The fastest way to share a folder on Windows 10

To share a folder on Windows 10, right-click the folder you want to share, select Give access to, then choose Specific people. A window opens where you type the name or email of the person you want to share with, set their permission level (View or Edit), and click Share. Windows sends them a notification with a link to the folder.

This method works best when you and the other person are on the same local network (like a home or office Wi-Fi) or when you both have Microsoft accounts. If the person you're sharing with is outside your network, you may need to use OneDrive or a cloud service instead—we'll cover that below.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click a folder, select Give access to, then Specific people to share it with someone on your network.
  • You can set permissions to View (read-only) or Edit (read and write) before sharing.
  • For people outside your network, move the folder to OneDrive and share from there instead.
  • If Give access to does not appear in the right-click menu, your folder may not be on a shareable drive or your network settings may block it.

Sharing a folder on your local network

When you and the other person are connected to the same Wi-Fi or wired network, Windows 10 lets you share folders directly without uploading them anywhere. Open File Explorer, find the folder you want to share, right-click it, and look for Give access to in the menu.

Click Give access to, then select Specific people. A dialog box appears with a text field. Type the name of the person on your network (their Windows username) or their email address if they have a Microsoft account. Once you type their name, Windows shows a dropdown—click their name to select it.

Below the name field, you see two permission options: View and Edit. View means they can open and read files but cannot change or delete them. Edit means they can open, change, and delete files. Choose the permission level you want, then click Share. Windows notifies them that the folder is now shared.

Sharing a folder with people outside your network

If the person you want to share with is not on your local network—they live in another city, work at a different office, or use a different internet connection—you cannot share the folder directly from your PC. Instead, move or copy the folder to OneDrive (Microsoft's cloud storage), then share it from there.

Open OneDrive on your PC (it usually starts automatically when you sign in to Windows). Drag the folder you want to share into your OneDrive folder, or right-click it and select Copy, then paste it into OneDrive. Once the folder is in OneDrive, right-click it, select Share, and type the email address of the person you want to share with. You can set permissions to View or Edit, and they will receive a link via email.

OneDrive syncs automatically, so any changes either of you make to files in the shared folder appear on both PCs. This method works for anyone with an email address, regardless of where they are.

Troubleshooting when "Give access to" does not appear

If you right-click a folder and do not see Give access to in the menu, the folder may not be on a drive that Windows allows you to share. External drives, USB sticks, and some network drives cannot be shared this way. Try moving the folder to your C: drive (usually your main hard drive) and try again.

Another reason the option may be missing is that your network settings block sharing. Open Settings, go to Network & Internet, then Sharing options. Make sure Network discovery and File and printer sharing are both turned on. If they are off, click the toggle to turn them on, then try sharing the folder again.

If you still do not see the option after moving the folder and checking your settings, use OneDrive instead. It works on any drive and does not depend on network settings.

Setting and changing permissions after sharing

After you share a folder, you can change who has access and what they can do. Right-click the shared folder and select Give access to, then Manage access. A window shows everyone the folder is shared with. You can click a person's name to change their permission from View to Edit or vice versa, or click the X next to their name to stop sharing with them.

If you shared the folder with someone and later want to remove them, use Manage access to delete their name from the list. They will no longer be able to open the folder.

Sharing a folder read-only so others cannot change files

When you share a folder with View permission, the other person can open and read every file but cannot edit, delete, or add new files. This is useful when you want to share documents for reference only, or when you want to prevent accidental changes.

To set this up, follow the steps above but select View instead of Edit before clicking Share. If you already shared the folder with Edit permission and want to change it to View, right-click the folder, select Give access to, then Manage access, and click the person's name to change their permission level.

Using advanced sharing for older networks or specific setups

Windows 10 also has an older sharing method called Advanced Sharing, which works on networks that do not support the newer Give access to method. Right-click the folder, select Properties, then click the Sharing tab. Click Advanced Sharing, check the box next to Share this folder, and click Permissions. Here you can add specific users and set their access level.

This method is less common on modern home networks but may be necessary on older corporate networks or in specific setups. If you are not sure whether you need it, try the Give access to method first—it is simpler and works for most situations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share a folder with someone who does not have a Windows PC?

Yes, if you use OneDrive. Move the folder to OneDrive, share it, and send them the link. They can open and edit files in a web browser on any device—Mac, iPad, phone, or Linux PC. If you try to share directly from your PC using Give access to, they must have a Windows account on a network you control.

What happens if I move or delete a shared folder?

If you move a shared folder to a different location on your PC, the share usually stops working and the other person loses access. If you delete a shared folder, it is gone for them too. If you shared it via OneDrive, moving or deleting it in OneDrive has the same effect.

Can I share a folder with multiple people at once?

Yes. Use Give access to and type each person's name or email one at a time. After you type the first name and click Share, the dialog stays open so you can add another person. Repeat until everyone you want to share with has been added.

Is sharing a folder on my local network find?

Sharing on a local network is reasonably find if your Wi-Fi has a password and you only share with people you trust. Anyone on your network can see the shared folder if they know its name, so do not share folders with sensitive information (like passwords or financial documents) unless you are sure everyone on the network is trustworthy.

What if the other person cannot see the shared folder?

Make sure they are on the same network as you. If they are, ask them to open File Explorer and look under Network in the left sidebar—your PC should appear there. If it does not, restart both PCs and try again. If they are outside your network, make sure you shared the folder via OneDrive and they have the link.