How to Share Files between Mac and PC — Leopard and Vista

By Eric English
May 12, 2009

Topics Mentioned
Operating System(s):: Widows Vista

Macs are becoming more and more prevalent, and there can be times when you need to be able to share files between your Mac and your PC.

As a follow up to my articles on setting up a small home network, let’s talk about sharing files between Leopard and Vista. Today we’ll discuss accessing shared files from the Mac, and from the PC.

Configuring Sharing in Vista

First we need to make sure file sharing is turned on in Vista. To check your settings click Start, type “network and sharing center” and press Enter.

You should now be at the Network and Sharing Center.

Make sure you have the File Sharing option turned on.

Now we need to figure out what folder we want to share or create a new shared folder. Open Computer and browse to where you would like your file share to be. Create a new folder and give it a name.

Right click on the new folder and select Share.

That will take you to the File Sharing window. Select the users you want to share with and click Share.

When you are finished, write down the path to your file share as you will need this so you can access your shared files. In my example the path is \\VISTA64\Windows File Share.

So now you have a shared folder setup on your PC. Let’s move on to configuring your sharing options in Leopard.

Configuring Sharing in Leopard

Believe it or not, Macs and PCs play together pretty well on the same network. There can be some issues from time to time but for the most part they work pretty well together. Our PC is setup and ready to go, so let’s get the Mac configured for file sharing.

From the Apple menu, click System Preferences

Then click Sharing

Check the box to turn on File Sharing. Also take note of the path that it gives to access the files. For this example the path is: afp://192.168.1.111 or browse for “Eric Mac”.

You can add folders to share by clicking the plus sign under Shared Folders. So let’s create a new folder for sharing. Open Finder, and browse to where you would like the share to be. Create a new folder and give it a name.

Let’s add the folder to be shared by clicking the plus sign under Shared Folders. Browse to your newly created folder and click Add.

Now we need to enable SMB for easier file sharing for Windows computers. Click the Options button, and then check the box Share files and folders using SMB. You might be prompted for your password. Close this window when you’re done.

You can set specific permissions for the folders and for each specific user, but it’s probably easier in a home environment to give the Everyone group read and write access. To do this, click the up and down arrows next to Everyone and select Read & Write.

Now your Mac should be configured for file sharing.

So what’s next? Let’s work on connecting to our Mac from Vista and vice versa — connecting to our PC from Leopard.

Connecting to a Mac Share from Vista

To connect to our new Mac shared folder we need to click Start → Computer.

In the address bar type the path to your Mac file share but instead of using afp:// just use \\. For example, my address is afp://192.168.1.111 but I type in: \\192.168.1.111.

Now you can access the shared folders on your Mac. So how do you access the shared folders on your PC from the Mac?

Connecting to a Windows Share from Leopard

You’re now be able to connect to your Mac share from your Windows PC, so let’s discuss how to access your Windows file shares from your Mac.

In this example I’m using Leopard but the steps should be fairly similar for earlier versions; both operating systems use SMB for file sharing.

From the Go menu click Connect to Server.

Now we need to refer back to the notes we made when creating the Windows file share. We need to use the path for the share we created earlier or to another shared folder you want to access. For this example the server address is smb://vista64/windows file share. Enter the path to your shared folder and click Connect.

Now you have successfully connected to your Windows file share from your Mac!

Other Options

There is another option you can use when sharing files between PCs and Macs. You can purchase a network storage device or NAS and set it up on your network for file sharing. Most of these devices are formatted in FAT32 straight out of the box. FAT32 is compatible with both PCs and Macs so that makes it a fairly quick setup.

What other ways can you share files between your PC and your Mac?

Discussion

48 comments and trackbacks for “How to Share Files between Mac and PC — Leopard and Vista”

Comments

Posted by Nariman Riahi on May 28, 2009, 9:19 am

for sharing MAC (10.5.x) folder from PC (Vista) if I want to not allow read and write access to everyone, how do I set it up?
So far whatever I do I can not pass the authentication. I go to Network (in Vista) and see my Mac. I double click it and see the share folders but basically whatever is shared with Everyone I can access. I can not access for example Pictures folder with read, Write access given to myself (nariman user). I get an error in Vista when I try to open that folder.
Posted by MamaJJ on June 22, 2009, 3:05 am

Thank you so much! You are great, your explaination was spot on and very easy to understand, 100% success.
Posted by Truman on June 28, 2009, 6:18 pm

I have a Question. I want to share large files from a Vista Server to a Mac OS X Leopard Laptop. I want to share movies and video’s from this Windows Vista server and have it go to my Mac OS X Leopard and have it go into the Front Row in order to play the Movies.

