You can set up your computer to share files and folders with other users on your network. You can set up your computer to share your entire computer with everyone, or restrict the sharing service to allow specific users access to only certain folders. You can share files using Apple Filing Protocol (AFP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), or the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol.

With file sharing turned on and permissions set, users on your network can browse for your computer on the network or type your computer’s address into a “Connect to Server” window and connect to your computer and share files.

To set up file sharing:

Step 1
Choose Apple > System Preferences, and then click Sharing.

Step 2
Select the File Sharing check box.

Users you have set up with accounts in Accounts preferences can access your computer by connecting to it over the network.

Step 3
To refine user access to your computer and set up specific folders or volumes to share, click Add (+) at the bottom of the Folders list and select the folder you want to share.

Step 4
To further refine user access, click Add (+) at the bottom of the Users list and select a user from Users & Groups (accounts you have set up in Accounts preferences), Network Users or your Address Book. Or click New Person and enter a name and password to create a sharing account. Select the user from the list and click Select.

After the user is in the list, use the triangles next to the user name to assign privileges for that use user (No Access, Read & Write, Read Only, or Write Only (Drop Box)).

Step 5
Click Options and select the way you want to share your computer: using AFP, FTP, or SMB.

If Windows users will connect to your computer to share files, make sure SMB is selected, select the On checkbox next to the name of the account that will share your computer, and enter the password for that user.