What is the current 'best practice' for file sharing/folder sharing/drive mapping on a home network?

I've searched on here and elsewhere and cannot find a clear answer ... that I can easily understand.

I have a simple (i.e., not complicated) home network, on which I have more then one windows 11 laptop. I want to make a file folder from Laptop #1 appear in Laptop #2's file explorer. And be able to read and write to the files on laptop #1 from Laptop #2.

Here's an example: I have a folder named envelopes on Laptop #1, it is located at "C:\users\Coal Miner\Documents\Word Docs\Envelopes" I want the folder "Envelopes" to appear as (say) the Z:\ drive on Laptop #2, and whenever I edit and save a file in that folder the file save writes to the "C:\users\Coal Miner\Documents\Word Docs\Envelopes\" on Laptop #1.

In years past I knew this as network drive mapping, via "NET USE" commands or "Map Network Drive" in windows file explorer. I haven't tried this in many years (before Windows 10 era), and it doesn't seem to work any longer. Or maybe my network has some defaults enabled disallowing this. I've upgraded my network over the years. I can't tell and don't know where or what to look at, or where to start.

Coal Miner said:

I have a simple (i.e., not complicated) home network, on which I have more then one windows 11 laptop. I want to make a file folder from Laptop #1 appear in Laptop #2's file explorer. And be able to read and write to the files on laptop #1 from Laptop #2.

Click to expand...

Does your router have a USB port? I share files between three PC's with a USB thumb drive plugged into my router full time. Anything I need to share I copy to the router USB.

FrancoDT said:

Does your router have a USB port? I share files between three PC's with a USB thumb drive plugged into my router full time. Anything I need to share I copy to the router USB.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the idea.

Unfortunately, this is not what I had in mind. Here's how I see it working: The wife is working on laptop #1. I am on laptop #2, I edit some MS Word files on Laptop #1, and yell to her in the other room "Hun, I just updated 10 envelopes for your garden club/ladies volunteer group/whatever!" She yells back "Thanks." And I go back to doing my stuff.

The easiest way to do this is to share the Envelopes folder on Laptop #1 over the network.

On Laptop #1:

1a. Right-click on Envelopes folder
1b. Select Properties



2a. Select the Sharing tab
2b. Select Advanced Sharing



3a. Check the box Share this folder
3b. Select Permissions



4a. Select Everyone
4b. Check all boxes under Allow
4c. Select Apply
4d. Select OK



On Laptop #2

1a. Browse to Laptop #1 computer on network
1b. Locate and open Envelopes folder

TBH sharing is kinda hit or miss. It's one thing MS has never gotten 100% right or made easy. However, once you finally get it to working, it seems to remain stable.
Here is Brink's tutorial for sharing on Windows 10 which still applies to 11. Share Files and Folders Over a Network in Windows 10
Use Option #1 to actually set up the network. Then your choice of the other options available to share your files/folders.
Personally I prefer options 4 or 7.

You can also share a network drive. Map Network Drive in Windows 11

I will add these 2 hints.
Hint 1-Make sure on each computer that the network shows as private,
Hint 2- If you set you network to use password protected sharing (option 1 step11) , when accessing a shared file or folder you will be prompted to Enter Credentials of the account you are connecting to..
To eliminate this annoyance every time you want to access a shared file/folder
Create a Windows credential for an account & password on both client and server computers you are sharing files between.
To clarify this, each computer should have a credential for all the other computers. Doing this makes life a lot easier.

HOW TO CREATE A WINDOWS CREDENTIAL
Go to Control Panel>Credential Manager>Windows Credentials>Add a Windows Credential
In the Internet or network address box, type the name of the computer on the network that you want to access.
In the User name and Password boxes, type the user name and password that you use for that computer, and then click OK.
Note. It must be a password, not a pin.

I suggest you start by networking 2 computers. Once everything works between those two, then add networking to the others one at a time. If you run into any issues report back.

I also don't depend upon the computers showing up in File Explorer > Network. I use a desktop shortcut for each computer. The shortcuts always work if the computer is turned on and not sleeping.