How to Access Shared Folders on a Network

On Windows

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You need to make sure that your computer is connected to the correct network. To open a shared folder from another computer, we need to use the same Internet network as the computer sharing the file.

Skip this step if your current PC is already connected to the computer sharing the folder via an Ethernet cable.

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Open Start . Click the Windows icon in the lower left corner of the screen. The Start menu will pop up.

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Open Settings. Click the Settings gear icon in the lower left corner of the Start menu. The Settings window will open.

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Click Network & Internet. This option is in the middle of the Settings window.

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Click Network and Sharing Center . This link is towards the bottom of the page.

You may need to scroll down to see this link. If you still don't see the link even after scrolling down, click the Status tab in the upper left corner of the window and search again.

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Click Change advanced sharing settings . This option is in the upper left of the window. A new window will open.

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Enable network discovery and file sharing. Check both the "Turn on network discovery" and "Turn on file and printer sharing" boxes.

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Click Save changes . It's at the bottom of the window. Your settings will be saved.

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Open File Explorer. Click the File Explorer app at the bottom of the screen, or right-click the Start icon and choose File Explorer from the pop-up menu.

You can also press ⊞ Win+ Eto open File Explorer.

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Click Network . It's near the bottom of the left sidebar of the File Explorer window.

You may need to scroll down in File Explorer's left sidebar to see this option.

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Select computer. Double-click the computer name that is sharing the folder you want to open.

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Select folder. Double-click the folder you want to open.

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Enter username and password if requested. This is usually the username and password used to log in to the computer that is sharing the folder. If this information is correct, the folder will open.

If the folder is not protected, the contents will open as soon as you double-click on it.

On Mac

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You need to make sure that your computer is connected to the correct network. To open a shared folder from another computer, we need to use the same Internet network as the computer sharing the file.

Skip this step if your Mac is currently connected to the computer sharing the folder via an Ethernet cable.

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Open the Apple menu. Click the Apple icon in the upper left corner of the screen. A menu will drop down.

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Click System Preferences… (System customization). This option is in the drop-down menu. The System Preferences window will open.

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Click the Sharing option located in the System Preferences window. The Sharing window will open.

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Check the "File Sharing" box. This option is on the left side of the Sharing window.

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Open Finder. Click the Finder app with the blue face icon in the Dock.

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Find the "Shared" section. The "Shared" heading is on the left side of the Finder window. The name of the computer sharing the folder you want to access will appear here.

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Select computer. Below the "Shared" heading, click the name of the computer that's sharing the folder you want to open. A list of that computer's folders will appear in the middle of the Finder window.

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Select folder. Double-click the folder you want to open.

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Enter username and password if requested. This is usually the username and password used to log in to the computer that is sharing the folder. If this information is correct, the folder will open.

If the folder is not protected, the contents will open as soon as you double-click on it.

Samuel Daniel

Update 13 November 2023