Sharing files and folders on a network or a shared PC

To see the files, folders and libraries that have been shared on your network, open File Explorer.

The location where the shared items appear depends on the type of network you have, and which Windows operating system is running on the PC you're using to find the shared files or folders.

Items shared with a homegroup

If you can’t see items on a network that are supposed to be shared with you, ask the person who’s sharing them for the path (it should begin with \\computername\). Enter this path in the address bar in File Explorer.

If the items you've shared don't appear under Network, you can customise your view of folders in File Explorer to see which items have been shared and the people you're sharing them with. Open a folder that contains the items that you think are shared. On the View tab, in the Layout group, tap or click Details. Tap or click Add columns, then choose Choose columns. Select Shared and Shared with, then tap or click OK.

• Make sure that the PCs are in the same homegroup or workgroup and that each PC has a unique name.

  1. Open System by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Search (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Search), entering System in the search box, tapping or clicking Settings, and then tapping or clicking System.

  2. To change the PC or network name, tap or click Change settings.  You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice.

  Computer name, domain and workgroup settings

• If your PC is in a workgroup, use the same username and password combination on each PC. For example, if your account on one PC is "Lisa" and your password is "Ch0col@te", use that same name and password on all your PCs in the workgroup.

• Make sure that you’ve turned on sharing for the network you’re connected to. You’ll need to do this on each PC that you want to use for sharing items. For more info, see Turning sharing on or off. If you’re still having problems, make sure that network discovery, file and printer sharing and Public folder sharing are turned on for all PCs in your homegroup or workgroup.

  1. Open Advanced sharing settings by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Search (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Search), entering advanced sharing in the search box, tapping or clicking Settings, and then tapping or clicking Manage advanced sharing settings.

  2. Expand the current profile.

  Sharing options for the current profile

• Make sure that the PC with the shared files and folders is turned on and hasn't gone to sleep. In File Explorer, tap or click the address bar, then enter \\computername to make sure that there are no problems with the network connection.

• Make sure that you're using only one firewall, and that it's set up to allow homegroups or workgroups.

• If you want to open shared files and folders that are on a PC running Windows XP from a PC running Windows 8 or Windows RT, it's best to put the items in the Shared Documents folder. Then, right-click the item you want to share, click Sharing and Security and select the Share this folder on the network checkbox. If you want to edit the shared items from other PCs on your network, select the Allow network users to change my files checkbox.

If your PC isn't part of a homegroup or network and other people have shared something in their personal folder, you can browse to the shared file or folder in File Explorer.

• If you have problems sharing files and folders on a PC that's not part of a homegroup or network, make sure all user accounts on your PC have passwords. If you want everyone who uses your PC to be able to open shared files and folder, you have to turn off password protected sharing.

  1. Open Advanced sharing settings by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Search (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Search), entering advanced sharing in the search box, tapping or clicking Settings, and then tapping or clicking Manage advanced sharing settings.

  2. Expand All Networks.

  Sharing options for all networks

• Try putting the files or folders you want to share in a Public folder, and make sure that the Public folder sharing is turned on in Advanced sharing settings, under All Networks. When Public folder sharing is turned on, anyone on your PC or network can access these folders. To view your Public folders in File Explorer, expand each of the libraries in the navigation pane.