6 ways to share files locally on Windows 11

While you consider sharing recordsdata lately, there is a good likelihood your thoughts goes to internet-based companies and cloud storage, with merchandise like OneDrive or WeTransfer. However many instances, chances are you’ll wish to share recordsdata with individuals in the identical room or house as you, and the web is not the quickest or most handy choice.

Native file sharing nonetheless has huge advantages, akin to not needing an web connection and usually sooner speeds. Plus, when you’re importing to a cloud storage service, you then must be extra cautious to handle how a lot house you are utilizing, so sending recordsdata regionally could make issues a bit simpler for you. As such, we have compiled a number of methods you may share recordsdata regionally on Windows 11, so you do not have to rely on the web.

Bluetooth

It technically is an choice

Sharing recordsdata over Bluetooth on Home windows just isn’t the most effective concept, however you need to give it credit score — it is likely one of the strategies obtainable. Home windows would not have the most effective Bluetooth stack round, and simply attending to the Bluetooth settings is a little bit of a ache, however you can also make it work. First off, ensure that Bluetooth is turned on on each gadgets, then observe these steps:

1. Choose a file (or recordsdata) you wish to share in File Explorer and select Present extra choices (alternatively, maintain the Shift key whereas right-clicking to open the superior menu).
2. Within the basic context menu, select Ship to > Bluetooth system.

   

3. Select the system you wish to ship to, and click on Subsequent.

   

4. If it is the primary time sending a file to this system, you will want to verify the pairing code, after which the file will ship.

Now, if the system that is receiving the file can also be a Home windows PC, it will get a bit extra sophisticated. Here is what you’ll want to do:

1. Open the Settings app and select Bluetooth & gadgets from the aspect menu.
2. Click on View extra gadgets, or just Gadgets.

   

3. On the backside of the web page, select Ship or obtain recordsdata through Bluetooth.

   

4. Select Obtain recordsdata.
5. Observe the steps above to start out sending the file to the goal PC.

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Community sharing

For long-term entry

Utilizing the community sharing function constructed into Home windows 11 is a greater strategy if you wish to share recordsdata with different computer systems on the community in a steady means. Moderately than sending the file to the vacation spot, community sharing makes recordsdata in your pc obtainable to different customers, so long as the host pc is on and awake.

Correctly establishing a community share might be an concerned course of, however here is the gist of the way it works:

1. Open File Explorer and go to the Community web page within the aspect bar.
2. You need to see a bar on the high saying community sharing is disabled. Click on it and select Activate community discovery and file sharing.
3. If prompted, select No, make the community I am linked to a personal community.
4. Now, go to the file or folder you wish to share and right-click it, then select Present extra choices.
5. Within the basic context menu, select Give entry to > Particular individuals.

   

6. Add the person you wish to share recordsdata with. It must be a person that is additionally in your PC, until you wish to select the Everybody choice.

Now you can use one other system to entry the recordsdata you shared in your PC. You might have to activate community sharing on the visitor system if it is one other Home windows PC.

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Thunderbolt Share

For suitable PCs

A current addition to the listing of potentialities is known as Thunderbolt Share, and it comes courtesy of Intel. Many PCs with Intel processors have Thunderbolt ports, which provide very excessive bandwidth, as much as 40Gbps (or much more, for Thunderbolt 5). In case you have a PC or Thunderbolt dock that is licensed for Thunderbolt Share, you may hyperlink up two Thunderbolt-enabled PCs and share recordsdata utilizing a Thunderbolt cable, and do it at super-fast speeds, too.

To make use of Thunderbolt Share:

1. Obtain and set up the Thunderbolt Share app on each PCs (it solely helps Home windows).
2. Join the PCs utilizing a Thunderbolt cable and the Thunderbolt ports on every system. You might also use a suitable dock to allow Thunderbolt Share between PCs with out a license.
3. Launch the app and choose the Drag & Drop recordsdata choice.
4. Navigate the folders on each PCs and transfer recordsdata round as you please.

   

Gadgets licensed for Thunderbolt Share aren’t tremendous frequent, however docks just like the OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock are licensed, so you should use them to hyperlink up any Thunderbolt PC, even when the PCs themselves aren’t licensed.

Close by sharing

For Home windows solely

Now we begin attending to the extra generally accessible choices. Close by sharing is a function constructed proper into Home windows 11, and it makes it simpler to share recordsdata with close by PCs that additionally help close by sharing. This depends on Bluetooth and a direct Wi-Fi connection, that means it would not require a practical web connection. To share recordsdata utilizing close by sharing:

1. Head into the Settings app
2. Select System from the aspect menu, and head into Close by sharing.
3. On the high of the web page, select both My gadgets solely or Everybody close by, relying on who owns the opposite PC being linked. Each computer systems want to do that.

   

4. Now, navigate to the file or folder you wish to share.
5. Proper-click it and select Share from the menu. Your close by gadgets ought to seem underneath your e mail contacts, so merely select the suitable one and settle for the request on the receiving PC.

   

Watch for the file to complete transferring, and also you’re good to go.

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Fast Share from Google

Share together with your telephone, too

Microsoft could supply its personal close by sharing resolution, however when you additionally wish to share recordsdata out of your telephone, Google’s Fast Share resolution is much better. Fast Share is constructed into fashionable Android gadgets, and for Home windows, you may download the app here. Here is the way it works:

1. Set up Fast Share in your PC and sign up together with your Google account. For those who’re sharing between PCs, each of them want the app.
2. Select whether or not to make your PC seen to solely your self (your Google account), your contacts, or everybody close by.

   

3. To share recordsdata out of your PC, merely navigate to the place your file is and select Ship with Fast Share.
4. Choose the goal system from the listing.

   

5. For the first-time connection, verify the PIN proven on each gadgets.
6. Watch for the switch to finish.

For those who’re attempting to share recordsdata with an Android telephone and that telephone is not displaying up as an choice in your PC, you will want to enter the telephone’s settings to verify the system might be found for Fast Share.

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LocalSend

It really works on every part!

Lastly, we now have the cream of the crop when it comes to compatibility. LocalSend is very similar to Home windows 11’s close by sharing or Fast Share from Google, but it surely works on principally any system that issues, together with Home windows, Android, macOS, and iOS. Linux is supported, too. Utilizing LocalSend is pretty easy:

1. Install LocalSend in your platform(s) of alternative and launch it on each gadgets.
2. On the system sending a file, swap to the Ship tab.
3. Click on File, Folder, or one of many different choices relying on what you wish to share.

   

4. Click on the system you wish to share the file with.
5. Settle for the request on the receiving system.

Other than requiring set up on each platform it is on, this can be a very easy resolution, and arguably the best one to make use of. It is also essentially the most extensively suitable, so it makes whole sense to go along with this when you’re usually coping with totally different sorts of gadgets.

Loads of choices for various use instances

Relying in your scenario, virtually any of those options is a good match. We would not suggest utilizing Bluetooth until you are actually determined, however all the opposite options have a function and might be an effective way to share recordsdata in several eventualities. I’ve personally relied on Fast Share from Google essentially the most, although now that I’ve a Mac Mini, I might have to show to LocalSend extra incessantly.