This post shows students and new users steps to turn On or Off Public folder Sharing in Windows 11. By default, Windows creates a Public folder under the C:\Users directory containing documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, and Video subfolders.
Whatever you add to the Public folder is automatically shared with other users on the computer. These folders are created and remain empty until items are placed in them. They can help users organize in Windows, especially if you want a consistent view across multiple accounts.
When you turn on Public folder sharing in Windows 11, other connected devices on the same Network can search, discover, and access these folders. In addition, if change permissions are given, users can view and change the content of the Public folder.
Public folder sharing is turned off by default. When sharing is off, only users on the computer can access them locally.
How to enable or disable public folder sharing on Windows 11
As mentioned above, Public folder sharing is a feature in Windows that allows other connected devices on the same Network to search, discover, and access these folders.
Below is how one can turn Public folder sharing in Windows 11 on or off.
Windows 11 has a centralized location for the majority of its settings. As a result, everything can be done, from system configurations to creating new users and updating Windows from its Settings app.
To get to System Settings, you can use the Windows key + I shortcut or click on Start ==> Settings, as shown in the image below:
Alternatively, you can use the search box on the taskbar and search for Settings. Then select to open it.
Windows Settings pane should look similar to the image below. In Windows Settings, click Network & internet tile to expand it.
On the Network & internet settings pane, select the Advanced network settings tile at the bottom to expand it.
On the Advanced network settings pane, select the Advanced sharing settings tile under More settings to expand it.
Click the All Networks tile on the Advanced sharing settings pane to expand it.
Under All networks, toggle the button to the On or Off position to enable or disable Public folder sharing, as highlighted below.
That should do it.
You can now exit the Settings app.
The Public folder should now be accessed remotely.
Related Public folder sharing posts:
- How to enable Network discovery and sharing in Windows 11
- How to find other Windows computers on a network in Windows 11
- How to map a network drive in Windows 11
- How to turn on Firewall in Windows 11
- How to change network profiles in Windows 11
- How to turn on or off network discovery in Windows 11
- How to turn on or off file and printer sharing in Windows 11
That should do it!
Conclusion:
- Public folder sharing in Windows 11 allows easy file access across users on the same network.
- Enabling this feature grants permissions to other devices, enhancing collaboration and resource sharing.
- Turning on or off public folder sharing is straightforward via the Settings app.
- Regularly reviewing sharing settings ensures privacy and control over data accessibility.
- Exploring related articles can provide further insights into optimizing network and sharing configurations.
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