Share a folder

1. Select a folder in Windows File Explorer, right-click and choose "Properties"
2. In the Properties window select the "Sharing" tab, then click the "Share" button to share the folder.

3. (Optional) If you want to manage the share permissions, please click the "Advanced Sharing..." button.

4. (Optional) Open the "Security" tab, then select the account and click "Edit" button, grant the "Full Control" permisson.

Find User Name and Password

Due to security consideration, you have to use username and password access Windows shares. Open Settings on Windows 11. You'll find the user account on the top.

Find the Computer Name (Optional)

1. Launch Settings.
2. Find the compuer name in right side.
This will be the text to enter in the Owlfiles’s "Computer Name/IP" field.

Find the computer IP address (Optional)

Alternatively, you could input the computer IP address in the "Host Name/IP” field to access your computer. Please follow the steps below to find your computer IP.
1. Click Windows Start button, and search "Command Prompt".
2. Click Command Prompt application.
3. At the command prompt, enter: ipconfig
4. You’ll see the window like the screenshot below. The IP Address or IPv4 Address is the IP of your computer.

Advanced sharing options (Optional)

Please follow the instructions to verify configurations if Windows sharing doesn't work.
1. Open File Explorer and navigate to Control Panel.

2. Click "View network status and tasks".
3. Click "Change Adanced sharing setting".
4. Select "Turn on network discovery".
5. Select "Turn on file and printer sharing".
6. Click "All Networks"
7. Select "Turn on password protected sharing".
8. Click "Save changes".

Q&A

Q. I get "timed out" error when accessing the Windows shares. What should I do?
A. Please make sure your iPhone/iPad and computer are connected on the same Wi-Fi. If it still doesn't work, open Firewall on Windows Control Panel and allow "File and Printer Sharing" program.

Q. I did everything I could, but I still cannot access Windows shares.
A. Try Redfish. It's a free, simple and dedicated SMB server. Just works.
Click here to download it to your Windows.
Create a new Windows connection in Owlfiles. And don't forget to change the port to 20445, becasue Redfish uses 20445 as default service port.