How to Share Folders in Windows 10

To share a folder in Windows 10, right-click it in File Explorer and select Give access to > Specific people. Choose a person or Everyone, set Read or Read/Write, and select Share. On the other PC, type \\ followed by your PC’s name in the File Explorer address bar to open it.

Applies to: Windows 10. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, and only PCs enrolled in Extended Security Updates still get security fixes, through October 12, 2027.

Both PCs need to be on the same network, and that network should be set to Private. Sharing a folder also shares every file and subfolder in it.

Share a folder

1. Open File Explorer (Windows logo key + E) and select the folder.
2. Select the Share tab at the top, then select Specific people in the Share with section. Or right-click the folder and select Give access to > Specific people.

3. Pick a user from the list and select Add. Pick Everyone to let anyone on the network open it.
4. In Permission Level, choose Read to let people open files, or Read/Write to let them change and delete files.
5. Select Share, then Done.

The last screen shows the folder’s network path, such as \\ALEX-PC\Users\Alex\Projects. You can copy it and send it to whoever needs it.

Turn on network discovery and file sharing

If other PCs can’t see yours, turn on sharing for private networks. If they still can’t find it, find this PC’s name and have them type it as a network path.

1. Select Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Status.
2. Select Network and Sharing Center, then Change advanced sharing settings.
3. Under Private, select Turn on network discovery and Turn on file and printer sharing.
4. Select Save changes.

Under All Networks, Password protected sharing is on by default. With it on, people must sign in with a user account and password that exists on your PC. You can turn it off, but leaving it on keeps your files safer.

Open a shared folder from another PC

1. On the other PC, open File Explorer.
2. Type \\ and the sharing PC’s name, such as \\ALEX-PC, in the address bar and press Enter. You can also select Network on the left and open the PC.
3. Open the shared folder. Sign in if Windows asks.

To find a PC’s name, select Start > Settings > System > About and look at Device name.

Map a shared folder as a drive

1. In File Explorer, select This PC.
2. On the Computer tab, select Map network drive.
3. Pick a drive letter, type the folder path in Folder, and select Reconnect at sign-in so it comes back each time. On a Windows 11 PC, use the Windows 11 drive mapping steps instead.
4. Select Finish.

Change who can use the folder

You can change access at any time without unsharing the folder:

1. Right-click the folder and select Give access to > Specific people.
2. Next to a person, open the Permission Level menu and choose Read (open and copy only) or Read/Write (add, change and delete files).
3. To take someone off the list, choose Remove from the same menu. To add someone, pick them from the box at the top and select Add.
4. Select Share, then Done.

The people listed are user accounts on this PC, so someone on another computer signs in with one of those account names and passwords when they open the folder.

Stop sharing a folder

Right-click the folder and select Give access to > Remove access, or use Remove access on the Share tab. To see everything you share, type \\localhost in the File Explorer address bar.

If the other PC can’t open the folder

• It asks for a user name and password. Password protected sharing is on, which is the safer default. Sign in with an account and password from the PC that shares the folder.
• It reports that you don’t have permission. Add that person, or Everyone, in Give access to, and check the permission level is Read or Read/Write.
• The PC name doesn’t work. Type two backslashes and the PC’s IP address instead, such as \\192.168.1.20.

Frequently asked questions

Can I share one file instead of a folder?

Yes, the same steps work for files. For a one-time send to a nearby PC, transferring files from PC to PC skips the sharing setup.

Why can’t I see the shared folder?

Check that both PCs are on the same network, that it’s set to Private, and that network discovery is on. A firewall or VPN app can also block sharing.

How do I share a printer too?

Printers are shared from their own settings, covered in sharing a printer in Windows 10.

Is it safe to share folders?

On a private home network, yes. Share only the folders people need, keep password protected sharing on, and never share folders on public Wi-Fi.

Related: enabling SMB and file sharing helps when other PCs still can’t find your shared folders, and mapping a network drive goes into more detail on drive letters.

The full sharing options are on Microsoft’s File sharing over a network in Windows page.