Sharing folders between different devices on the same network is essential in today’s world of multitasking and device-switching. It allows you to access files stored on other devices without physically moving them. In this article, we provide a simple step-by-step guide on how to share folders between Windows and Mac OS devices.
Folder Sharing Via Windows 10
Sharing files and folders with other Windows devices is straightforward. You only need to follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Right-click on the folder you want to share.
Step 2: Click on ‘Give access to’ and select ‘Specific people.’
Step 3: Select a user and the permission level. You can choose between ‘Read-only’ and ‘Read/Write.’
Step 4: Click on ‘Share.’
If the user you want to share the folder with is not displayed on the list, you can type their name in the taskbar and add them. Alternatively, you can share the folder with everyone by clicking on the ‘Share’ option.
To access folders on other devices on the same network, simply search for the name of the computer that has the folder. When you select it, a new option to connect to the folder will be displayed.
Note: In previous versions of Windows, you could share files with HomeGroup members. However, this functionality is no longer available in Windows 10 (version 1803). If you encounter issues with opening folders, refer to the troubleshooting guide.
Folder Sharing Via Mac OS X
Sharing folders in a Mac OS X environment is not as straightforward as in Windows, but it is still simple to execute. Here is a detailed guide on how to do that:
Step 1: Open the ‘System Preferences’ panel by clicking on the icon on the Dock or the Apple button in the top-left corner of the screen.
Step 2: Select ‘Sharing’ from the System Preferences panel.
Step 3: In the top-left corner, locate the ‘File Sharing’ option and tick the box next to it.
Step 4: Two boxes will appear on the right. The box on the left contains a list of folders, while the one on the right lists the users who can access them. To add a folder, click on the ‘+’ icon at the bottom of the box, select the desired folder and click ‘Add.’
Step 5: The folder will be shared, and you can choose to allow users to read and write files in the folder or only read the files (Read Only). Regardless of your choice, the folder will be shared across the local network.
To access shared folders on other devices, open a new Finder window (suppose you can click ‘Command + N’ when in the Finder or select ‘New Finder Window’ from the file menu). Under the ‘Shared’ menu on the left-hand side, select the device name that has the folder you have shared, and the list of shared folders will appear. Select the folder you want to connect to, and the devices will prompt you to enter your username and password if access is restricted.
Conclusion
Sharing folders in a network is a necessity, and now you know how to do that on Windows and Mac OS devices. With these simple steps, you will be able to share files and folders effortlessly, thereby saving time and streamlining workflow. If you want to learn more about file sharing or other computer-related topics, check out our other articles.
