How Does Windows File Sharing Work?

Local Set Up

To share files between Windows computers on the same network or remote systems, the host computer must first be set up with file sharing. On the host computer, users should navigate to the files or folders that they wish to share, and then by right-clicking on the items, they can configure the file sharing settings. In the security and sharing options, users can determine who should be able to access the selected files and if the file sharing function should be password-protected.

Firewall Configuration

Microsoft suggests that all Windows users enable firewall settings, which protects against any incoming network connections that are not verified. This block prohibits Windows file sharing from working correctly, so users must edit the firewall configuration on the host computer. Users can either completely shut the Windows firewall off or edit the control panel settings and allow for file sharing to be an exception to the firewall block. Both options will allow Windows file sharing to work properly.

Remote Access

Once the host computer has been set up for file sharing and the correct firewall settings, users on remote Windows systems can begin to access the shared files. For one-time access, users can type in a "Run" command with the name of the host computer along with the location of the shared files. The remote computer will then contact the host computer's IP address and open a new Windows Explorer window with the remote files. In addition, users can map a network drive to the host computer in the My Computer window, so that the remote computer connects to the shared files every time it starts up.