Instructions on How to Share Files in Windows 10 LAN

Brief concept of LAN

LAN - Local Area Network is a local computer network or a network system that helps users connect 2 or more computers in a small area. Computers in the LAN can share resources with each other such as files, printers, scanners. LAN is often used in agencies, schools, companies.

Things to prepare before sharing files

Turn off firewall (Windows Firewall)

Step 1:  Access  Control Panel  on your computer.

1. Click on  System and Security .

1. Select  Windows Defender Firewall

Step 2: In the Windows Defender Firewall  window  , click  Turn Windows Defender Firewall  on or off  in the  Control Panel Home column  on the left to start setting up to turn off the Windows 10 firewall for your computer.

Step 3:  Customize the option to enable or disable the Windows 10 firewall at  Customize Settings

If you want to turn off the firewall, click the  Turn off Windows Defender Firewall box  in both  Private network settings  and  Public network settings  as shown below.

In case you want to restore the firewall for your computer, perform the same operations above and select  Turn on Windows Defender Firewall  in both  Private network setting  and  Public network settings .

1. Once selected, click  OK  to save the changes.

Step 4:  When the process of turning off your Windows 10 firewall is complete, you will see the  Windows Defender Firewall interface  displayed as follows:

Check if the machines are connected

Step 1: Open the Run dialog box using the Windows + R key combination , then type cmd and press OK .

Step 2: Next, type the command ipconfig to see the computer's IP address. The IP address usually starts with the line IPv4 Address .

Step 3: Do the same with the computer you want to share files with to check the IP address, enter the command '' ping the IP address of the computer you want to access -t ''.

Step 4: If the computers are not connected, change to the same WORKGROUP or MSHOME . By the following method:

1. Right click on Computer (this PC) => select Properties => Change settings .

1. In the next window click '' Change '' 

1. Select '' WORKGROUP '' => OK .

Setup to enter LAN

Step 1: Press the key combination '' Windows + R '' to open the Run dialog box , enter the command Control then press Enter to access Control Panel .

1. Then click View  Network status and tasks

1. Then click on the Change advanced sharing settings option .

Step 2: Please select the items according to the following instructions:

1. Click on   Guest or  Public.  In the Network discovery section , select: Turn on network discovery .
2. In the " File and printer sharing " section: click "Turn on file and printer sharing " to enable sharing and printing.

1. In the '' Public folder sharing '' section: select '' Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can read and write files in the Public folders '' so that everyone can access and edit the files.
2. '' File sharing connections '': select '' Use 128-bit encryption to help protect file sharing connections (recommended) '' to help protect file sharing connections
3. '' Password protected sharing '': select '' Turn off passwords protected sharing '' to turn off password protected sharing.

Instructions on how to quickly share files in a Win 10 LAN network.

Share hard drive

To share files in LAN win 10, please follow these steps:

Step 1: Right-click on the hard drive you want to share, then select Properties .

Step 2: Click on the Sharing tab , select the Advanced Sharing box

1. Check the box Share this folder and then select Permissions .

Step 3: Select Everyone for full control , change, read . Select OK to complete!

How to share files in LAN win 10

Sharing a File or Folder is very simple by following these steps:

Step 1: First, right-click on the folder you want to share, then click Properties

Step 2: The Sharing Properties window appears and on that window. Click on the Sharing tab . Then, under Network file and Folder Sharing , continue to click on Share .

Step 3: In this step, you will enter the name of the person you want to share the folder with . Next, after adding the name to the sharing list, click Share .

Step 4: If you want to control the folder permissions during the sharing process. Click Advanced Sharing on the Share Properties window.

Step 5: Check the Share this folder option and click Permissions .

Step 6: Next, check the box to select Full Control , then click OK .

Please edit the permissions in the Security tab to provide full control over the folder during sharing!

If the Security setup is unchanged, there will be at least one visitor in Sharing and Security will be considered during the sharing process.

Step 7:  Click on the Security tab . To change permissions, click Edit .

Step 8: Click Add .

Step 9: Enter Everyone in the Enter the object names to select box and then click OK .

Step 10: Next, in the Username section , click Everyone . Then check the box to select Full Control .

1. Finally, click OK to complete the entire process.

How to fix errors in file sharing process in Win 10 Lan network

Some errors may occur when sharing files in a LAN network on Windows 10, such as not being able to access a computer in the LAN or requiring a password in the LAN or an error due to the firewall of the antivirus software. Here are some ways to help you fix it.

Cannot access computer in LAN

When the computer displays '' you do not permission to access … Contact your network administrator to request access. Right-click on the drive or folder you shared and select the items in turn: Properties => Security => Edit => Add => Advanced => Find now => Everyone => OK => OK => OK. So you have fixed the error of not being able to access the computer in the LAN network.

Require password in LAN

Select the following items in turn to fix it: Control Panel => Network and Sharing Center => Change advanced and sharing setting => Turn off password protected sharing.

Error due to anti-virus software firewall.

This is also a common error that makes sharing files in LAN win 10 impossible when the firewall does not allow access to other computers in the LAN. Exit the antivirus software and check again.

Marvin Fry

Update 17 January 2025