In today's digital home, it's common to need to quickly transfer files between a computer, laptop, and TV without using USB flash drives or cloud services. A local area network, especially one built on a wireless connection, Wi-Fi, provides an excellent opportunity for data exchange if security and access settings are configured correctly.
Setting up shared access, or as users call it, "sharing" a folder, requires several steps to be completed in the operating system. Many people encounter difficulties when changing network settings, when the computer remains invisible to other devices despite being connected.
In this article, we'll take a detailed look at how to make a folder accessible over the network in Windows 10, focusing on setting up a network profile and access rights. You'll learn how to create reliable data sharing points that will operate reliably and securely for all connected devices.
Checking network connection parameters
Before setting access rights to specific files, you need to ensure that the operating system itself is configured to detect other devices. Windows 10 may block your computer's visibility by default for security purposes if the network profile is set to "Public."
You need to switch the network type to "Private" to enable discovery. To do this, go to the menu Start → Settings → Network & Internet → StatusIn the window that opens, find the "Properties" button under the image of your Wi-Fi connection.
In the Network Profile section, select the option PrivateThis action automatically activates the necessary services for local file and printer sharing. If you don't do this, other computers on the network simply won't see your device, even if all other settings are correct.
⚠️ Attention: Switching your profile to "Private" makes your computer visible to other devices on the same network. Make sure you trust all users connected to your Wi-Fi router to avoid unauthorized access.
After changing the profile, it's recommended to reboot the network adapter or the computer itself for the changes to take effect. The system is now ready for more detailed sharing settings.
Setting up sharing options
The next step is to enable discovery and file sharing services in the Control Panel. This is where the key switches that allow access to your PC's resources are located.
Open Control Panel, select Network and Sharing Center, and click Change advanced sharing settings. You'll see several profiles here, but we're interested in the current one (Private).
Enable the following options under "Private (Current Profile)":
- 🔍 Enable network discovery.
- ✅ Enable automatic configuration of network devices.
- 📂 Enable file and printer sharing.
It's also important to check the "All Networks" section at the bottom of the list. Here, you should enable "Public Folder Sharing" if you plan to use the default Public folder, or leave it disabled for individual sharing.
Pay special attention to the "Password-protected sharing" option. If you want everyone to access the folder without entering a username and password, select "Disable password-protected sharing." However, for security reasons, it's best to leave it enabled.
Creating and configuring a shared folder
Now that the network infrastructure is ready, you can begin sharing the directory. Select the folder whose files you want to make available, or create a new one, for example, on a disk. D:.
Right-click the folder and select "Properties." Go to the "Sharing" tab and click the button. Advanced settingsIn the window that opens, check the box "Share this folder."
Next, you need to configure access rights for users. Click the "Permissions" button:
- 👥 In the list of groups, select "Everyone" (or add a specific user).
- 📝 Check the "Full access" box if you want to allow editing and deleting files.
- 👀 Leave only "Read" if the files are intended for viewing only.
After setting the permissions, click "OK" and "Apply." It's also important to go to the "Security" tab in the folder properties and ensure that the "Everyone" group or the selected user also has the appropriate NTFS permissions.
☑️ Checking folder settings
If you plan to transfer large amounts of data, make sure the folder is located on a drive with a file system. NTFS, as it supports more flexible access rights management than FAT32.
Setting up access rights and security
A common mistake users make is configuring only the "Access" tab while ignoring the "Security" tab. Windows uses two-layer security, and if permissions aren't defined at the file system level, network access will be blocked.
Return to the folder properties, go to the Security tab, and click Edit. Add the Everyone user or group if it's not listed. To do this, click Add, enter the name. All (or All (in the English version) and click "Check Names".
After adding an object, select it from the list and check the boxes in the Allow column:
- 📁 Full access (for administrators).
- ✏️ Change (for writing files).
- 👁️ Reading and execution.
⚠️ Attention: Granting "Full Control" permissions to the "Everyone" group means anyone who connects to your Wi-Fi network can delete or modify files in this folder. Use this only in a trusted environment.
