How to Create Shared Folders in Windows 11

Prerequisites for Network Sharing

Create a folder to share

If you need a new folder for this, open File Explorer 📁, navigate to your preferred location, click New, and select Folder.

Give the folder a descriptive name.

Create a share in 🪟 Windows 11

Setting up shared folders Windows 11 lets other people on your home network access specific files and folders from their own computers. You can do this quickly by using the built-in Computer Management tool to pick a folder on your hard drive, name the share, and choose who has permission to view or change your files.

Click the Windows 11 Start menu and type "Computer Management." Select the "Computer Management" application from the search results to open the tool for managing your computer's settings.

In the app, look at the left side. Expand Shared Folders, then right-click on Shares and select New Share.

A wizard will open, guiding you through the process.

Click Browse to find the folder you created earlier.

Select your folder from the list and click OK.

Give your share a name. You can use the default name or pick a new one.

Folder permissions control who can see and modify files. To allow everyone full access to a shared folder in Windows 11, choose the "Customize permissions" option within the sharing settings. This ensures that all users can view and edit files within that specific shared folder.

Select Everyone from the list, then check the Allow box for Full Control. Click OK.

Click Finish to close the wizard.

You have successfully shared your folder! To reach this folder from another computer, use the computer name and the folder name in this format:

\\COMPUTERNAME\SharedFolderName

For example, if your computer is named COMPUTERNAME and the folder is PublicDocument, you would type \\COMPUTERNAME\PublicDocument.

Managing Permissions and Security

Managing who sees and changes your shared folders in Windows 11 involves adjusting permissions through the folder's Properties, specifically on the Sharing and Security tabs.

How to stop sharing a folder

Right-click the folder you want to stop sharing and select Stop Sharing. This immediately removes network access for all users.

Troubleshooting Connectivity Errors

Trouble accessing shared folders in Windows 11 usually comes down to three things. Check that both computers are on the same network, confirm SMB (Server Message Block, the protocol Windows uses for file sharing) is turned on, and verify your saved login details.

Summary

Sharing folders in Windows 11 makes collaboration and file exchange efficient, but remember to be cautious about who has access and avoid storing sensitive data.