I have been told Fat32 does not allow for large files over the size of 4Gb. I am wanting to share files up to and over 8gb a file.

Do you have any recommendations.

Thank you
Posted by Caesar Wong on August 1, 2009, 4:28 am

Hi,

I’m appreciate for your detailed walkthrough guide showing us how to share file between PC & Mac. However, I think my scenario would be very much different, which I don’t wish to let anybody else except “David” to get access to my share folder on my mac. Thus, I put “everyone” to “no access”, and I created a new username and password for “David” on my mac.

On David’s PC side, my share document is visible to him, but whenever he attempt to double-click and get access to that folder which I specifically share it to him only, without any authentication asked, he was prompted and be told that he has not been granted access to this folder and he is required to seek for the network administrator.

So, I wonder if there is anything which I have missed… I’m pretty sure that my file sharing service has been enabled, included him into my sharing ACL, and as well as having my SMB service enabled. All I wish is just to let the assigned user to be able to authenticate into my sharing folder, and those whom are not, remain unaccessible.

I’m looking forward to read your revert Thank you very much.

Regards,
C.W.
Posted by Laura on August 7, 2009, 11:32 am

Hello! I am trying to connect to the shared network on the PCs at the office from my MAC so I can get to office files, etc. I followed your instructions for my leopard, up until the last bit which is the most important part! My Macbook pro does not have a ‘Go’ menu, and I can’t find anything anywhere of that discription, can you direct me further please?
Posted by Dave on August 31, 2009, 7:56 pm

Thankyou!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Habu on September 1, 2009, 12:46 pm

You’re da man. I’ve spent weeks trying to connect my wife’s new iMac to my Vista network without success. I follow your instructions and …bingo. Success! It even put nice little icons on the macs screen for the wife to simply instant connect to music and photo files on my PC. All hail Eric.

Now to see if I can get the mac to print to my printer.
Posted by Aditya on September 22, 2009, 11:17 pm

Thanks this was pretty helpful.

Initially after setting up the mac share i was not able to access it from windows. Windows was saying i dont have permission contact my network my network administrator (I am the one ).

While doing the connect to server on my mac to connect to my windows share it asked for my windows logged in user cred. after i provided i was able to access files both ways.

Its pretty easy and smooth. By the way I am using Windows 7.
Posted by Joe Cotton on October 20, 2009, 9:28 am

Thanks for posting this. The instructions were clear and on-point.

Joe
Posted by Jim Waldron on October 21, 2009, 9:12 pm

U DA MAN DUDE!!!!!!
Posted by Julie on October 27, 2009, 10:56 pm

Thanks! Your walk-through worked for PC to Mac when nothing else did. For some reason Mac to PC is still not working, but PC to Mac is great. Thanks! (P.S. The PC isn’t seen on the network… I believe it is a larger issue than poor typing skills)
Posted by Joe on November 16, 2009, 3:20 am

When I tried to access a folder from my mac it said “this drive could not be mounted”. Any suggestions? Joe.
Posted by David on November 22, 2009, 1:50 am

I really appreciate this walkthrough. It worked like a charm after I had been searching the Interweb high and low for some help. I could easily connect to shared folders on my new iMac from the PC but seeing my Vista folders from the Mac was a challenge. Next up is connecting to my XP machine. Not quite the same but you’ve givin me enough to go on that I’m sure I’ll get it. Thanks again!!!
Posted by Floris on December 1, 2009, 11:21 pm

Tried your suggestions and got nowhere – I had set up the Mac to run SMB per the above instructions (PC claims it has no idea what the afp:// protocol is – nice move, Microsoft!).
In my configuration I was trying to connect a PC running Windows 7 with a Mac running 10.5

I found a post somewhere else that suggested my security settings might be the problem.

Sure enough – when I opened Norton 360, I could add my Mac as follows:
Norton 360 Settings -> Trust Control -> Configure
Click on the [+] to add a new machine; give it a name (myMac) and the IP address (if it’s static; or the MAC address if it’s dynamic). I gave it “full trust” since both devices are behind a router/firewall.

Then I went to Explorer, typed in \\192.168.1.105 (happens to be the IP address of the Mac on my home network) and a window opening showing all the shared folders on the Mac.

