Mac | In Apple menu > System Settings > General > Sharing, turn on File Sharing, enable SMB, and authorize the account. | On Windows, open the Mac in File Explorer’s Network view or connect using its file-sharing address and the authorized account. |
For Microsoft’s local-network sharing guidance, see Share files over a network in Windows. Apple’s setup instructions cover sharing files with others on your network and connecting to a Windows computer from a Mac.
Share a Windows folder with the Mac
- Connect both computers to the same home or workplace local network.
- On the Windows PC, open File Explorer, select the folder you want to share, and choose Give access to > Specific people. On some Windows 11 systems, first choose Show more options. Select the intended network user and grant only the access needed.
- On the Mac, open Finder and choose Go > Connect to Server. Enter an address in this format:
smb://DNSname/sharenameorsmb://IPaddress/sharename. Replace the examples with the Windows computer’s name or IP address and the shared folder’s share name. You can also browse for the computer in the connection dialog. - Authenticate with a Windows account that has permission to the share, then select the shared folder if prompted.
If the PC does not appear or the connection fails, check Windows network discovery and file and printer sharing. Microsoft’s troubleshooting guidance recommends a Private network profile for Wi-Fi; available labels can vary by Windows version. Keep the Windows account credentials available, and check that the firewall permits the local sharing connection rather than turning the firewall off wholesale.
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Share a Mac folder with Windows
- On the Mac, open Apple menu > System Settings > General > Sharing, open File Sharing, and turn it on.
- Add only the folder you intend to share. Review the listed users and set the narrowest useful permission.
- Open File Sharing options and enable Share files and folders using SMB. Under Windows File Sharing, select the account or accounts Windows will use and enter the relevant password.
- On the Windows PC, open File Explorer and choose Network. Find and open the Mac, then sign in with the account enabled for Windows sharing. Discovery may take a moment. If browsing does not work, enter the Mac’s displayed file-sharing address and share path instead.
Apple notes that a Windows connection using a Mac account can provide access to that account’s Home folder, as well as other folders or volumes for which access was granted. Limit the shared folders and account access to what the Windows user needs.
Set permissions for the task
On macOS, the available folder permissions determine what a connected user can do:
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- Read Only: view and copy files from the folder.
- Read & Write: copy files to and from the folder.
- Write Only (Drop Box): copy files into the folder without viewing its contents.
- No Access: do not allow that user to access the folder.
On either host, prefer a dedicated shared folder and a named user with only the needed access. Restrict sharing to a trusted local network and remove access when it is no longer required. Apple warns that passwords for accounts used for Windows sharing may be stored in a less secure manner; its guidance is to deselect those accounts when they are not in use.
Fix common connection problems
- Neither computer can see the other: Confirm both are on the same local network, the host is awake and connected, and Windows network discovery is enabled if Windows is the host.
- Finder cannot browse to the Windows PC: In Finder, choose Go > Connect to Server and try the SMB address with the Windows computer name or IP address and the share name.
- Windows rejects the sign-in: Check the username and password, confirm the account is enabled for Windows sharing on the Mac, and verify it has permission for the requested folder. If prompted, check the workgroup details.
- The connection times out or is refused: Check that the host is available and that its firewall permits local file sharing. Apple notes that the Windows firewall can block a connection to a Windows share; do not disable the firewall wholesale.
- Windows cannot see the Mac: Verify that Mac File Sharing and SMB are on and that the Windows user’s account is selected in Windows File Sharing. Allow time for network discovery; if it still fails, use the Mac’s displayed file-sharing address.
- Windows sharing settings are unclear: Microsoft’s troubleshooting guidance covers enabling discovery and file sharing, using a Private Wi-Fi profile, and checking relevant services. UI labels may vary by Windows version.
When troubleshooting, check the share name and host address as well as permissions: a working network connection alone does not grant access to a folder.
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If you cannot use the router
A router is not required for a small local network. Apple describes connecting a Mac and Windows computer directly with a standard Ethernet cable. If the Mac has no Ethernet port, a USB-to-Ethernet adapter may be needed for that setup. File sharing still has to be enabled on the host, and its firewall must permit the connection. This is an optional alternative; computers already on the same network do not need a direct cable.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Local sharing is not internet sharing
An SMB share set up this way is intended for computers on the same local network; it is not automatically available when you are away from that network. Microsoft points to OneDrive file sharing as an option for sharing files over the internet.
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