Windows 11 folder sharing: select users, map a drive and remove access

To use a folder from another Windows 11 PC at home or in an office, Microsoft documents sharing with selected users and connecting the folder as a drive in File Explorer. This guide covers local-network sharing, connecting from the receiving PC, and removing access when the share is no longer needed.

Actual access still depends on the account, Share permissions and the folder's NTFS permissions. Selecting a recipient does not establish read-only access. For company files, use the account and permission scope approved by the administrator.

Prepare before sharing

• This method uses a local network, such as PCs on the same home or workplace network. Microsoft treats sharing with someone outside that network as internet sharing, for example through OneDrive.
• The PC holding the folder must be on and reachable. A failed connection may mean that it is off or that the account lacks the required permissions.
• Microsoft recommends keeping Windows current and setting a Wi-Fi network used for sharing to Private. Share on a network you know and are authorized to use. Where an organization manages this setting, have its administrator handle it under the applicable policy.
• Have credentials for an account authorized to access the sharing PC or device. Microsoft's SMB troubleshooting documentation recommends valid credentials instead of relying on guest access.

Step 1: Enable network discovery when Windows reports it is off

If File Explorer > Network displays Network discovery is turned off, Microsoft documents this process:

1. Select the Network discovery is turned off banner.
2. Select Turn on network discovery and file sharing.

Network discovery helps display devices sharing files on the network. Folder access permissions remain a separate condition. IT may manage the available settings and permissions on corporate PCs.

Step 2: Share the folder with the intended user

On the PC holding the folder, follow Microsoft's documented Windows 11 steps:

1. Open File Explorer and right-click the folder to share.
2. Select Show more options.
3. Select Give access to > Specific people.
4. Select the network user who should have access to that folder.

The documentation also offers Everyone, which gives all network users access. For a folder with an identified recipient, select the account appropriate for the task. Whether access is read-only or allows changes requires a separate assessment of the folder's actual permissions.

Step 3: Connect the folder as a drive on the receiving PC

Microsoft describes Map network drive as a way to access a network folder more conveniently from File Explorer.

1. Open File Explorer from the taskbar or Start, or press Windows + E.
2. Select This PC in the left pane.
3. Select More > Map network drive. If the command is not visible, Microsoft also identifies right-clicking This PC as a way to find it.
4. In Drive, choose an available drive letter.
5. In Folder, enter the path of the shared folder or computer, or select Browse to find the destination.
6. If you want to connect whenever you sign in, select Reconnect at sign-in.
7. Select Finish.

After a successful connection, the folder is accessible from File Explorer. Reading or copying files still depends on the connecting account's permissions. Obtain the folder path and required account from the folder owner or administrator.

If Access Denied appears or the folder is inaccessible

Microsoft identifies several possible causes: invalid credentials, mismatched Share and NTFS permissions, and SMB security changes in newer Windows releases. Match the actual error to the documented case before changing settings.

• If the message refers to unauthenticated guest access, Microsoft recommends connecting with valid credentials. Re-enabling insecure guest access can expose the client to rogue servers and adversary-in-the-middle attacks.
• If some users can connect and others cannot, verify that both Share permissions and NTFS (Security) permissions grant the account its required access.
• If the problem began after a Windows upgrade, have the administrator assess SMB signing, NTLM and PC or NAS compatibility against the symptoms, rather than changing several policies together.

Stop sharing a folder when it is no longer needed

Microsoft documents these steps in File Explorer:

1. On the sharing PC, right-click the folder.
2. Select Show more options.
3. Select Give access to > Remove access.

Microsoft notes that Remove access can also appear for folders that are not shared. Seeing this menu option alone therefore does not establish that the folder is currently shared.

An alternative for occasional transfers

LocalSend is another option. Its official website lists Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, local-network transfers using HTTPS, and installation on the participating devices without a service account. On company devices, use an app and installation channel approved by the administrator.

The original Guiding Tech article discusses email, cloud storage and LocalSend. The Windows folder-sharing and Map network drive procedures on this page use Microsoft's documentation directly.

Sources

• Microsoft: File sharing over a network in Windows
• Microsoft: Access Denied when you access an SMB file share in Windows
• LocalSend: Features and basic use on the official website
• Guiding Tech: How to Transfer Files Between Two PCs Over Wi-Fi