Network and Internet Turn On or Off Public Folder Sharing in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off Public folder sharing on your Windows 11 PC.

Public folders offer an easy way to share files with other people using the same computer and with people using other computers on a shared network.

The Public folders contain subfolders to help you get organized, but they don't contain any files until you or other people using your computer add files to them. The folders are organized by content type, and include:

• C:\Users\Public\Public Documents
• C:\Users\Public\Public Downloads
• C:\Users\Public\Public Music
• C:\Users\Public\Public Pictures
• C:\Users\Public\Public Videos

Public folder sharing is turned off by default.

When Public folder sharing is turned on, anyone on your computer and same network can access these folders to open and view the files stored there just as if they were stored on their own computers. If you give them permission to change files, any changes they make will change the files on your computer.

When Public folder sharing is turned off, only accounts on your computer can access them by default.

You must be signed in as an administrator to turn on or off Public folder sharing.

This option is only available starting with Windows 11 version 22H2 KB5030310 Build 22621.2361.

1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on Network & internet on the left side, and click/tap on Advanced network settings on the right side. (see screenshot below)


3 Click/tap on Advanced sharing settings on the right side. (see screenshot below)



4 Click/tap on All networks to expand it open. (see screenshot below step 5)

5 Turn On or Off (default) Public folder sharing for what you want.


6 You can now close Settings if you like.

This option is no longer available starting with Windows 11 build 22509.1011.

1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Network and Sharing Center icon.

2 Click/tap on the Change advanced sharing settings link on the left side in Network and Sharing Center. (see screenshot below)


3 Expand open the All networks. (see screenshot below)

4 Under Public folder sharing, select (dot) Turn on sharing... or Turn off Public folder sharing... (default) for what you want, and click/tap on Save changes.

5 You can now close the Control Panel if you like.




That's it,
Shawn Brink