After successfully changing your computers' Workgroup name and enabling sharing on your folders, you can now enable file sharing on your computers.

NOTE:  If you haven't set a Workgroup name for your computers and shared your folders, click on the links below before proceeding to the steps in this article.

Changing the Workgroup name of a Windows-based computer
Sharing a folder using a Windows-based computer

Select your computer's Operating System (OS):

Windows 10
Windows 8
Windows 7
Windows Vista

Windows 10

Step 1:
Click the Search  icon on the system tray.

Step 2:
Enter settings in the Search field and click Settings on the match results.
 

Step 3:
Select Network & Internet.

Step 4:
Select Ethernet and click HomeGroup.
 

 

Step 5:
Select the Change advanced sharing settings… option.
  

Step 6:
Select Turn on network discovery and Turn on file and printer sharing options.
 

 

Step 7:
Click the chevron  button to expand All Networks.
 

Step 8:
Under Public folder sharing, click Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can read and write files in the Public folders.
 

Step 9:
Click the  button.

NOTE:  If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, enter the password or provide confirmation.
 

Windows 8

Step 1:
Summon the Charms bar and click the Settings charm.

Step 2:
Select Control Panel.
 

 

Step 3:
Select the Network and Internet option.

QUICK TIP:  Make sure View by: is set to Category.

Step 4:
Select HomeGroup.
 

 

Step 5:
Select the Change advanced sharing settings… option.
  

 

Step 6:
Select Turn on network discovery and Turn on file and printer sharing options.
 

 

Step 7:
Click the chevron  button to expand All Networks.

Step 8:
Under Public folder sharing, click Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can read and write files in the Public folders.
 

Step 9:
Click the  button.

NOTE:  If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, enter the password or provide confirmation.
 

Windows 7

Step 1:
Click Start > Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center.

Step 2:
Under Control Panel Home, click Change advanced sharing settings.
 

 

 

Step 3:
Click the chevron  button to expand the Home or Work network profile.

Step 4:
Under Public folder sharing, click Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can read and write files in the Public folders.
 

 

Step 5:
Under File and printer sharing, click Turn on file and printer sharing.
 

 

 
Step 6:
Click the  button.

NOTE:  If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, enter the password or provide confirmation.
 

Windows Vista

Step1:
Click Start > Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center.

Step 2:
Under Sharing and Discovery, click the chevron  button next to File sharing to expand the section, click Turn on file sharing, and then click Apply.

NOTE:  If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, enter the password or provide confirmation.

Step 3:
Click the chevron   button next to Public folder sharing to expand the section, and then do one of the following:

• To share the Public folder so that people on other computers on the network can open files in it but can't create or change files, click Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can open files, and then click Apply.
• To share the Public folder so that people on other computers on the network can open files in it and also create or change files, click Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can open, change, and create files, and then click Apply.

Click the chevron   button next to Printer sharing to expand the section, click Turn on printer sharing, and then click Apply.

NOTE:  If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, enter the password or provide confirmation.

NOTE:  Ensure that you have a minimum level of security on your antivirus or Internet security software enough to be able to communicate with other computers in your network.  If you encounter problems accessing shared folders in the network, make sure you belong to the same Workgroup and you have a unique computer name for each computer.  You may also try to turn OFF your Windows firewall temporarily and any other third party firewall.

For more information, refer to the Microsoft support site.


Related Article:

Setting up file sharing between computers with Windows OS