Setting up a new user for file sharing on private network in Windows 11 Pro

Question

I have never had to have a microsoft account on a PC in my private network before. How do I get this new PC to map network drives for file sharing on my private workgroup

Answer 1

Try the following:

1. Create a New User Account: Open the Settings app by pressing Windows key + I. Go to "Accounts" and then click on "Family & other users" in the left sidebar. Under "Other users," click on "Add account." Choose "I don't have this person's sign-in information." Select "Add a user without a Microsoft account." Enter the username, password, and password hint for the new user account. Click "Next" to create the account.
2. Grant File Sharing Permissions: Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder you want to share. Right-click on the folder and select "Properties." Go to the "Sharing" tab and click on "Advanced Sharing." Check the box next to "Share this folder" and specify the share name. Click on the "Permissions" button to configure permissions. Click "Add" to add the newly created user account. Set the desired permissions (e.g., Read, Write, etc.) for the user account. Click "Apply" and then "OK" to save the changes.
3. Configure Network Sharing Settings: Open the Settings app (Windows key + I) and go to "Network & internet." Click on "Sharing" in the left sidebar. Ensure that network discovery and file sharing are turned on. You may also need to adjust other network sharing settings based on your requirements.
4. Access Shared Files: On another computer within the same private network, open File Explorer. In the address bar, type \\<computer_name> or \\<IP_address> and press Enter. You should see a list of shared folders. Double-click on the folder you want to access and enter the credentials of the newly created user account when prompted.

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hth

Marcin