In the modern computing era, the ability to share and access files over a network is a very important aspect of productivity and collaboration.
Whether you want to share documents in a work environment or access files from other computers in the home, sharing folders on the network is an efficient and practical way to address those needs.
The use of new technology often leads to challenges, and an understanding of how to address the problem will be helpful. Sharing folders on a network allows you to create specific folders that can be accessed by other computers on the same network.
You no longer need to use physical storage media such as flash drives or external hard disks to move files between computers. Instead, you can access and retrieve files directly from the computer that shares the folder.
When using a computer with Windows 11 operating system, you may encounter the problem of inability to access shared folders on the network. Although this problem can be quite annoying, you don’t need to worry, because Bardimin will guide you to understand Shared Folders in Windows 11 and its troubleshooting.
Benefits of Sharing Folders on a Network
1. File Transfer Efficiency
Sharing folders on a network allows you to quickly and easily transfer files between computers without needing to rely on physical media. The transfer process becomes more efficient because you can access files directly from the computer that shares the folder.
2. Better Collaboration
In a work or family environment, sharing folders on a network makes it easy to collaborate on shared projects. All team members or family can access the files they need without moving around.
3. Save Time and Storage Space
By sharing folders on the network, you no longer need to send files via email or physical storage media. This not only saves time but also reduces the use of storage space on your device.
How to View and Access Shared Folders on a Windows Network
1. Using File Explorer
The easiest way to view and access shared folders in Windows is through File Explorer. Follow these steps:
- Open File Explorer by clicking on the folder icon in the taskbar or using the key combination Win + E.
- In the left navigation pane, find and click “Network.” This will display a list of computers connected to the network.
- Select the computer that has the shared folder you want to access.
- Select the folder you want to access. You can double-click to open it.
You can now access the contents of this shared folder and perform file transfers as usual.
2. Via Command Prompt
You can also use Command Prompt to access shared folders. Here are the steps:
- Open Command Prompt by pressing the Win + X keys and selecting “Command Prompt” or “Command Prompt (Admin).”
- Type the following command to view a list of shared folders:
net view \\[computer_name]
Replace [computer_name] with the name of the computer that owns the shared folder.
- You’ll see a list of available shared folders on that computer.
3. Through Run Dialog
The other method is to use the Run dialog. Perform the following steps:
- Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog.
- Type the following command and press Enter:
\\[computer_name]
Replace [computer_name] with the name of the computer that owns the shared folder.
- You’ll see a list of shared folders that you can access.