How to Check Shared Folders in Windows 11

Learn how to check shared folders in Windows 11 using File Explorer, Command Prompt, PowerShell, Computer Management, and network paths.

Windows 11 allows you to share folders with other computers on the same local network. Shared folders are commonly used to access documents, media, backups, and other files from another PC without copying them to a USB drive.

However, when several folders have been shared over time, it can become difficult to remember which folders are currently available on the network, what their share names are, or which users have access to them.

In this guide, you will learn how to check shared folders in Windows 11 using File Explorer, Command Prompt, PowerShell, and Windows management tools. You will also learn how to check share permissions, identify the network path, and troubleshoot shared-folder access problems.

What Is a Shared Folder in Windows 11?

A shared folder is a folder that Windows makes available to other computers or users through a network.

Windows uses the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol for network file sharing. An SMB share allows another computer to connect to a shared resource using a network path such as:

\\ComputerName\SharedFolder

You can also access a share using the IP address of the computer hosting it:

\\192.168.1.100\SharedFolder

The computer hosting the folder acts as the SMB server, while the computer connecting to the folder acts as the SMB client.

Why Check Shared Folders in Windows 11?

Checking your shared folders can be useful when:

• You want to know which folders are currently shared.
• You need to find the exact share name of a folder.
• Another computer cannot access a shared folder.
• You want to review network sharing permissions.
• You want to remove an old network share.
• You are troubleshooting SMB file sharing.
• You want to verify that a folder is actually available over the network.
• You need to identify which folders are exposed to other network users.

Regularly reviewing shared folders is also useful from a security perspective because unnecessary network shares can provide access to files that no longer need to be available to other devices.

How to Check Shared Folders Using File Explorer

One of the easiest ways to check shared folders on your Windows 11 computer is by using File Explorer and the \\localhost path.

Step 1: Open File Explorer

1. Press Windows + E.
2. Click the address bar at the top of File Explorer.
3. Type:

\\localhost

4. Press Enter.

Windows will display resources that are accessible through the local computer.

Microsoft specifically documents \\localhost as a way to check files and folders that are shared through the network interface.

Keep in mind that seeing folders under your own user profile at \\localhost does not necessarily mean every file inside your profile is shared with other computers. Windows may display your own files because you already have access to them locally.

How to Check Shared Folders from Another Computer

If you want to check whether another computer is sharing folders, open File Explorer on the client PC.

1. Press Windows + E.
2. Select Network from the left navigation pane.
3. Locate the computer you want to access.
4. Double-click the computer.
5. Check the folders and resources that are available.

If the computer does not appear under Network, the problem may not be the shared folder itself. Network Discovery, the network profile, firewall configuration, or Windows sharing services may need to be checked.

You can review Network Discovery settings using our related guide:

How to Check Network Discovery Settings in Windows 11

How to Check Shared Folders Using Command Prompt

Command Prompt provides a quick way to list network shares configured on a Windows 11 computer.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt

1. Click Start.
2. Type Command Prompt.
3. Open Command Prompt.

Step 2: Run the Net Share Command

Enter:

net share

Press Enter.

Windows will display the shared resources configured on the computer.

The output typically includes the Share name and the corresponding local Resource path.

For example, you may see output similar to:

Share name   Resource
--------------------------------
Public       C:\Users\Public
Documents    D:\Documents
Projects     D:\Projects

The exact output on your computer will be different depending on which shares have been configured.

What Does the Net Share Command Show?

The net share command is useful because it shows the share name used by other computers on the network.

For example, if a local folder is:

D:\Projects

and the share name is:

Projects

another computer can potentially access it using:

\\ComputerName\Projects

The share name and the actual folder name do not have to be identical.

How to Check Shared Folders Using PowerShell

PowerShell provides more detailed information about SMB shares and is particularly useful when you want to inspect shared folders from the command line.

Step 1: Open PowerShell

1. Right-click Start.
2. Select Terminal or Windows PowerShell, depending on your Windows configuration.

Step 2: Run Get-SmbShare

Enter:

Get-SmbShare

This command displays SMB shares configured on the computer.

