Since Microsoft introduced the Startup group, by default the network actions outside of it They are done through the protection of username and password. This means that, from the outside, only users who have a local account on the server PC or who know the access credentials can view the files on the network.
With a few mouse clicks here and there, it is still feasible to share folders on the network without password in all versions of Windows since The operating system enables this functionality.
By reading this guide you will discover how to do it.
before continuing: Share files and folders on the network without a password in the category “All” potentially exposes your PC to security problems, since anyone who connects to the local network will be able to access the shared material. Proceed with full awareness of this risk.
Share folders on the network without password
Enable file and printer sharing
To share folders on the network without a password we must first, if we haven't done it yet, enable network sharing on our PC.
To do this, go to Control Panel> Network and Internet> Network and Sharing Center> Change advanced network settings.
We select the profile that interests us (Private or Public, depending on the network to which we are connected) and we put the check mark on Enable network discovery and in Enable file and printer sharing.
Click Save Changes and return to the same window.
Turn off password sharing
From the previous window (or if you closed it from Control Panel> Network and Internet> Network and Sharing Center> Change advanced network settings), expand item All networks clicking on the corner arrow.
If we want the team's public folders to be shared, we put a check mark on “Please enable sharing to allow everyone with network access to read and write files in the public folder ".
Despite this, the element that interests us is the one at the bottom of the window: let's put a mark on Turn off password sharing and click Save Changes.
Share a folder on the network
Now that we have activated the alternatives of not sharing the password, let's see how share a folder on the network for others to freely access.
Let's right click on the folder we want to share. Properties and click on the tab Sharethen click on the Advance cast.
Let's put a mark on Share folder Y, if we want, determine a specific name (the default option is the folder name) and a limit of users who can enter simultaneously.
Now let's click on Permissions to configure the access or modification permissions of the folder on the network.
Let's make sure in the Users and groups the group “All the world“. Opposite case, click Add, scribe All the world In the frame “Enter the names of the objects …”, click Check Names and, then, click ok.
TIP: This method can also be used to restrict access to shared folders to those who have an account on the local computer or to a specific group..
Now click All the world and put the check marks on the Permissions: through them we can selectively allow or deny read and write permissions to the folder and files included.
We configure the permissions we need (as an example allow reading, allow writing and nothing in full control) and click OK, then OK again.
Now we will return to the Properties of the folder. Now we also have to configure the permissions locally. Movámonos a Security and click Edit…
Now we click, as before, in Add…
Let's write now All the world in the text box “Enter the names of the objects to choose” Y, then, click on Check the namesand later up Okey.
We will return to the previous window: click on All and determine permissions to satisfy our needs.
TIP: This method can also be used to restrict access to shared folders to those who have an account on the local computer or to a specific group..
Now let's click on Okey and wait for the modification to be applied: our folder will be available on the net, for all, with the permissions we have established. It will also be available to all computer users.
NOTE: The permissions set in the Network tab have priority over the access permissions on the local PC. This means that if you only set read permissions on the share and edit permissions on local access, network users will only be able to read the contents of the folder.
Access to shared folders without password
Nothing easier: just go to another PC on the network, open Windows Explorer and click on the item grandson left: All your shared folders will be there!
Turn off sharing of a folder
We can block folder sharing at any time: right click on the folder in question, select Properties> Share tab, click on Advance cast and remove the check mark from Share folder.
Reactivate password-protected sharing
We can re-enable password sharing at any time by going to Control Panel> Network and Internet> Network and Sharing Center> Change advanced network settings.
Once there, we expand the All networks and put the check mark again Enable password sharing.
