How to Access Shared Folders on a Network with Windows 11

Windows 11 is the latest operating system from Microsoft that offers many features and improvements, including a more modern interface, integration with Microsoft 365, and support for Android apps.

One useful feature for users who often work with files and documents on the network is the ability to access shared folders easily and quickly.

A shared folder is a folder that can be accessed by multiple computers or devices connected to the same network, either via LAN cable, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth. Using shared folders, you can share files, documents, photos, videos, music, and more with others without sending them via email or external storage. Shared folders can also help you store important files in a secure and centralized location, so you can access them from anywhere and anytime.

network sharing

However, to be able to access shared folders on the network, you need to perform several configuration steps first, either on the computer or device that shares the folder or on the computer or device that wants to access the folder.

These steps may differ depending on the type of network, protocol, and device you’re using. This article will describe some common ways to access shared folders on a network with Windows 11, namely:

  • Using File Explorer
  • Using Command Prompt
  • Use PowerShell
  • Using Third-Party Apps
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Using File Explorer

File Explorer is a built-in app of Windows 11 that you can use to browse and manage files and folders on your computer or device. File Explorer can also be used to access shared folders on the network easily and intuitively. Here are the steps:

  1. Open File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E on the keyboard, or by clicking the folder icon on the taskbar.
  2. In the left pane, click on the Network section. You’ll see a list of computers or devices connected to the same network as you. If you don’t see the Network section, click on the three horizontal lines icon in the upper left corner, and then select Show more options > Show navigation pane > Network.
  3. Double-click on the name of the computer or device sharing the folder that you want to access. You’ll see a list of folders shared by that computer or device. If you’re prompted to enter a username and password, enter the credentials that correspond to the computer or device sharing the folder.
  4. Double-click on the name of the folder you want to access. You’ll see the contents of the folder, and you can open, edit, delete, or copy the files it contains. You can also create a shortcut to the folder by right-clicking on the folder name and then selecting Create shortcut.

Using Command Prompt

Command Prompt is a built-in application of Windows 11 that you can use to run text commands to perform various tasks, including accessing shared folders on the network. Command Prompt can give you more flexibility and control in accessing shared folders, but it also requires more knowledge of command syntax and parameters. Here are the steps:

  1. Open Command Prompt by pressing the Windows key + R on the keyboard, then type cmd and press Enter. Alternatively, you can click on the Start button, then type cmd and click on the result that appears.
  2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command, and then press Enter:
net use X:\\computername\sharename /user:username password

Where:

  • X: is the drive letter you want to use to access the shared folder. You can choose any letter that isn’t already used by other drives on your computer or device.
  • \computernamesharename is the network address of the shared folder you want to access. You can find out the name of the computer or device sharing the folder by using File Explorer, or by typing the net view command in Command Prompt. You can also use the IP address of that computer or device, for example, You can also use the IP address of that computer or device, for example, \\192.168.1.100\sharename92.168.1.100sharename.
  • /user:username is the username you use to access shared folders. You can omit this section if your username is the same as the username used by the computer or device sharing the folder.
  • password is the password you use to access a shared folder. You can omit this section if you don’t need to enter your password, or if you want to be asked to enter it manually.
  1. If the command is successful, you’ll see a message like this:
The command completed successfully.
  1. Open File Explorer, then click on the This PC section in the left pane. You’ll see a new drive with the letter you selected, indicating the shared folder you’re accessing. You can open, edit, delete, or copy the files contained in it. You can also create a shortcut to the drive by right-clicking on the drive name and then selecting Create shortcut.

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