Enable network discovery and file sharing in Control Panel’s Network and Sharing Center under Private settings, then save changes. 2. Right-click the folder, go to Properties > Sharing tab > Advanced Sharing, check “Share this folder,” set share name and permissions (Read, Change, or Full Control), then click OK. 3. Alternatively, use the Share tab in File Explorer, select specific users or Everyone, choose Read or Read/Write access, and click Share. 4. On another computer, open File Explorer and enter \\ComputerName or \\IPAddress to access the shared folder, providing credentials if prompted. Ensure both devices are on the same network, network discovery is enabled, and firewall settings allow File and Printer Sharing to avoid connection issues.

Sharing a folder on a network in Windows is a straightforward process, whether you're on a home or office network. Here’s how to do it step by step.

1. Enable Network Discovery and File Sharing

Before sharing a folder, make sure network discovery and file sharing are turned on.

1. Open Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center.
2. Click on Change advanced sharing settings in the left panel.
3. Under Private (or Guest or Public, depending on your network profile), turn on:
   • Turn on network discovery
   • Turn on file and printer sharing
4. Click Save changes.

Note: If you're on a work network, these settings might be managed by your IT department.

2. Share a Folder Using the Built-in Sharing Tool

This method uses Windows’ simple sharing feature.

1. Right-click the folder you want to share.
2. Select Properties.
3. Go to the Sharing tab.
4. Click Advanced Sharing.
5. Check Share this folder.
6. (Optional) Change the Share name (this is what others will see).
7. Click Permissions to set access:
   • Read: Users can view files.
   • Change: Users can edit and add files.
   • Full Control: Users can delete and modify permissions.
8. Click OK, then Apply and Close.

Now, other users on the network can access this folder.

3. Use the Share Tab (Simpler Method for Home Networks)

For a quicker method on home networks:

1. Select the folder you want to share.
2. Go to the Share tab in File Explorer.
3. Click on Share.
4. Choose people or groups:
   • Type Everyone to allow all users (not recommended for sensitive data).
   • Or select specific users from your contacts.
5. Click Add, then choose permission level (Read or Read/Write).
6. Click Share and follow the instructions to copy the network path if needed.

This method works best when your network is set to "Private" and password-protected sharing is turned off (see Advanced Sharing settings).

4. Access the Shared Folder from Another Computer

On another Windows PC on the same network:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. In the address bar, type:

   \\[ComputerName]

   or

   \\[IPAddress]

   For example: \\DESKTOP-ABCD123 or \\192.168.1.100

3. Press Enter.
4. You should see the shared folder. Double-click to open it.

If prompted, enter the username and password of the computer hosting the folder (unless sharing is set to "Everyone").

Tips and Notes

• Make sure both computers are on the same network.
• If you can’t see the computer, double-check that Network Discovery is on.
• For better security, avoid using "Everyone" and instead share with specific users.
• If the folder is on a drive like D:, ensure the drive is indexed and permissions are set correctly.
• Firewall settings may block sharing—ensure File and Printer Sharing is allowed in Windows Defender Firewall.

Basically, just enable sharing, pick your folder, set permissions, and let others connect via the computer’s name or IP. It’s not complicated, but small settings like network profile or firewall can trip you up if overlooked.

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