Networking is magical when it works…
Posted by Floris on December 1, 2009, 11:24 pm

It turns out that even the more restrictive security setting “use network trust” in Norton 360 is good enough to get the PC to see the Mac. Might be a safer alternative in case aliens take over your Mac. Not that that is likely.
Posted by Rob on December 2, 2009, 11:49 am

First, thanks for publishing these instructions. Second, just moved to a MAC and I found 1 additional thing via Apple Support that needed to be done to get the files to share between Vista PC and Snow Leopard OS X (10.6.2). I still haven’t been able to get onto my PC from my MAC but I now am able share files in the designated MAC folders using my iMac Hard drive, which is perfect.

TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN ACCESS THE FILES ON YOUR MAC FROM YOUR PC PERMISSION MUST BE SET AT THE FILE LEVEL ALSO.

What this means is: once you have set up your sharing settings in your MAC for files and have chosen for the folders you want so it is all Read & Write etc, the files you are sharing must have the PERMISSIONS set right so it is also Read & Write, as well as those files and all sub-files you want to be sharing.

To do this open Finder, right click or control click on the folders you are sharing and go to Get Info. At the bottom of this is Sharing & Permissions. If the privilege for the users you want is not set to Read & Write, or the setting you want, you must click the unlock and change it under privilege. Then, if you chose a folder that has sub-folders in it you should click on the ‘Gear’ shaped box next to the + /- boxes below that, left of the lock, and choose ‘Apply to enclosed items’. This way everything will be all set.

I hope this helps as I was ready to throw my new iMac through the wall before I realized i could contact support for the first 90 days of having my Mac and got this solved.
Posted by maclover on December 11, 2009, 12:47 pm

this is great!
Posted by Kirk on December 15, 2009, 8:57 pm

This helped me get me to see my files from my MAC on my PC. Thank you! IS there a way on the MAC to go into the Network area and it automotically show you everythign on the network that is shared? This is on my home network…

On my PC I can go into the network and it automatically sees everything even my shared files on my MAC. I don’t like having to connect to a serber each time from the MAC unless I have to.

Thoughts?
Posted by wayne on December 17, 2009, 9:52 am

Hello

The problem is that my Pc is windows XP and i get stuck straight away as the control panel has NO “Network and sharing centre”

can you point me anywhere
thank you
Posted by Sharmin on December 19, 2009, 1:10 am

I followed the instructions (10 times to make sure) and I can see my mac share file on my PC but not my PC shared files on my Mac – what am I doing wrong?
Posted by wayne on January 17, 2010, 9:36 am

I had some success by using the method below on an XP machine

Went to -
My Network Places > Add a Network Place > Browse > Entire Network > Microsoft Windows Network > Workgroup > (my iMac’s name) >

You should then be able to access the file or disk (yes you can share cd/dvd drive with a pc that hasnt got one) /file from Windows using a username (or guest and no password as you would when accessing normal network share)
Posted by Trevor on January 20, 2010, 6:09 pm

Thank you. Your site helped me immensely. I have one problem though. After completing your instructions, I am unable to see my PC on my Mac. I can see and use my Mac files perfectly on my PC.

On the Mac, in the Finder window, I see my PC. But when I try to connect it says “Connection Failed” and when I try the Cmd-K and input the address as indicated in your post, I get a message that says “Server Unavailable.’

I am using Snow Leopard and Vista.

Thanks again.
Posted by Dipak on January 30, 2010, 10:59 pm

Thank you so much for thing informations. It was easy to understand.
Posted by Monica on February 3, 2010, 9:50 pm

WOW, you are my hero… This was so easy and worked the first time…
My deepest gratitude.
Posted by Rakesh on March 5, 2010, 9:46 pm

Hey, I just wanted to say how perfect your explaination was. I think this had to be the easiest network sharing help I have ever seen. Thanks so much. Awesome!
Posted by wayne on March 6, 2010, 12:51 pm

I used this on XP to get my PC to see my mac files (not other way around)

1. On Pc open internet browser (eg I use firefox)
2. In the address bar in firefox type \\192.168.1.111 (where \\192.168.1.111 is the macs IP address (you will get the IP address from “network” “advanced” “TCP/IP”)

Dont forget the the 2 slashes \\ at the front
Posted by Jeff Bue on March 20, 2010, 12:12 pm

Thanks dude!!!
Best instructions I’ve come across.
Everything works as advertised.
Solves a bigger issue I had with backing up my data from my iMAC to my external HD and NOT being able to read the files on my Vista Laptop. This solves that problem.

Thanks a ton!

