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Quick answer: To create a shared folder on Mac, open System Settings > General > Sharing and enable File Sharing.
Creating a shared folder on Mac lets you collaborate with colleagues and family members on your network without the complexity of cloud services. I've been using Mac's built-in file sharing for years, and it's surprisingly powerful once you know how to setup it up.
Here's a summary of the main methods and tools I use for sharing folders on Mac. Detailed instructions for each approach follow below.
| Method | Best For | Setup Time | Key Benefit |
| Built-in File Sharing | Local network sharing | 2-3 minutes | No additional software needed |
| iCloud Drive sharing | Remote collaboration | 1-2 minutes | Access from any device |
| SMB protocol | Windows/Linux compatibility | 3-4 minutes | Cross-platform support |
| CloudMounter | Multiple cloud services | 5 minutes | Unified cloud management |
| Dropshare | Quick file transfers | 2 minutes | Instant secure links |
In this article, I’ll show you how to create a shared folder on your Mac in a few easy steps.
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To turn on file sharing on Mac, go to System Settings > General > Sharing, then toggle File Sharing on.
Here's how I set up file sharing:
Your Mac automatically creates a Public Folder for your user account when you enable file sharing. This folder appears in the Shared Folders list, ready for immediate use.
One thing I always do after enabling file sharing is check which folders are shared by default. macOS adds your Public folder automatically, but I've seen cases where old shared folders from a previous macOS version carried over after an upgrade.
After enabling file sharing, you can create new shared folders or share existing ones. I prefer creating dedicated folders for sharing to keep my personal files separate.
Follow these steps to create and share a folder:
1. Open Finder and go to where you want the shared folder.
2. Right-click in the window and choose New Folder.
3. Name your folder without spaces or special characters for better compatibility.
4. Right-click the folder and choose Get Info.
5. Check the "Shared folder" checkbox under General.
6. Click the lock icon at the bottom to make changes.
7. In the Sharing & Permissions section, click the + button to add users.
8. Set each user's access level: Read & Write, Read Only, or Write Only.
The folder now appears in your Shared Folders list. Users on your network can access it through their Finder sidebar under Network.
Once you've created shared folders, you'll want to fine-tune who can access them and what they can do. I regularly adjust these settings based on project needs.
To configure folder permissions:
iCloud Drive lets you share files and folders for easy collaboration. Invited users can access and view the shared items from any device. Depending on the permissions you set, collaborators can edit items, and changes sync automatically.
Here's how to share via iCloud:
Changes sync automatically across all devices. According to Apple's support documentation, collaborators can access shared folders from any Apple device or through iCloud.com.
CloudMounter is a trustworthy cloud storage manager that enables users to efficiently manage and organize their files stored online. With CloudMounter, you can mount all your cloud drive accounts as local drives on your Mac or Windows computer, simplifying the process of performing any necessary actions on your files.
Read also:
Mac file sharing not working? Here are the most common causes and fixes.
One of the most common reasons is that the File Sharing feature might have been disabled on your system. To enable it, go to System Settings and click on the Sharing option (as described earlier in this article).
If you’re sure that File Sharing is turned on but the shared folder doesn’t show up in your Finder, try the following:
Windows and Linux users need the SMB protocol enabled. Go to System Settings > General > Sharing > File Sharing (i) > Options. Select Share files and folders using SMB and choose your user account.
New files added to shared folders don't automatically inherit permissions. Fix this by:
The main limitation of sharing a folder on your Mac compared to a dedicated file server or cloud sharing is that your Mac must be turned on and connected to the network for others to access it. That’s fine if the Mac on which you’re creating the shared folder is a desktop Mac such as a Mac mini, Mac Studio, or iMac – these machines typically sit on a desk and can be set to wake up when network activity is detected.
But if you’re using a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, it’s likely that you’ll shut down your computer and put it away when you’re done using it, so the shared folder won’t be available.
Depending on your needs and use case, some methods may be more suitable than others. Let’s look at some of the best practices for sharing files.
One of the most common ways to share large files is to use a file transfer protocol (FTP) program. Forklift can synchronize and transfer files from Mac to Mac on the same network. All you need to do is connect to your Mac via AFP or SMB, log in, and add the folder you want to synchronize to your Favorites in Forklift.
You can then use Forklift’s sync tool to ensure that the same data is always present in both folders.
If you want to share files quickly, apps such as Dropshare are a great option. Without the hassle of setting up an FTP connection, Dropshare allows you to quickly and easily share files, screenshots, and even screen recordings with others.
For sensitive files, you can also set a password so only those with the password will have access to them. Setting up shared folders for one quick file transfer is overkill. Dropshare gives you a link in seconds. Upload, share, done. Free for 7 days. Try Dropshare Free.
Shared folders can fill up quickly with large project files. I use CleanMyMac to identify space-hogging files before they become a problem.
The Large & Old Files module scans your Mac and highlights files you haven't accessed recently. You can review and delete unnecessary files with one click, keeping your shared folders organized.
Connecting to shared folders from other devices is easy once you know where to look.
On your Mac:
On Windows:
If you need to reach your shared folders when you're away from the local network, check the guide on how to access your Mac remotely for VPN and screen-sharing options.
So now you know how to set up file sharing on Mac. And if you want to adjust your routine to a specific case, try the apps we mentioned in this guide. These are CloudMounter to easily connect to any cloud storage and share files with others on your network; Forklift to synchronize and transfer large files from Mac to Mac on the same network; Dropshare to share files quickly without the hassle of setting up an FTP connection; and CleanMyMac to identify the files that are taking up much space on your device and speed up your Mac.
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Removing folder sharing takes just a few steps:
The folder remains on your Mac but is no longer accessible to network users. You can re-share it anytime by adding it back to the list.
Yes, multiple users on the same Mac can share files through the Public folder system. Each user account has a Public folder with a Drop Box subfolder.
Place files in your Public folder for others to copy. The Drop Box folder lets other users send you files without seeing its contents. Set up a dedicated shared folder with custom permissions for more control over collaborative work.
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