To enable LAN file sharing between Windows 10 and 11 PCs, you must ensure both machines are on the same network profile (Private), turn on Network Discovery and File and Printer Sharing in Advanced Sharing Settings, configure a shared folder with appropriate permissions, and access it via the IP address or computer name. This setup allows seamless data transfer over wired Ethernet or Wi-Fi connections without requiring third-party software.
Network Profile Configuration
The most common reason for file sharing failures is that Windows classifies the connection as "Public" rather than "Private." Public networks hide your PC from other devices for security reasons, effectively blocking discovery. You need to explicitly set the active network adapter to Private mode to allow visibility.
For Windows 10, navigate to
Settings > Network & Internet > Status. Under the "View your active networks" section, click the connected network (either Wi-Fi or Ethernet). In the Properties window that appears, select
Private under the Network profile section. For Windows 11, go to
Settings > Network & internet, click on either
Wi-Fi or
Ethernet, and then click on the name of your current connection. Change the Network profile type to
Private.
If you have multiple adapters, such as both Wi-Fi and Ethernet plugged in simultaneously, Windows might default to one while ignoring the other for sharing purposes. Ensure the primary adapter used for communication is set to Private. If you are unsure which adapter is handling traffic, refer to our guide on
configuring network adapters to verify connectivity.
Advanced Sharing Settings
Once the network profile is correct, you must enable the specific services that allow other computers to see and interact with your files. These settings are buried in the Control Panel rather than the modern Settings app. Press
Win + R, type
control panel, and press Enter. Navigate to
Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center. On the left sidebar, click
Change advanced sharing settings.
Expand the
Private section. Check the box for
Turn on network discovery and ensure "Turn on automatic setup of network connected devices" is also selected. Crucially, check
Turn on file and printer sharing. This allows your PC to be seen by others and share resources.
Under the
All Networks section, you will find password protection settings. By default, Windows requires a password for shared folders. If you want easier access between trusted home devices, you can turn off
Password protected sharing. However, this reduces security; anyone on the network can access shared folders if they know the path. For better security, keep password protection on and use a Microsoft account or a local user account with a known password on all participating machines.
Creating and Configuring Shared Folders
With discovery enabled, you can now create a folder to share. Create a new folder on your desktop or drive, right-click it, and select
Properties. Go to the
Sharing tab and click
Advanced Sharing. Check the box labeled
Share this folder. You can change the Share name if desired, but the default is usually fine.
Click
Permissions. By default, "Everyone" is often granted Read permission. To allow other users to modify files, select
Everyone (or a specific user group) and check
Change and
Full Control if necessary. Click OK to save these settings.
Next, you must handle NTFS permissions, which control physical access to the file system. Still in the Properties window, switch to the
Security tab. Click
Edit... and add the same user or group ("Everyone" or specific accounts) you added in the Sharing tab. Ensure they have the corresponding permissions (Read, Write, etc.). Without matching Security permissions, the Share permissions alone will not grant access.
Accessing Shared Files
On the client machine, open File Explorer and look at the left pane under
Network. Your host PC should appear there if Network Discovery is working correctly. Double-click the PC name to view available shares. Alternatively, you can access the share directly by pressing
Win + R and typing the UNC path:
\\ComputerName\ShareName or
\\IP_Address\ShareName.
If the PC does not appear in the Network list, try pinging its IP address from the command prompt using
ping [IP_Address] to verify connectivity. If ping works but browsing fails, ensure that File and Printer Sharing Exceptions are allowed through the Windows Firewall. You can verify this by going to
Control Panel > Windows Defender Firewall > Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall and ensuring "File and Printer Sharing" is checked for Private networks.
For persistent access, map the network drive. Right-click the shared folder in Explorer, select
Map network drive, choose a drive letter, and check "Reconnect at sign-in." This makes the shared folder appear like a local disk in This PC.
Troubleshooting Connectivity
Common issues include firewall blocks or incorrect credentials. If you receive an "Access Denied" error, verify that the username and password entered match an account existing on the host machine. Using a Microsoft account email address is often more reliable than a local username.
If you cannot connect despite correct settings, restart the
Function Discovery Provider Host and
Function Discovery Resource Publication services in
services.msc. These services are responsible for advertising your PC on the network. Restarting them often forces Windows to re-broadcast its presence to other devices on the LAN.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I see my PC in the Network folder?
This usually happens because Network Discovery is disabled or the network profile is set to Public. Ensure the profile is Private and that Network Discovery is turned on in Advanced Sharing Settings. Restarting the Function Discovery services can also resolve caching issues.
What is the difference between Share Permissions and Security Permissions?
Share Permissions control access over the network, while Security (NTFS) Permissions control access to the file system itself. The most restrictive permission applies when accessing the folder remotely. Always configure both tabs to ensure consistent access rights.
Can I share files between Windows 10 and Windows 11?
Yes, LAN file sharing protocols are backward compatible. Both operating systems use SMB (Server Message Block) for sharing. As long as both machines are on the same subnet and have compatible sharing settings, they can exchange files seamlessly.
How do I access a shared folder from another device on the same network?
Open File Explorer on the client device, navigate to the Network section, and double-click the host computer. Alternatively, use the Run dialog (
Win + R) and enter
\\[Host_IP_Address] followed by Enter to browse shares directly.
Is it safe to turn off Password Protected Sharing?
Turning off password protection allows guest access, meaning anyone on the local network can read or write to shared folders without logging in. This is convenient for trusted home environments but risky in public or office networks where unauthorized users might gain access to sensitive data.