Enable File Sharing in System Settings by going to Apple menu ? > System Settings > General > Sharing and checking the File Sharing box. 2. Add the folder to share by clicking the button under Shared Folders, selecting the desired folder, and clicking Add. 3. Set user access permissions by choosing Read & Write, Read Only, Write Only (Drop Box), or No Access for each user, and add users if needed, ensuring they have passwords set. 4. Connect from another device: on a Mac, use Finder’s Shared section and click Connect As… with the Mac’s name; on a Windows PC, enter \[Mac’s IP address] in File Explorer and log in with the Mac username and password. Make sure both devices are on the same network, the firewall isn’t blocking sharing, and the shared folder is on a local drive, then access is complete.

Sharing a folder on a network from your Mac is straightforward if you know where to look. Here’s how to do it step by step.

1. Enable File Sharing in System Settings

First, you need to turn on file sharing:

• Click the Apple menu ? > System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions).
• Go to General > Sharing (you might need to scroll down or find it in the sidebar).
• Check the box next to File Sharing to enable it.

Once enabled, you’ll see "File Sharing" listed with options to configure shared folders and user access.

2. Add the Folder You Want to Share

Now, tell your Mac which folder to share:

• With File Sharing turned on, click the button under the "Shared Folders" list.
• Navigate to the folder you want to share (e.g., a folder on your Desktop or in your home directory).
• Select it and click Add.

The folder will now appear in the list of shared folders. By default, it may already include some standard folders like Public, but you can add any folder.

3. Set User Access Permissions

You can control who can access the shared folder and what they can do:

• In the Users section below the folder list, you’ll see your user account and possibly others.
• For each user, choose one of the following access levels:
  • Read & Write – can view and edit files
  • Read Only – can view but not change files
  • Write Only (Drop Box) – can add files but not see existing ones
  • No Access – cannot access the folder

You can also click the under the Users list to add other local users if needed.

Note: For easier access from other Macs or Windows PCs, make sure the user you’re sharing with has a password set (go to Users & Groups in System Settings to manage this).

4. Connect from Another Device

Now that the folder is shared, other devices on the same network can connect:

From another Mac:

• Open a Finder window.
• In the sidebar, look under Shared and click your Mac’s name.
• Click Connect As…, then enter the username and password of the account on the host Mac.
• Once connected, you’ll see the shared folder(s) and can open or transfer files.

From a Windows PC:

• Open File Explorer.
• In the address bar, type: \\[your-mac-ip-address] (e.g., \\192.168.1.10)
• Press Enter.
• Enter the Mac username and password when prompted.
• The shared folder should appear.

To find your Mac’s IP address: go to System Settings > Network, select your active connection, and view the IP under the status.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Make sure both devices are on the same network.
• If you’re having trouble connecting, check your Mac’s firewall settings (in Privacy & Security > Firewall) — it might be blocking file sharing.
• The shared folder must be on a local drive, not an external or network drive in some cases.

Basically, just turn on File Sharing, add your folder, set permissions, and connect from another device using the IP or Mac name. It doesn’t take long once you’ve done it once.

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