Useful information can include:

• Name
• ScopeName
• Path
• Description

For example:

Get-SmbShare | Select-Object Name, Path, Description

This produces a simpler list showing the share name, local folder path, and description.

How to Check a Specific Shared Folder

If you already know the share name, you can inspect a specific SMB share with PowerShell.

For example:

Get-SmbShare -Name "Documents"

Replace Documents with the actual share name on your computer.

This is useful when you have many shared folders and want to investigate one particular share.

How to Check Shared Folder Permissions

A shared folder can have permissions that determine which users are allowed to access the share and what they can do with the files.

To inspect SMB share permissions, open PowerShell and run:

Get-SmbShareAccess

You can also check permissions for a specific share:

Get-SmbShareAccess -Name "Documents"

The output can show information such as the account or group, access control type, and access rights.

For example, an account may have Read access, while another account may have Full access.

Remember that SMB share permissions are only one layer of access control. NTFS permissions on the underlying folder can also affect what a user can actually do with the files.

Share Permissions vs NTFS Permissions

One common reason a user can see a shared folder but cannot open, modify, or delete files is a permissions mismatch.

Windows file sharing can involve two important permission layers:

• Share permissions control access through the network share.
• NTFS permissions control access to the files and folders on the Windows file system.

When a user accesses a folder through a network share, both sets of permissions can affect the resulting access.

This means that simply confirming that a folder is shared does not guarantee that every network user can modify its contents.

How to Check the Local Folder Behind a Share

If you know the share name but want to find the physical folder on the disk, PowerShell can provide the local path.

Run:

Get-SmbShare | Select-Object Name, Path

You may see a result such as:

Name        Path
----        ----
Documents   D:\Documents
Media       D:\Media
Projects    E:\Projects

This makes it easier to identify where the shared data is physically stored.

How to Check Whether a Shared Folder Is Accessible

Once you know the computer name and share name, you can test the network path from another Windows 11 computer.

Open File Explorer and enter:

\\ComputerName\ShareName

For example:

\\DESKTOP-ABC123\Documents

You can also use the computer's IP address:

\\192.168.1.100\Documents

If the folder opens, the SMB share is reachable from that computer.

If Windows asks for credentials, enter an account that has permission to access the shared resource.

How to Check a Shared Folder from Command Prompt

You can also use Command Prompt to view connections and network shares.

To display available connections and shared resources, try:

net use

This command is especially useful for checking network connections that have already been established from the current Windows user session.

You can also use:

net view \\ComputerName

Replace ComputerName with the name of the computer hosting the shared folders.

If the command succeeds, Windows can retrieve information about resources available from that computer. If it fails, investigate network connectivity, discovery, firewall settings, credentials, and SMB configuration.

How to Check Shared Folders in Computer Management

Some Windows 11 installations provide a graphical management interface for viewing shared folders through Computer Management.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type:

compmgmt.msc

3. Press Enter.
4. Expand System Tools.
5. Open Shared Folders.

Depending on the Windows edition and available management components, you may see sections such as:

• Shares
• Sessions
• Open Files

The Shares section can help you identify network shares configured on the computer.

The Sessions section can show connected network users, while Open Files can help identify files currently being accessed through network sharing.

How to Check Whether a Folder Is Still Shared

If you suspect that an old folder is still exposed over the network, use PowerShell:

Get-SmbShare

Look for the folder's share name and path.

You can also use:

net share

If the folder does not appear as a configured share, it is not listed as an SMB share by these commands.

Remember that Windows can contain administrative shares and system-created shares that you should not remove without understanding their purpose.

How to Stop Sharing a Folder

If you find a folder that no longer needs to be shared, you can remove its network sharing configuration.

In File Explorer:

1. Right-click the folder.
2. Select Show more options if necessary.
3. Select Give access to.
4. Select Remove access.

Microsoft documents this method for stopping folder sharing in Windows 11.

