how to access a windows network folder from my mac

bilal 1983

5 months ago

how to access a Windows network folder from my mac.

While there are many ways to share files between Windows and Mac, probably the easiest one is to use SMB sharing, which is built into Windows and Mac. All you need is both computers on the same Wi-Fi network. In this article, we will set up shared folders on Windows and access them from a Mac. Let’s start.

After reading this article, you will be able to share folders from your Windows computer and access them from Mac. You can also copy and delete files right from your Mac without leaving your desk. Also, if you want to share files from Mac and access on Windows, follow this guide on how to access Mac Shared Folders from Windows.

Accessing Windows Shared Folders from a Mac

Step 1. Enable file sharing in Windows 10

The first thing you need to do is turn on file sharing on your Windows, which will allow everyone on your network to access them. You can plug in a LAN cable or connect your devices to the same Wi-Fi network for high-speed data transfer. Of course, the speed will not be as fast as an over-the-air connection, but it will still be better than using Google Drive or USB sticks.

The first step is to enable file sharing on your Windows computer, you can proceed to the next step if it is already enabled. Go to Settings and open the “Network and Sharing Center”.

Pro tip: keep all your devices on the same network for quick future access.

A new window will open, look at the left pane and click on “Advanced Sharing Settings” to open the Sharing Settings.

Read: How to Install Chrome OS on Any Windows Computer

On this page, you will see three different network profiles; Private, public and all networks. Turn on network discovery and file sharing for all three profiles. If you’re worried about your privacy, you can do so in your current profile and it should still work. Click “Save Changes”. Unfortunately, this won’t work if your Windows PC doesn’t have a password. In this case, you will need to set a new password by going to your user account in your Windows settings.

Also Read: 12 Best Photo Viewers for Windows 10 (2020 Version)

Step 2. Share a folder on Windows

Now that file sharing is enabled, we’ll share the folder. Open your Windows computer and navigate to the directory you want to share. For the demonstration, I’ll share a folder from drive C, but you can share any folder of your choice.

Right-click the folder and select Properties.

Click the Sharing tab and click the Share button in the Sharing network files and folders section.

Here you can add people who have access to the shared folder. If the folder you want to share does not contain sensitive data, enter “Everyone”, click Add, and then click Share. Now your folder is available to all network users.

Make sure you have read / write permission to the shared folder on Windows. This way you can save and delete files on it from your Mac later.

You can see the folder is shared in the image below. The phrase underlined in red is the hostname for your Windows computer. Write it down somewhere, because we’ll need it later to establish the connection.

Required Reading: How to Share Hotel Wi-Fi with Multiple Devices

Step 3. Access the shared folder on Mac

To access a shared folder on a Mac, open Finder and from the top menu bar click Go> Connect to Server. Press CMD + K on your keyboard.

Enter the hostname we wrote down earlier when sharing a folder in Windows. Enter “smb: // WINDOWS-HOSTNAME” and hit enter.

You will be prompted for your credentials, enter your Windows computer username and password, and click Connect.

It will show you all the shared folders, select the one you want to connect to your Mac.

So now you can access all files in the shared folder. Just open the finder and search for the name of your Windows PC in the Finder sidebar. Clicking on it will open the Windows folder. However, you will receive an error if your Windows computer is locked or turned off.

You will see your Windows folder where you can drag and drop files or even delete them, depending on the permission you set when setting up Windows Sharing for that folder.

If you want to connect other folders, just repeat the second part of this article. To make it even more convenient, simply add the mounted folder to the login items so that the network drive is automatically mounted every time you restart your computer.

Go to System Preferences> Users & Groups> Login Items> Add Mapped Drive.

Stamp: Share folders

It was a quick way to set up sharing and access Windows shared folders from a Mac. It is a convenient and reliable way to access large files over the network when you are not on the go. We use it to share rendered video files, which reduces our reliance on Google Drive and flash drives. In addition, there are many applications that allow you to exchange files over a local area network. Make a disk map and let me know if you run into problems. You can leave a comment below, or contact me on Twitter.