How do I know if File and print sharing is enabled?

To allow other people to access the files and printers you have shared in your Windows 10 PC on the network, you can turn on file and printer sharing, following the procedures below.

Table of Contents Show

Steps to turn on or off file and printer sharing in Windows 10:
Introduction
Method 1. Using Command Prompt
Method 2. Using Windows PowerShell (Admin)
Method 3. Through Control Panel
Method 4. Using Network Connections
How do I enable file and print services?
How do I make sure my network sharing is enabled?
Should file and printer sharing be on or off?
What happens if I turn off file and printer sharing?

Video guide on how to turn on or off file and printer sharing in Windows 10:

Step 1: Open Control Panel.

Step 2: Choose View network status and tasks under Network and Internet.

Step 3: Select Change advanced sharing settings in Network and Sharing Center.

Step 4: Choose Turn on file and printer sharing or Turn off file and printer sharing, and tap Save changes.

Related Articles:

Turn off/on Password Protected Sharing in Windows 10
Turn on/off Media Streaming in Windows 10
How to Enable Allow Remote Connection in Windows 10
Turn on/off Sync with Devices in Windows 10
5 Ways to Open Work Folders in Windows 10

Introduction

In this article, I describe how to enable or disable file and printer sharing in Windows 10. This is a key feature in the Windows family for sharing files and printers on the network with other users.

We can also use this feature in Windows 10 to share files and printers on the network. The file-sharing feature is a process that enables the user to share files in a shared folder that are accessible to other users on the same network. Similarly, the printer sharing feature allows multiple computers to connect to the same network to access common printers. When the file and printer sharing feature is turned on, the files and printers that you share from the computer are accessed by other users on the same network.

When we need to share the file and printer with other users on the network, we have different options to enable it to use different methods such as command prompt, Windows PowerShell, and control panel.

This tutorial will show you the steps on how to enable or disable file and printer sharing in Windows 10.

Method 1. Using Command Prompt

By using the Command Prompt (Admin), the user can easily enable or disable file and printer sharing option. Follow the below instructions to proceed.

Step 1

From the Search, type the Command Prompt and right-click on it and select "Run as Administrator".

Step 2

A) To turn off (disable) the file and printer sharing option, type the following command in the command prompt.

netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="File and Printer Sharing" new enable=No

B) To turn on the file and printer sharing, type the following command in the command prompt.

netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="File and Printer Sharing" new enable=Yes

Method 2. Using Windows PowerShell (Admin)

By using Windows PowerShell, the user can easily enable or disable file and printer sharing option. Follow the below instructions to proceed.

Step 1

Open Windows PowerShell (Admin). (Alternatively, you can press the "Windows + X" key and click on "Windows PowerShell (Admin)" to open it.)

Step 2

A) To turn off (disable) the File and printer sharing option for different profiles, type the following command in the Windows PowerShell (Admin).

1) For all Network Profile

Set-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup "File And Printer Sharing" -Enabled False -Profile Any

2) Similarly, for Public Network Profile

Set-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup "File And Printer Sharing" -Enabled False -Profile Public

B) To turn on (enable) the File and printer sharing option for different profiles, type the following command in the Windows PowerShell (Admin).

1) For all Network Profile

Set-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup "File And Printer Sharing" -Enabled True -Profile Any

2) Similarly, for Public Network Profile

Set-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup "File And Printer Sharing" -Enabled True -Profile Public

Method 3. Through Control Panel

With the help of the Control Panel, the user can easily enable or disable file and printer sharing option. Follow the below instructions to proceed.

Step 1

Open Control Panel.

Step 2

Click on the "View network status and tasks" option under the "Network and Internet" section.

Step 3

On the left side, click on the "Change advanced sharing settings" option.

Step 4

Now, the users can choose the different network profiles as per their requirements.

A) To disable (turn off) the file and printer sharing option, click on the "Turn off file and printer sharing" option under the File and printer sharing section and click on the "Save changes" button.

B) To enable the file and printer sharing option, click on the "Turn off file and printer sharing" option under the File and printer sharing section and click on the "Save Changes" button.

Method 4. Using Network Connections

Step 1

Open Control Panel.

Step 2

Click on the "View network status and tasks" option under the "Network and Internet" section.

Step 3

On the left side, click on the "Change adapter settings".

Step 4

Now, select the network device, right-click on it and click on the "Properties" option.

Step 5

Now, select (check) the "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks" option and click on the "OK" button.

Note

If the users want to turn on (enable) the file and printer sharing option, then they also should have to enable (turn on) the "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks" option.

Conclusion

By following any of the above methods, you can enable or disable the file and printer sharing option in Windows 10.

I hope you enjoyed this article. Follow C# Corner to learn more new and amazing things about Windows 10.

Thanks for reading.

How do I enable file and print services?

Open Control Panel, click System and Security, and then click Windows Firewall. In the left pane, click Advanced settings, and in the console tree, click Inbound Rules. Under Inbound Rules, locate the rules File and Printer Sharing (NB-Session-In) and File and Printer Sharing (SMB-In).

About network discovery.

Tap or click to open Advanced sharing settings..

Tap or click the chevron. to expand your current network profile..

Tap or click Turn on network discovery or Turn off network discovery, and then click Save changes. You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice..

Turning off file sharing will prevent wireless access to files on your computer over the network you're connected to, thus making your computer more secure. Faculty and staff: Make sure you do not need these services before disabling them.

This prompt is a security reminder that disabling the File And Printer Sharing network component while you have your Dial-up Networking connection open prevents unauthorized access to your files, printers, and network.