How to Enable and Use File Sharing on Mac

File Sharing allows you to share files and folders between computers on the same network. In this tutorial, we will learn how to enable and use File Sharing on your Mac.

Prerequisites

Before getting started, ensure that you meet the following requirements:

• A Mac running macOS.
• The Mac must be connected to a local network (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).

Enabling File Sharing

To enable File Sharing on your Mac, follow these steps:

1. Open System Preferences by clicking on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen and selecting System Preferences.
2. In the System Preferences window, click on the Sharing icon.
3. Check the box next to File Sharing in the left sidebar.
4. On the right side, you'll see a list of shared folders. To add a folder, click the "+" button at the bottom of the list.
5. Navigate to the folder you want to share and click Add.
6. By default, the folder will be shared with read-only permissions. If you want to allow others to write to the folder, click on the folder in the list and click the Options button.
7. In the Options window, select the Share files and folders using SMB checkbox to enable SMB sharing. You can also enable other sharing options like AFP or FTP, depending on your needs.
8. Click Done to save the changes.

Accessing Shared Files on Mac

Once File Sharing is enabled, you can access shared files and folders on your Mac using another Mac or a Windows computer.

Accessing from Another Mac

To access shared files and folders from another Mac on the same network, follow these steps:

1. Ensure the other Mac is also connected to the same local network.
2. Open Finder on the other Mac.
3. In the Finder menu, click on Go and select Connect to Server.
4. In the Connect to Server window, enter the server address in the following format: smb://<IP_ADDRESS_OR_HOSTNAME>
   • Replace <IP_ADDRESS_OR_HOSTNAME> with the IP address or hostname of the Mac with the shared files.
   • For example, smb://192.168.0.10 or smb://mymac.local.
5. Click Connect.
6. If prompted, enter the username and password of the account with access to the shared files.
7. Once connected, you will see a list of shared folders. Double-click on the folder to access its contents.

Accessing from a Windows Computer

To access shared files and folders from a Windows computer, follow these steps:

1. Ensure the Windows computer is connected to the same local network.
2. Open File Explorer on the Windows computer.
3. In the address bar, enter the server address in the following format: \\<IP_ADDRESS_OR_HOSTNAME>
   • Replace <IP_ADDRESS_OR_HOSTNAME> with the IP address or hostname of the Mac with the shared files.
   • For example, \\192.168.0.10 or \\mymac.local.
4. Press Enter.
5. If prompted, enter the username and password of the account with access to the shared files.
6. Once connected, you will see a list of shared folders. Double-click on the folder to access its contents.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues while setting up File Sharing or accessing shared files, consider the following troubleshooting steps:

• Check that both Macs are connected to the same local network.
• Verify that File Sharing is enabled on the host Mac.
• Ensure that the shared folders have the correct permissions.
• Temporarily disable any firewall or antivirus software that may be blocking the connection.
• Restart your Mac or computer if necessary.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully enabled and used File Sharing on your Mac. You can now easily share files and folders with other devices on your local network. Remember to disable File Sharing when you no longer need it to ensure the security of your files.