How to Share External Hard Drive on Network Windows 10?

Sharing files across multiple devices on a network is an important task for many businesses and individuals. With Windows 10, it’s easy to share an external hard drive on your network. In this article, we will show you how to quickly and easily share an external hard drive on your Windows 10 network. We will go over the steps to configure the external hard drive, create a share and assign permissions, and connect to the hard drive from other devices. Follow along to learn how to share an external hard drive on Windows 10!

• Connect the External Hard Drive to the computer running Windows 10.
• Open File Explorer. Right-click on the External Hard Drive and select Properties.
• Click on the Sharing tab. Click the Advanced Sharing button.
• Click the check box next to Share this folder.
• Click Permissions to change or add permissions to the folder.
• Click OK to save the changes.
• Select the Network and Sharing Center from the Network and Internet settings.
• Click Change advanced sharing settings.
• Under Network discovery, select Turn on network discovery.
• Under File and printer sharing, select Turn on file and printer sharing.
• Click Save changes.

Now you can access the External Hard Drive from other computers on the network.

Sharing an External Hard Drive on a Network with Windows 10

One of the most useful features of Windows 10 is the ability to share an external hard drive across a network. This can be extremely helpful for transferring large files between multiple computers or for providing backup storage for multiple devices. In this article, we’ll discuss the steps required to share an external hard drive on a network with Windows 10.

Step 1: Connect the External Hard Drive to the Network

The first step in sharing an external hard drive on a network with Windows 10 is to connect the drive to the network. This can be done by either connecting the drive directly to the router or by plugging it into a device that is already connected to the network, such as a computer or a networked printer. Once the drive is connected to the network, it should automatically be detected by Windows 10.

Step 2: Assign Permissions to the External Hard Drive

The next step is to assign permissions to the external hard drive. This will determine which users on the network can access the drive and what level of access they have. To assign permissions, open the settings menu, select the “Network & Internet” tab, and then click on the “Sharing” tab. You can then select the external hard drive from the list of available devices and assign the desired permissions.

Step 3: Configure File Sharing

The next step is to configure file sharing for the external hard drive. This can be done by opening the settings menu, selecting the “Network & Internet” tab, and then clicking on the “Sharing” tab. Under the “File Sharing” section, select the external hard drive from the list of available devices and then click “Turn on file sharing”. You can then configure the settings for file sharing, such as which users have access to the drive and what type of files can be shared.

Step 4: Map the External Hard Drive to the Network

The final step is to map the external hard drive to the network. This can be done by opening the settings menu, selecting the “Network & Internet” tab, and then clicking on the “Sharing” tab. Under the “Network Mapping” section, select the external hard drive from the list of available devices and then click “Map network drive”. You can then configure the settings for the drive, such as the drive letter, the folder name, and the user account that can access the drive.

Step 5: Test the External Hard Drive

Once the external hard drive is connected to the network, it’s important to test it to make sure that it’s functioning properly. To do this, open the “Network” folder in the file explorer and select the external hard drive from the list of available devices. If the drive is functioning properly, you should be able to access and modify the files on the drive.

Troubleshooting the External Hard Drive

If you encounter any issues while trying to share an external hard drive on a network with Windows 10, there are a few things that you can try to troubleshoot the problem. The first thing to do is to make sure that the drive is properly connected to the network. If it is, then check the permissions and file sharing settings to make sure that they are properly configured. If the issue persists, then it’s recommended to contact a professional for assistance.

Conclusion

Sharing an external hard drive on a network with Windows 10 is a relatively simple process. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to easily connect the drive to the network, assign permissions, configure file sharing, map the drive to the network, and test it to make sure that it’s functioning properly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: What is an external hard drive?

Answer: An external hard drive is a data storage device that is connected to a computer via a USB, Firewire or eSATA connection for the purpose of storing and transferring data. It is an external storage device that is larger than other types of media such as a USB thumb drive or a CD. External hard drives are typically used to store large amounts of data, such as videos, music, photos, and documents.

Question 2: How can I share an external hard drive on a network?

Answer: To share an external hard drive on a network, you will need to use Windows 10’s File Explorer. First, connect the external hard drive to the computer. Then, open File Explorer and right-click on the external drive. Select “Share with” and then choose “Specific people”. You will then be able to enter the names of the people you want to share the drive with. To make the drive accessible to everyone on the network, you can choose “Everyone” from the “Specific people” list.

Question 3: How do I make sure that the external hard drive is secure when sharing?

Answer: To ensure the security of your external hard drive when sharing, you can set permissions for the users who have access to it. In File Explorer, right-click on the external drive and select “Properties”. Go to the “Security” tab and then click “Edit”. Here you can set the permissions for each user, such as whether they can read, write, or modify the data on the drive.

Question 4: How do I disconnect an external hard drive from a network?

Answer: To disconnect an external hard drive from a network, you can right-click on the drive in File Explorer and select “Stop sharing”. This will stop all users from accessing the drive. Alternatively, you can also disconnect the drive from the computer by unplugging it from the USB port.

Question 5: What do I need to consider when sharing an external hard drive?

Answer: When sharing an external hard drive, you should consider the security of the data on the drive. Make sure to set the appropriate permissions for each user who has access to the drive, so that they cannot modify or delete any data without your permission. Additionally, you should also consider the speed of the network when sharing large files, as it can take a long time to transfer them.

Question 6: Can I share an external hard drive with Mac users?

Answer: Yes, you can share an external hard drive with Mac users by using the SMB protocol. To do this, you will need to enable SMB on the Mac computer, and then connect the external hard drive to the Windows 10 computer. After doing this, you will be able to access the drive from the Mac computer by entering the IP address of the Windows 10 computer in the “Connect to server” window.

HOW TO SHARE A WHOLE DRIVE in Windows 10 – April 2018 Update

Sharing an external hard drive on a network in Windows 10 is a great way to quickly exchange files between computers without having to go through the hassle of emailing or uploading to the cloud. With a few simple steps, you can easily access your external hard drive on any computer on the same network. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can quickly and easily share your external hard drive on your network.