How to Enable File Sharing on macOS

To enable file sharing on a Mac, open Apple menu > System Settings > General > Sharing, select the Info button beside File Sharing, and turn it on. Then choose which folders to share and who can access them. If you want Windows computers to connect, enable SMB and select the Mac user accounts they may use.

The steps below follow the current macOS System Settings layout. On older macOS versions that use System Preferences, open Apple menu > System Preferences > Sharing; the wording and layout may differ.

1. Turn on File Sharing

1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click General in the sidebar.
2. Click Sharing. Scroll down if it is not visible.
3. Click the Info button next to File Sharing, then switch File Sharing on.

File Sharing is a separate service from Screen Sharing and Media Sharing. You do not need to enable either of those to exchange files. Apple’s file-sharing setup guide documents the current controls.

2. Select folders and set access

In the File Sharing details, review the Shared Folders list before connecting another device. macOS shares each user’s Public folder automatically. To stop sharing one, select it and click the minus button. To share a specific folder, click the plus button, choose the folder, and click Open.

Select a shared folder to edit its Users list. You can add a Mac user, a network user or group, or create a sharing-only account for someone in Contacts. Assign only the access that person needs:

• Read & Write: view, copy, and change items in the folder.
• Read Only: view and copy items out, but not write to the folder.
• Write Only (Drop Box): put files in the folder without viewing its contents.
• No Access: do not allow that user to browse or copy the folder’s contents.

By default, Mac user accounts can connect over the network, and an administrator can access the entire Mac. For a limited share, use a dedicated folder and named accounts instead of enabling Allow full disk access for all users. These folder and privilege controls are described in Apple’s File Sharing settings guide.

3. Enable SMB for Windows computers

For a Windows PC to access a Mac share, turn on SMB in File Sharing options. Click Options, select Share files and folders using SMB, then select the checkbox beside each Mac account that needs Windows access. Enter that account’s Mac password when prompted and confirm the dialog.

SMB is also used by many non-Apple devices. If all you need is sharing between Macs, first try connecting with the account allowed in the Users list; you do not need to enable every option. For Windows-specific steps, see Apple’s guide to sharing Mac files with Windows users.

Apple notes that passwords for accounts enabled for Windows file sharing may be stored less securely. Select only accounts that need Windows access, and deselect their Windows-sharing checkboxes when you no longer need them.

4. Connect from another computer

In the File Sharing details, note the network address shown beneath the File Sharing status. It may use your Mac’s name or its IP address. Share that address and the username with the person connecting; do not send the password in a public channel.

• From another Mac: In Finder, choose Go > Connect to Server, enter the Mac’s address (for example, smb://studio-mac.local/), and click Connect. Choose Registered User and sign in with an account that has access, then select the shared folder.
• From Windows: Open File Explorer, choose Network, wait for the Mac to appear, then double-click it and sign in with an account enabled for Windows sharing. Apple notes that discovery may take a moment.

For more connection options, see Apple’s instructions for connecting a Mac to shared computers and servers and connecting to a Mac from Windows.

If the Mac or shared folder does not appear

• Confirm File Sharing is on, the Mac is awake, and both computers can reach the same local network.
• Try the Mac’s network name or IP address instead of waiting for it to appear under Network. In Finder, use Go > Connect to Server.
• Check that the connecting account is in the folder’s Users list and has more than No Access. Windows users also need their account enabled in SMB Options.
• If a setting is unavailable on a work or school Mac, device management may be restricting sharing. Contact the administrator rather than changing network controls.

When the transfer is finished, turn File Sharing off in System Settings > General > Sharing if you no longer need it. If Windows accounts were enabled, first clear their Windows File Sharing checkboxes, then turn off SMB. This removes those account credentials from the Windows-sharing configuration.