2 Easy Ways to Connect to and Access Shared Folders on a Network

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Find shared files, folders, and drives on any Windows or Mac computer

Written by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: December 18, 2024 Fact Checked

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Windows 11 & 10

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Mac

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Video

Do you want to access the files on one computer from a different computer? Read on to learn about network sharing for Windows and Mac computers so you can use various computers on the same network to access the same files.

Quick Steps

Turn on network discovery.
Make sure the computers are on the same network.
Open File Explorer.
Click Network in the left panel.
Click the computer sharing the folder.
Double-click the folder and enter a password if prompted.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Windows 11 & 10

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1
Turn on network discovery. Network discovery is disabled by default, but you need to enable it to see shared files on the same network. This varies depending on your version of Windows. To do this: ^{[1]
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- Windows 10:
  - Press Win + I on your keyboard to open Settings.
  - Click Network & Internet .
  - Click Network and Sharing Center near the "Related settings" header.
  - Click Change advanced settings in the upper left.
  - Click to fill the circles next to "Turn on network discovery" and "Turn on file and printer sharing."
  - Check the box next to "Turn on automatic setup of network connected devices."
  - Click Save Changes to save your setting configurations.
- Windows 11:
  - Press Win + I on your keyboard to open Settings.
  - Click Network & Internet .
  - Click Advanced network settings .
  - Click Advanced sharing settings under the "More settings" header.
  - Click the toggles next to "Network discovery" and "File and printer sharing" under the "Private networks" section header. This allows file sharing over networks locked with a password. If you're at a public location and using a network, like Starbucks or a library, you'll have to enable these toggles under the "Public Networks" section header.
  - Check the box next to "Set up network connected devices automatically."
  - This panel saves automatically when you make changes, so you're done!
2
Make sure you're on the correct network. To open a shared folder from a different computer, you must use the same Internet network as the computer sharing the file. ^{[2]
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- Skip this step if your PC is wired to the computer that is sharing the folder(s) via an Ethernet cable.
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3
Open File Explorer

. Click the File Explorer app icon at the bottom of the screen, or right-click the Start icon and then click File Explorer in the resulting pop-up menu. ^{[3]
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- You can also press ⊞ Win + E to open the File Explorer.
4
Click Network . It's near the bottom of the sidebar that's on the left of the File Explorer window.
- You may have to scroll down in the File Explorer's left-hand sidebar to see this option.
Double-click the name of the computer from which the folder you want to open is being shared.
Double-click the folder you want to open.
7
Enter a username and password if prompted. This will usually be the username and password used to log into the computer which is sharing the folder. Doing so correctly will cause the folder to open.
- If the folder isn't protected, double-clicking it will open it immediately. ^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Mac

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1
Set up file sharing. You'll need to enable file sharing to see shared files and share your files with other computers. This varies depending on your macOS version:
- macOS Ventura and newer:
  - Go to the Apple menu and go to System Settings > General > Sharing .
  - Click the toggle next to "File Sharing" to enable it.
  - Click the circled "i" icon next to "File Sharing" to open a new window.
  - Click the + icon to add folders for others to access.
  - Click a file or folder to share, then click Add . ^{[5]
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  - Adjust sharing preferences. By default, you are the owner with "Read & Write" permissions, but you can use the arrows in the last section to increase or decrease their permission level. You can also add or remove who can access your shared data in the "Users" section.
- macOS Monterey and older:
  - Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences > Sharing . ^{[6]
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  - Check the box next to "File Sharing."
  - Use the sections on the right to add or remove shared folders, users, and permissions.
2
Make sure you're on the correct network. To open a shared folder from a different computer, you must use the same Internet network as the computer sharing the file.
- Skip this step if your Mac is wired to the computer that is sharing the folder(s) via an Ethernet cable.
Click the Finder app icon in the Dock, which resembles a blue face.
The "Shared" heading is on the left side of the Finder window. You should see the name of the computer that is sharing the folder you want to access listed there.
Below the "Shared" heading, click the name of the computer from which the folder you want to open is being shared. Doing so will open a list of the computer's shared folders in the middle of the Finder window.
Double-click the folder that you want to open.
7
Enter a username and password if prompted. This will usually be the username and password used to log into the computer which is sharing the folder. Doing so correctly will cause the folder to open. ^{[7]
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Research source}
- If the folder isn't protected, double-clicking it will open it immediately. ^{[8]
  X
  Research source}