As a Windows 10 user, you might not know that your PC can be transformed into a powerful file server, allowing you to share files with ease across your network. Whether it is sharing files at work, streaming media, or transferring large files without using the internet, using Windows 10 as a file server is a great solution. Here’s how you do it.
1. Set up File and Printer Sharing
The first step is to enable the File and Printer Sharing option on your PC. To activate this option, go to the control panel, search for Sharing options, and click on Change advanced sharing settings. Choose the option that says Turn on file and printer sharing, and make sure the following options are enabled: Network discovery, File and printer sharing, and Public folder sharing.
2. Create a Shared Folder
To create a shared folder, navigate to the folder you would like to share and right-click on it. Select the Share with option, and choose Specific people. You can then select the users or devices you want to share the folder with, and set permissions for each user. Permissions can be set to Read, Write or Full control.
3. Access the Shared Folder
To access the shared folder, go to the File Explorer, select Network, and then select the name of the computer with the shared folder. This will display the shared folders on that computer. Double-click on the shared folder, and you can access the files.
4. Set up Access to the Server
To access the server from another computer, you will need to set up access to the PC. To do this, go to the control panel, search for Credential Manager, and click on it. Click on Add a Windows credential, and enter the username and password for the PC. You can now access the shared folder by going to the Network tab in the File Explorer and select the name of the computer.
Bonus tip: Use Advanced File Sharing Options
To get the most out of Windows 10 as a file server, you can use the Advanced sharing options. This enables you to make changes like allowing remote access to the server or changing the maximum number of users allowed to access the server. To access the advanced sharing options, go to the Sharing options page, and click on Advanced sharing settings.
In conclusion, turning Windows 10 into a file server makes sharing files across your network easy and efficient. By following the above steps, you can set up your PC as a powerful file server in just a few minutes. With this file server, you can easily share files, stream media or transfer large files without using the internet. Give it a try and discover how you can share with ease.