How to Create a Shared Folder
Creating a shared folder on a Windows computer is a simple process. Whether you choose to share the folder with multiple users on one computer or across a network of computers, you can create a shared folder with just a few clicks. Once the folder is shared, others can easily access it.
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Instructions
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Sharing with Multiple Users on One Computer
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Click on the "My Computer" icon on your desktop. This will open a new window.
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Double-click on "Shared Documents" in the new window.
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3
Click on the "My Documents" icon on your desktop and locate the folder you wish to share.
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Right-click on the folder you wish to share and drag the folder to the "Shared Documents" folder. The folder is now shared with other users of your computer.
Sharing Across a Network of Computers
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Navigate to the folder you wish to share. If the folder is a document folder, chances are it is within the "My Documents" directory.
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Right-click on the folder and choose the option "Sharing and Security" from the menu.
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Choose the "Sharing" tab at the top of the screen.
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Click the box next to "Share this folder on the network," found in the second section on the screen.
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Change the name of the folder if you wish. The default name will be the original name of the folder.
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Click the box next to "Allow network users to change my files" if you wish to give other users full access to the files in the folder.
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Click "Apply" at the bottom of the screen. The designated folder will now be shared with any computer connected to your network.
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Tips & Warnings
Shared folders and documents make collaborative efforts easier, since several different individuals can work on a single file. The most common types of shared folders are those containing music, photos and videos. By default, Windows lists those folders in "Shared Documents," ready to be shared.
These instructions are for computers using the Windows OS platform. They may not work on a Mac or Linux computer.
