How to Access Windows Shared Folders on Chromebooks

To bring Windows users into the Chromebook fold, Google is incorporating many useful features into Chrome OS. Recently, they brought network file sharing through SMB (Server Message Block) into the stable channel of Chrome OS. What it means is that you can seamlessly access network files and folder without switching to Developer mode or Canary channel. So in this article, I am going to show you how to access Windows shared folders on Chromebooks along with some helpful explanation on Windows network file sharing system. With all that said, let’s go through the guide step by step.

Access Windows Shared Folders on Chromebooks

1. Find the Network Share Path on Windows PC

Before we begin, we have to find the share path on our Windows PC. Unlike Windows where you can just enter the credentials and connect with other computers, in Chromebook you will have to provide the IP address in proper SMB protocol. Also, this is a one-time process and you will not have to do this for every folder sharing. So now, let’s go ahead and find the network share path without any delay.

1. First of all, right-click on the Windows folder that you want to share with your Chromebook and open Properties. Move to the “Sharing” tab and click on “Advanced Sharing”.

1. Find the Network Share Path on Windows PC

2. Next, enable the checkbox for “Share the folder” and click on the “Ok” button. Note the folder name as it will be used in the network path.

Note: Try to keep the folder name as one word to prevent any ambiguity in the file path.

1. Find the Network Share Path on Windows PC

3. If you want, you can allow read, write and delete privileges as well by clicking on the “Permissions” button. Basically, this will give you full control over the Windows folders on your Chromebook.

1. Find the Network Share Path on Windows PC

4. Now, you have successfully shared a folder that can be accessed on Chromebook through a common network. Now we need to find the IP address of the Windows PC. Click on the WiFi or Ethernet icon on the Taskbar and open Properties of the common network.

1. Find the Network Share Path on Windows PC

5. Now, scroll down and note down the “IPv4 address”.

1. Find the Network Share Path on Windows PC

6. Now that you have collected all the required information, this is how your network file path will look like.

smb://Your PC IP Address/Shared Folder Name

Here’s an example:

smb://172.16.91.151/Movies

In case, you want to connect to a Windows drive then just enter the shared drive letter in place of the folder name.

smb://172.16.91.151/D

Now that you have got the idea of network sharing path, let’s move to Chromebook for some action.

2. Connect Windows Shared Folders to Chromebooks

1. Open the Files app on your Chromebook and click on the 3-dot menu on the top-right corner. Next, click on “Add new service” and open “SMB file share”.

2. Connect Windows Shared Folders to Chromebooks

2. Under “File share URL”, enter the network share path of the folder that we got from the above section. And under “Display Name”, rename it to the folder name just for the convenience.

2. Connect Windows Shared Folders to Chromebooks

3. Next, enter the username of your Windows account and password. And in case, you are using an online Microsoft account on your Windows PC like me then you will have to provide the Microsoft credentials. Keep in mind, you can’t enter the PIN code in the password field.

2. Connect Windows Shared Folders to Chromebooks

4. After that, click on the “Add” button and voila, the Windows shared folder will be live on your Chromebook with all the files within. You can access it from the left pane just like any other folder on your Windows PC.

2. Connect Windows Shared Folders to Chromebooks

That was quite easy, right? So, if you want to share another folder to Chromebook then just repeat step #1 and #2 from the first section and enter the folder name along with the IP address on your Chromebook. That’s it. Browse your Windows files on Chromebook just like that!

Access Windows Shared Folders on Chromebooks in a Breeze

So that was our short guide on how you can access network shared folders from Windows PC to Chromebooks. As we can see, the process is quite straightforward and easy. All you have to do is, find the IP address and share the folder with the SMB protocol. I hope this guide helps you move from the old Windows PC to a new Chromebook. You should also checkout our guide on sharing files between a Windows PC and Mac. Anyway, that is all from us. If you liked this article and want to see more Chrome OS-related tips and tricks, do let us know in the comment section below.

comment Comments 21
  • 4LC4TR4Z says:

    Great post. Works just fine for me. Thanks for sharing.

  • Stu says:

    Any idea in chromeos supports SMB ver1. That’s what my NAS is operating at.

  • Roger says:

    Worked after a bit of faffing about, had to set attributes to r/w for shared folder on PC

  • Peter says:

    My computer is connected to my router through an Ethernet cable not through wifi so even though I do have a wifi dongle connected to a USB it does not have an IP for me to use for network sharing.
    Do you have a suggestion on how to make the connection through the wifi dongle while keeping my desktop connected to the router through an Ethernet cable?

  • Pratik Porwal says:

    Is there any way to share chromebook’s folders to other system

  • Fred says:

    I get Error mounting share. Please check your credentials and try again. There are no credentials set on windows pc at the moment and I have tried all the different variations from above. Can anybody suggest what I am doing wrong?

  • KJ says:

    Worked great! Thanks for making it easier than everyone else on the Internet including Google.

  • Gits says:

    I can access the folder but can’t copy/paste/edit files or create new folder. How to do that? I have checked all permission for Read/write & have enabled it on the host PC.
    Also, while on the topic, can someone suggest how to connect my chromebook to the printer that is hooked to windows 7 PC?

  • Alan says:

    Worked for me.

  • The Analog Kid says:

    Didn’t work at all. I still get errors mounting the share. It says check the file share URL. I know the goddamn URL. It’s smb://192.168.3.29/c/Users/Owner. I even turned off passwords on the Windows PC. My Windows PCs see it with no problem. But the Chromebook, which is supposed to be better and actually WORK, can’t do it. I guess I will keep searching the internet to find 1 person who can make this overrated Crapbook actually see other PCs on a LAN.

    • Grunter says:

      you do not need the drive letter c. Just smb://192.168.3.29/Users/Owner

  • Charles Warcup says:

    I tried several other links trying to get a connection between an ex-Windows PC now Chrome OS laptop and my local still-Windows PC’s D drive. Nearly gave up, partly because the other explanations left me guessing what several unfamiliar terms are supposed to mean. Then along comes this clear, well-illustrated walk-through and bingo!
    Which reminds me of a comment by a service technician many years ago: “Isn’t it strange – as soon as one does it correctly, it works!”

  • Chris says:

    Thank you. How do I edit the title of the folder or delete/remove a connected folder after I connected?

  • John Davis says:

    Ok gave it both the IP address smb://192.168.1.xxx/Users/name/Folder
    And smb://192.168.1.xxx/Folder
    And smb://Computer network ID/ same as above

    NO JOY “Share not fuound
    SMB is supposed to be active on Win-box

    Checked SNB 1 and SMB2 both enabled.

    • The Analog Kid says:

      Totally. This article is garbage.

    • New User says:

      Check to see if your Network Profile on your Windows PC is set to private. If you’re using a VPN, make sure you’re not invisible on LAN on both your Windows PC and Chromebook.

  • Christophe says:

    just what I needed. Clear and simply explained. Thank you.

  • Geirge says:

    Nice article. Though the feature does not seem to work on CHROME v 84 or v85

  • Doctor z says:

    Excellent !!! Thanks

  • John A. Davey says:

    Worked perfectly. Thanks for the clear explanation.

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