Share files and folders

Here are some of the many ways you can share files and folders in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1:

• Use your free online storage. With OneDrive, you can get to your files from any device, so you don't need to "share" them to get to them from another PC. When you save your files to OneDrive, you can also share them with specific other people, or by getting a link that you can paste or post on sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. For more info about OneDrive, see OneDrive: FAQ on the Windows website.

  To share a file or folder in OneDrive, follow these steps:

  1. Move the file or folder you want to share to OneDrive if you haven't already. To do this, open File Explorer, browse to the file or folder, and then drag it to OneDrive.

  2. Press and hold or right-click the file or folder in OneDrive, choose Share with, and then choose OneDrive.

  3. Choose how you want to share the file or folder. For more info about the sharing options on OneDrive, see Share files and folders and change permissions.

• Use the Share charm. In many Windows Store apps, you can share files with other people by using the Share charm. For example, to share a photo with someone in email:

  1. Open the Photos app.

  2. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Share.
     (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Share.)

  3. Tap or click the Mail app.

  4. Enter the recipients, add a message, and then click Send.

• Email files directly from File Explorer. If you have a desktop email app installed, you can share files in email from File Explorer. Select the files, tap or click the Share tab, and then tap or click Email. (Or press and hold or right-click the files, choose Send to, and then tap or click Mail recipient.) This opens your default email app and adds the files as attachments.

• Share files over a home network or on a shared PC. To share files and folders on your network (homegroup, workgroup, or domain) or on a PC that you share with other people, you can also use the Share tab in File Explorer. The next sections provide more info about this type of sharing.

Share files over a home network or on a shared PC

1. Tap or click to open File Explorer.

2. Browse to the item, select it, and then tap or click the Share tab.

   The Share tab

3. Choose an option in the Share with group. There are different Share with options depending on whether your PC is connected to a network and what kind of network it is.

   • To share a file or folder with a particular person, choose that person's account.

   • To share with all the members of your homegroup, choose one of the Homegroup options. To select folders to share with all the members of your homegroup, swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings. (If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.) Tap or click Network, and then tap or click HomeGroup.

   • To select other people who have accounts on your PC or in your homegroup, choose the Specific people option.

   • To select other people who have accounts on your PC or in your homegroup, choose the Specific people option. When your PC is connected to the domain, you can also use this option to search for other people on the network.

   • If you need to share a location such as a drive or system folder, use the Advanced security option.

Tip

It's best to use HomeGroup for sharing on home networks unless you need to share with PCs running Windows Vista or Windows XP.