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To share files or a printer between Windows PCs, connect them to the same local network, enable discovery and sharing on a trusted Private network, then share the folder or printer from its host PC. A password is not always required: you can grant access to a named network user, while disabling password-protected sharing is an optional troubleshooting measure—not a safe default for public networks.
Before sharing: connect to a trusted local network
Windows file and printer sharing makes resources available to other devices on the same local network. It is different from sharing a file over the internet with OneDrive or sending something to a nearby device with Nearby sharing.
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- Connect both Windows PCs to the same local network.
- On a Wi-Fi network you trust, set its profile to Private. A Private network makes your PC discoverable and allows file and printer sharing; use it only where you trust the people and devices connected.
- In Windows 11, open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Advanced sharing settings. Under Private networks, turn on Network discovery and File and printer sharing.
Windows 10 uses older Settings and Network and Sharing Center routes, and its labels differ. Follow the options shown on that PC rather than applying the Windows 11 path.
How do I share folders over a network?
Choose who can open the folder
- In File Explorer, right-click the file or folder. In Windows 11, select Show more options if needed, then choose Give access to > Specific people.
- Select the network user who should have access. Choose Everyone only if all users covered by the share on that network should be able to reach it.
- Confirm the sharing prompt. Sharing a folder makes its contents available through that share.
Specific people is the narrower choice when you want access limited to named users. Everyone broadens access to the users on the network covered by the share.
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Open or map the share from another PC
Browse to the shared computer or folder from the other PC. For repeat access, map it as a network drive: in File Explorer, open This PC > Map network drive, choose a drive letter, enter the shared folder path, and optionally select Reconnect at sign-in.
Stop sharing a folder
On the PC hosting the share, right-click the item and choose Give access to > Remove access.
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How do I share files or folders over a network now?
The folder-sharing steps above are the current Windows 11 context-menu route. If you mean sharing over the internet rather than making a local network share, use OneDrive instead; it is a separate sharing method. For a one-time send to a nearby Windows device, Nearby sharing uses Bluetooth or Wi-Fi on supported configurations and is not the same as a persistent shared folder.
Do I need a password to access a share?
Not necessarily. Sharing with a specific network user lets you control access by account. A shared printer may ask for the username and password of an account on the host PC.
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Microsoft lists turning off password-protected sharing under All Networks as one troubleshooting step when sharing fails. On a trusted home network, you can consider it as an optional compatibility measure if credentials are causing a problem. It is not required for every setup and should not be treated as a blanket best practice—especially on public Wi-Fi.
How do I turn on network discovery?
On Windows 11, open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Advanced sharing settings. Under Private networks, enable Network discovery; turn on File and printer sharing there as well if you are sharing a folder or printer.
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For Windows 10, use the network and sharing options available in that version of Windows. The path and labels are not identical to Windows 11.
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How do I tell which files or folders I’ve shared over a network?
In File Explorer, enter \localhost in the address bar to see shares accessible on the current PC. Seeing a user profile there does not mean that every file in that profile is shared over the network.
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How do I share a printer as a network printer?
Enable sharing on the PC connected to the printer
- Make sure the printer is installed and working on the Windows PC that will host the share.
- Connect that PC to a trusted Private network and enable Network discovery and File and printer sharing.
- In Windows 11, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, select the printer, and open Printer properties.
- Open the Sharing tab. Select Change Sharing Options if it appears, then select Share this printer. Note the printer’s share name.
Windows 10 uses a different, older route to the printer’s sharing options.
Connect another PC to the shared printer
Add a printer from the other PC and choose the option to select a shared printer by name if automatic discovery does not find it. Enter \computer_nameprinter_share_name. If Windows asks, use credentials for an account on the host PC. The host must stay powered on and connected to the network for other PCs to print through it.
What to check if a share or printer is missing
- Confirm both PCs are on the same network. Use a Private profile only if you trust the network.
- Check that Network discovery and File and printer sharing are enabled on the host.
- If a PC does not appear, Microsoft’s file-sharing guidance recommends checking that the Function Discovery Provider Host, Function Discovery Resource Publication, SSDP Discovery, and UPnP Device Host services are running and set to start automatically.
- For a printer, verify that it is shared on the host and that you have the right share name. Try entering
\ComputerNamein File Explorer to check whether the host can be reached. - If computer-name discovery fails, Microsoft documents trying the host’s IP address. You can also add the printer manually using its share path.
- If a printer connection requests credentials, use an account on the host PC. If password-protected sharing is preventing access on a trusted network, disabling it is an optional troubleshooting step, not a general recommendation.
Windows 10 support ended in 2025
Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. After that date, free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, and security fixes are no longer provided. The sharing steps may still be available, but an unsupported PC no longer receives those standard protections and updates.
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