How to Share a Folder in Windows 11 via LAN and WiFi

Folder sharing is still one of the most practical features in Windows 11, especially when you work with teammates on the same local network. I still use this setup in small office environments because it is simple, fast, and saves time. Instead of repeatedly moving files with a flash drive, everyone can open the same folder directly from their own PC. In this guide, I will walk you through the full setup flow: enabling required network settings, sharing a folder with proper permissions, opening it from another computer using the target IP address, and fixing common problems such as permission errors or a PC that does not appear in Network. Before sharing any folder, make sure all devices on your network can see each other. Inside this page, configure all three network profiles. For trusted home or office networks, you can enable all sharing options to avoid discovery issues.

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Set all network profiles to enable Network Discovery and File Sharing. Apply this setting on devices that will share folders and devices that will access them. After network discovery is configured, share the folder you want other users to access.

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Choose Everyone and set Read/Write if users need to edit files. To open the shared folder from another computer, you need the IP address of the source PC.

Find the Source PC IP Address

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Use the IPv4 Address from ipconfig as the target address.

Open Shared Folder via Run Command

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Use \\{ip_address} in Run to list shared folders from that PC. If everything is configured correctly, File Explorer will show shared folders (and sometimes shared printers) from the target machine. If the folder still does not appear, check these points before rebuilding the whole setup:

1. Confirm both PCs are on the same network. A LAN cable and WiFi can still be on different subnets depending on the router. Compare the first parts of the IPv4 address, for example 192.168.1.x.
2. Use direct IP access first. Network discovery can be slow, but \\192.168.1.5 often works even when the PC name does not show up.
3. Check Windows Defender Firewall. File and Printer Sharing must be allowed on the active network profile. If you need to temporarily disable your antivirus for troubleshooting conflict issues, check out our guide on how to disable Windows Defender.
4. Review folder permission and NTFS permission. Sharing permission may allow access, but the folder's Security tab can still block a user.
5. Restart File Explorer or both PCs. Windows network discovery sometimes needs a refresh after changing sharing settings.

For a home or small office setup, this permission pattern is usually safer:

Scenario	Recommended permission	Why
Share documents for reference	Read	Others can open files but not overwrite them.
Team folder for active work	Read/Write	Use only for trusted collaborators.
Temporary file transfer	Read/Write, then turn off sharing later	Keeps the network tidy after the transfer is done.
Guest/public WiFi	Do not share	Use cloud transfer or a private network instead.

At this point, your local file transfer workflow becomes much easier: faster collaboration, fewer duplicate copies, and no more dependency on flash drives for every update. If you are preparing several Windows PCs, you may also want to rename each PC first so the device list is easier to recognize.

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Why is my Windows 11 PC not visible under Network?

Usually Network Discovery is off, the network profile is Public, or File and Printer Sharing is blocked by firewall. Try direct IP access with \\ip-address while checking those settings.

Do I need to turn off password protected sharing?

No. Turning it off is convenient for trusted private networks, but it is not required. For better security, keep it on and use a Windows account that has permission to access the shared folder.

What is the difference between Read and Read/Write?

Read lets others open and copy files. Read/Write lets them add, edit, rename, or delete files, so use it only for folders where collaboration is intended.

Can I share folders between LAN cable and WiFi?

Yes, as long as both devices are on the same local network and the router allows devices to communicate with each other. Some guest WiFi networks isolate devices by design.

Why do I get “permission denied” even after sharing the folder?

Check both layers: the Sharing tab permission and the Security tab permission. Windows can allow network sharing but still block access through NTFS folder permissions.