After removing access, check the share again with:

Get-SmbShare

or:

net share

What to Check When a Shared Folder Cannot Be Accessed

If another computer cannot open a shared folder, check the problem systematically rather than immediately changing SMB or security settings.

1. Check the Network Connection

Make sure both computers are connected to the same local network when using a local Windows file share.

You can also check the Ethernet connection using our guide:

How to Check Ethernet Cable Connection and Network Status in Windows 11

2. Check the Network Profile

For trusted local networks, verify that the appropriate computer is using a Private network profile when required by your sharing configuration.

See:

How to Check Network Profile in Windows 11

3. Check Network Discovery

If the computer does not appear under File Explorer > Network, check Network Discovery.

See:

How to Check Network Discovery Settings in Windows 11

4. Check File and Printer Sharing

Make sure File and Printer Sharing is configured correctly on the computer hosting the shared folder.

See:

How to Check File and Printer Sharing Settings in Windows 11

5. Check Windows Firewall

Firewall rules can affect network communication required for file sharing.

Review the firewall configuration using:

How to Check Windows 11 Firewall Settings

Check the Required Windows Sharing Services

If network sharing is still not working, Microsoft recommends checking several Windows services related to network discovery and sharing.

Press Windows + R, enter:

services.msc

Then check the following services:

• Function Discovery Provider Host
• Function Discovery Resource Publication
• SSDP Discovery
• UPnP Device Host

Microsoft's troubleshooting guidance recommends ensuring these services are running and configured appropriately when troubleshooting Windows network file sharing.

Important SMB Security Considerations

SMB shares should be configured carefully because they provide network access to files.

Only share folders that other users or devices actually need. Avoid sharing folders containing sensitive personal information unless the appropriate users require access.

You should also avoid making unnecessary changes to SMB security features simply because an older device cannot connect.

Modern Windows versions have introduced stronger SMB security behavior, and compatibility problems with older devices may require careful investigation rather than disabling security protections.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I see all shared folders in Windows 11?

Open File Explorer and enter \\localhost to inspect locally accessible resources. You can also run net share in Command Prompt or Get-SmbShare in PowerShell.

How do I check shared folders using PowerShell?

Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run Get-SmbShare. To display only the share name and local path, use Get-SmbShare | Select-Object Name, Path.

How do I check who has access to a shared folder?

Use Get-SmbShareAccess -Name "ShareName" in PowerShell to inspect SMB share access entries. Also remember that NTFS permissions on the underlying folder can affect the final access level.

How do I access a shared folder from another PC?

Open File Explorer and enter a UNC path such as \\ComputerName\ShareName. You can also use the host computer's IP address, such as \\192.168.1.100\ShareName.

Why can't I see a shared folder in Windows 11?

Check whether both computers are on the same network, then verify the network profile, Network Discovery, File and Printer Sharing, firewall settings, sharing services, and user permissions.

How do I stop sharing a folder in Windows 11?

Right-click the folder, select Show more options > Give access to > Remove access. You can then confirm the share is no longer listed with Get-SmbShare or net share.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to check shared folders in Windows 11 makes it easier to manage local network file sharing and troubleshoot access problems.

For a quick check, \\localhost in File Explorer can help you inspect locally accessible resources. For a more precise list of SMB shares, net share and Get-SmbShare are useful command-line options. PowerShell can also show share permissions with Get-SmbShareAccess.

If a shared folder cannot be accessed from another computer, check the entire network-sharing chain: network connectivity, network profile, Network Discovery, File and Printer Sharing, Windows Firewall, sharing services, SMB configuration, and permissions.

Keeping only the shares you actually need can also make your Windows 11 computer easier to manage and reduce unnecessary network exposure.

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Related Windows 11 Networking Guides:

• How to Check File and Printer Sharing Settings in Windows 11
• How to Check Network Discovery Settings in Windows 11
• How to Check Network Profile in Windows 11
• How to Check Windows 11 Firewall Settings
• How to Check Ethernet Cable Connection and Network Status in Windows 11