How to Share Files and Folders Between Two Windows PCs on a Home Network

You have two Windows PCs on the same home or office network and want to move files between them without a USB stick or cloud upload.

Why: Windows can share a folder over your local network (a LAN) so the other PC reaches it straight from File Explorer. It just needs three things lined up: both PCs on a Private network profile, network discovery and file and printer sharing turned on, and the folder actually shared with the right people.

Step 1: Turn on discovery and sharing (do this on both PCs)

1. Make sure the connection is set to Private: Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) → click the network → Network profile type → Private network.
2. Open Settings, then search for and open Manage advanced sharing settings.
3. Under Private networks, turn on Network discovery and File and printer sharing.
4. Under All networks, leave Password protected sharing On. Create or choose a password-protected account on the sharing PC and grant only the needed folder permissions.

Turning password protection off does not guarantee passwordless access: current Windows clients may block guest authentication or require SMB security features that guest sessions do not support. Use authenticated sharing rather than weakening the client.

Step 2: Share the folder

On the PC that holds the files:

1. In File Explorer, right-click (or press and hold) the folder you want to share.
2. Choose Show more options → Give access to → Specific people.
3. Pick the account that should have access, then set the minimum required permission (Read or Read/Write). The Everyone entry affects permissions; it does not by itself bypass authentication or SMB security policy.
4. Click Share, then note the network path it shows (it looks like \\PC-NAME\FolderName).

Step 3: Open the share from the other PC

On the second PC, open File Explorer, type the path into the address bar, and press Enter:

\\PC-NAME\FolderName

Replace PC-NAME with the sharing computer’s name (you can also use its IP address, like \\192.168.1.20\FolderName). If asked, enter the username and password of an account on the sharing PC.

Step 4 (optional): Map it as a permanent drive

So you don’t retype the path every time:

1. In File Explorer, select This PC in the left pane.
2. On the ribbon, select More → Map network drive.
3. Pick a Drive letter, type the path in the Folder box (or Browse to it).
4. Tick Reconnect at sign-in so it comes back after a reboot, then Finish.

The shared folder now shows up as a normal drive letter under This PC.

FAQ

It asks for a username and password I do not have. Ask the owner to create or grant an account on the sharing PC. Turning password protection off is not a reliable fix for modern guest-access restrictions.

The other PC doesn’t appear under Network. Confirm both are on the Private profile with Network discovery on, then reach it directly by typing \\PC-NAME in the address bar.

Is HomeGroup still a thing? No — Microsoft removed HomeGroup. Sharing a folder with Give access to (Step 2) is the current method.

Sources: Microsoft Learn — Guest access restrictions, Microsoft Support — File sharing over a network in Windows