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Windows can share files in several ways: use File Explorer network sharing for another computer on the same local network, OneDrive for someone who is online or outside that network, and Nearby sharing for a device close to you. For a one-time send, File Explorer may also offer email or another installed app. Choose based on where the recipient is and how much access they need.
Choose the right way to share
| Recipient or situation | Windows method | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Another computer on your home or workplace network | File Explorer network sharing | Grant access to the intended network user; check network discovery if the other computer is not visible. Microsoft’s network-sharing guide |
| Someone online or outside your local network | OneDrive | Create or email a link, then choose who can use it and whether they can edit. Microsoft’s OneDrive sharing guide |
| A nearby Windows device | Nearby sharing | Uses Bluetooth or Wi-Fi; availability depends on device and Windows requirements. Microsoft’s Nearby sharing troubleshooting guide |
| A one-time transfer through an installed tool | Email or another app in File Explorer’s share flow | Available apps depend on what is installed on the computer. Microsoft’s Windows sharing overview |
The network-sharing steps below apply to Windows 10 and Windows 11, although menus can vary between versions and updates. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025; Microsoft says it no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10 after that date. See Microsoft’s Windows 10 end-of-support information.
Share a file or folder over your local network
Network sharing is for computers connected to the same local network, such as through the same wireless router. The computer holding the item is the host; the other computer accesses the shared file or folder over the network.
- Connect both computers to the same network. Check that each computer is on the same home or workplace network.
- Choose what to share on the host. In File Explorer, right-click the file or folder and select Give access to > Specific people. Select the intended network user and follow the prompts. Sharing a folder makes the files in that folder available through it.
- Use the other computer to open the share. Find the host or shared item in the network view. If you use the folder regularly, you can map it as a drive: in File Explorer, select This PC > Map network drive, choose a drive letter, enter or browse to the shared folder path, and select Finish. Select Reconnect at sign-in if you want the mapping to persist when you sign in.
Choose access deliberately
Specific people limits access to the network user you select. Choosing Everyone grants access to all users on the network, so use it only when that broader scope is appropriate. A shared folder exposes its contents through that folder; share only the material the recipient needs.
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Turn off sharing or inspect shared items
To revoke network access, select the item in File Explorer and choose Give access to > Remove access. On the host, type \localhost into File Explorer’s address bar to inspect network shares. A user profile shown there does not mean all files in that profile are shared.
Make a file available over the internet with OneDrive
Use OneDrive when the recipient is not on your local network. Create a sharing link or send one by email, and set both the recipient scope and the permission level before sharing. Work or school administrators may restrict which link options are available.
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- Anyone with the link: The link can be forwarded and used by recipients without signing in. Treat it as broadly accessible.
- Specific people: The link is restricted to invited people, who must use a Microsoft account. Microsoft’s guidance says, “If you want to specify who receives the sharing link, select the Specific people option in Link settings.” (Microsoft Support, External or guest sharing in OneDrive, SharePoint, and Lists.)
Choose whether recipients may view or edit according to the task. When collaboration ends, use OneDrive’s Manage access controls to stop sharing or remove the link.
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Nearby sharing is intended for a recipient’s device close by and uses Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. If the feature is unavailable, check the Windows version and device compatibility: Microsoft’s current troubleshooting guidance says the Windows 11 PC-to-PC path requires Bluetooth 4.0 or later with Low Energy support. Microsoft separately describes Windows 10 requirements, including version 1803 and Bluetooth Low Energy support. Requirements can depend on the exact devices and Windows version, so check the Nearby sharing troubleshooting guide if a device does not appear.
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Troubleshoot a missing network computer or share
If the recipient cannot find the host or open the item, check the connection and sharing setup on both computers before changing security settings.
- Confirm both computers are connected to the same local network and that the host computer is turned on.
- For a trusted home or workplace Wi-Fi network, check that Windows identifies the network as Private.
- Turn on network discovery and file and printer sharing. In Windows, open Settings > Network & internet > Sharing options and check the relevant options. File Explorer’s Network view may also display a banner when network discovery is off.
- Confirm the recipient is the network user who was granted access to the item.
- If discovery still does not work, Microsoft’s troubleshooting steps identify the Function Discovery Provider Host, Function Discovery Resource Publication, SSDP Discovery, and UPnP Device Host services as ones to check for startup and running state. Follow Microsoft’s network-sharing troubleshooting guidance.
Do not treat turning off password-protected sharing as the default fix: it reduces protection by broadening access. First verify the network profile, discovery and sharing settings, host availability, and permissions for the intended user.
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