How to Share a Folder With All Users on Windows 10

If several people use separate accounts on the same Windows 10 PC, the simplest place for files that everyone should be able to reach is the Public Documents folder. Windows keeps each user profile private by default, but Microsoft defines %PUBLIC%\Documents as the common documents location for the computer.

This guide is for local users on the same PC. You do not need to turn on Network Discovery or network file sharing just to let another account on that computer open the folder. Also note that standard Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, although Windows 10 PCs still run and eligible systems can use Extended Security Updates.

Share a folder with all local users

Use Public Documents for shared working files. It is a better choice than putting files on a second drive and assuming every account automatically has permission to use them.

1. Open the Public Documents folder

Press Windows + E to open File Explorer. Click the address bar, type %PUBLIC%\Documents, and press Enter. The environment variable is useful because it points to the Public profile even if Windows is installed on a drive other than C:.

2. Create a folder for the files you want to share

Inside Public Documents, right-click an empty area and choose New > Folder. Give it a clear name such as Shared Files, Family Documents, or a project name. Keeping shared items in one folder makes permissions easier to manage later.

3. Copy or move the files into the shared folder

Drag files into the new folder, or use Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V. Files created inside a folder normally inherit permissions from their parent, so placing content in the Public location is usually enough for other signed-in users to reach it.

4. Verify access from another account

Sign in to another Windows account on the same computer and open %PUBLIC%\Documents\Shared Files. Confirm that the account can open the files. If people also need to edit, rename, or delete them, test those actions too because read access and modify access are not the same permission.

What to do if another user gets Access denied

Windows controls file access with access-control lists (ACLs). If another local account can see the folder but cannot open or change its contents, check the folder permissions instead of enabling unrelated network-sharing options.

1. Right-click the shared folder and select Properties.
2. Open the Security tab.
3. Select the relevant user or local group and review the allowed permissions.
4. If necessary, select Edit and grant only the access you need. Read & execute is appropriate for read-only sharing; Modify is appropriate when users must edit, create, rename, or delete files.

Avoid granting Full control unless there is a specific reason. If you change permissions on an existing folder, make sure its files and subfolders inherit the intended settings.

Should you use Public Desktop instead?

Windows also has a common desktop at %PUBLIC%\Desktop. Items stored there can appear on the desktop for all users, which is useful for shared shortcuts. For documents that people will edit, Public Documents is usually cleaner. Adding or changing items on Public Desktop may also require administrator approval, depending on the current permissions.

What about a second drive such as D:?

A separate internal drive can be a good place for shared data, but the drive letter alone does not make its contents available to every account. Access still depends on the folder's permissions. If you want to use another drive, create a dedicated folder there and configure its Security permissions explicitly instead of saving shared files at the drive root.

Local sharing is different from network sharing

The steps above share files between accounts that sign in to the same Windows PC. If you want another computer on your home or office network to access the folder, use Windows network-sharing settings instead. Microsoft documents that process separately, including Give access to, the Everyone network share option, Network Discovery, and mapped drives.

Official Windows references

• Microsoft Learn: Windows known folders, including Public Documents and Public Desktop
• Microsoft Learn: Windows access control and file permissions
• Microsoft Support: file sharing over a network in Windows
• Microsoft Support: Windows 10 end of support