For increased security, we recommend creating individual users for resource access rather than granting access to the "Everyone" group. This will allow you to log actions and restrict access to specific individuals.
Connecting to a shared folder from other devices
Once setup is complete on the main computer, you can connect from other devices, such as laptops, smartphones, or Smart TVs. To do this, you'll need the IP address of the computer where the shared folder is located.
You can find out your IP address by opening the command line (press Win + R, enter cmd) and running the command:
ipconfigFind the "IPv4 Address" line in the section for your wireless adapter. It usually looks like this: 192.168.1.X or 192.168.0.X.
On the client device, open File Explorer and enter the address in the address bar in the format \\192.168.1.X (Replace X with your numbers.) If everything is configured correctly, a window will open with a list of available shared folders.
What to do if the address does not open?
Make sure both devices are on the same subnet (the first three IP numbers match). Check to see if your antivirus or firewall is blocking incoming SMB connections. Try temporarily disabling your antivirus to check.
For easy access, you can right-click on an open network folder and select "Mount as network drive." This will assign a drive letter to the folder (e.g., Z:), and it will appear in My Computer as a local partition.
Comparing Access Methods: SMB vs. FTP
When organizing file sharing on a local network, the question of choosing a protocol often arises. Windows uses the protocol by default SMB (Server Message Block), but specific tasks may require configuration FTP servers.
Below is a table comparing these two approaches in the context of a home network:
| Characteristic | SMB (Windows Sharing) | FTP (File Transfer Protocol) |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty of setup | Low (built into OS) | Medium (requires software or IIS) |
| Transfer speed | High (within LAN) | High |
| Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | Universal (all OS) |
| Security | Integration with Windows rights | Requires separate user configuration |
For most Windows 10 users, the SMB protocol remains the optimal choice, as it does not require the installation of additional software and is deeply integrated into the system.
However, if you plan to access files not only from computers, but also, for example, from older media players or specialized equipment, FTP may be a more compatible option, although it will require the installation of server software such as FileZilla Server.
Solving visibility problems
Even with proper configuration, situations may arise where a folder is not visible or access is denied. One common cause is disabling the SMB 1.0 file sharing support service, which is required for older devices but is disabled by default in Windows 10.
If you need to access your folder from older hardware, go to Control Panel → Programs and Features → Turn Windows features on or off. Find "SMB 1.0/CIFS file sharing support" and enable the client-side feature.
⚠️ Attention: The SMBv1 protocol is considered obsolete and vulnerable. Enable it only if access from modern devices (using SMBv2/v3) is not required, and be sure to update the firmware of your routers and older PCs.
The Windows Firewall may also be causing problems. Make sure your firewall rules allow incoming connections for "File and Printer Sharing." Third-party antivirus programs (Kaspersky, ESET, Avast) often have their own firewalls that block the local network if it's marked as "Public."
Make sure computer names on your network are unique and do not contain special characters other than hyphens. You can change the computer name through Settings → System → About → Rename this PC.
Why is my computer not visible on the network even though the internet is working?
Most likely, the network profile is set to "Public." Windows blocks discovery in this mode. Also, check if the "Discovery Provider Host" service is enabled in the list of services (Win+R -> services.msc).
How do I remove the password prompt when entering a folder?
In the Network and Sharing Center, under All Networks, select "Turn off password-protected sharing." This will allow you to access shared folders without authorization.
Is it possible to share a Windows system folder?
Technically possible, but highly discouraged. It creates a massive security hole. Only share specially created folders containing data (documents, photos, videos).
How do I find out who is currently connected to my shared folder?
Open Computer Management (right-click Start -> Manage), go to Shared Folders -> Sessions. This displays all active user connections to your resources.
Why is the Wi-Fi copying speed so slow?
Speed depends on the Wi-Fi standard (b/g/n/ac/ax) and signal strength. Make sure both devices are operating in the 5 GHz band if your router supports dual-band. Hard drive speed may also be a limiting factor.