U R DA MAN!!
Posted by Jon on June 7, 2010, 4:47 pm

You rock! That worked. I had it all set up but didn’t know the \\ syntax.
Posted by Giselle on June 23, 2010, 6:40 am

This does not work for me. I have Snow Leopard. I’ve been trying since yesterday, no go. I can see the mac from vista, and connect to vista from the mac, but all the folders are empty. Please help.
Posted by Geoff on June 26, 2010, 11:51 pm

thanks so much for that. This is the first explanation that I have understood on this matter in a long time.

Worked for snow leopard to Vista and Snow leopard to Virtual box- to vista

your a champion
Posted by Jennifer on July 15, 2010, 2:18 pm

Hi. I want to connect a Mac (Leopard) to a shared folder on a Vista PC. I have gone through and found the server I want to connect with and it shows the main set of folders, but whenever I double click on any of them to access the folders, they are empty. They are not empty folders on the host PC though. Any ideas???

Thank you!
Posted by alan myers on August 19, 2010, 12:56 am

Thanks for this. Spent 2 days on this before I found your description, which is thoroughly understandable and works!
Posted by MBV on September 7, 2010, 5:49 am

Total waste of time. My network discovery is stuck on Custom. It would help if you were to say what to do in this situation, rather than assume everything runs to your plan.

Your help is worse than useless.
Train Signal Team Member
Posted by Kasia Lorenc on September 7, 2010, 6:39 am

Hi MBV,

Sorry to hear that you’re having problems.

The reason your network discovery says “custom” is because one or more of the required system services are either disabled or not started, or you (or your sysadmin) might have disabled a firewall exception that affects network discovery.

Network discovery in Vista requires two things:

- Following services must be started: DNS client, function discovery resource publication, SSDP discovery and UpnP device host
- Windows Firewall exception for network discovery must be enabled

Here are two nice how-to’s on the Vista forums on how to fix both:

- how to enable Vista services: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/59910-services.html
- how to add a Firewall exception in Vista: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/65334-windows-firewall.html

Good luck!
Posted by Sameer Mithani on November 4, 2010, 8:57 pm

Thank you!! I just bought my first Mac yesterday. This was instructional page was incredible and helped me share files between my reliable (really) old Vista PC and my MacPro.
Posted by Dannii on December 6, 2010, 12:43 am

Hello, Fellow Mac Peeps
Hi im Dannii and I am on a school Mac. And the school put me as a “Managed Mobile” Does any of you know how to take it off that and change it to a Admin. Because its not letting me file share.

Thanks-if you can help???

Dannii
Posted by PoisonOak on December 26, 2010, 5:41 pm

Great job and thank you for explaining how to do all this, helped me tonnes when i switched from pc to mac… the only thing i was having troubles with understanding was when you said to type in the address into the address bar. I did not know where to get the address from but eventually i backtracked and figure it out :j so just a suggestion in maybe try to make that more clear. But other than that i’m already uploading everything onto my mac and it’s working great thank you!
Posted by swapnil Patel on December 28, 2010, 6:39 am

Extremely Handy and easy.. thanks buddy:)
Posted by Carlo DeCianti on December 31, 2010, 9:06 am

Help needed!
Firstly thanks for this post, great info. I need a little help if poss… I can configure my Mac no prob. Snow Leopard OSX 10.6.5
I can now access PC to Mac via internal network using RUN > \\(IP address) and view the Shared Folders etc. and with all the right permissions i.e. drop box etc. on the Mac.

Mac > PC
the reverse… I can access my PC from my Mac after the configuration using SMB.
BUT…
when I use Finder > Go > Connect to Server (to access the PC) I input smb://(PC IP address) I need to use my user name and password FOR THE PC.

OK, I can log in and now access my PC files BUT if I want those PC files to be locked or secure or not show up at all, can I either:

a) somehow use the Guest access option that appears (tried but didn’t work)

b) or do I need to create lots of permissions in the PC for the folders and lock them down so I’ll see them but not be able to access them? But then it’s my account and log-in so this wouldn’t make sense and also create myself fewer permissions?

or
c) should I create an alternative user name and log-in or workgroup on the PC for this purpose whereby the Mac can drop files to the PC without accessing the full content or knowing the users main account name and pswd??

thanks everybody/anybody!
Posted by Trina on January 28, 2011, 1:49 am

Thanks Eric!

This worked perfectly without any problems! I’ve had both MAC and PC for a few years and never was able to get them to talk to one another, now it’s done, with your help!
Posted by Anthony on February 2, 2011, 1:37 pm

This worked excellently. To improve it, I used Automator to create a script that connects to a the default server and saved it as a program to load on sign-in. Because I have 3 users with different access to folders, I created an account for each, then loaded it as the default connect-as name. On the windows side I shared and unshared per user as needed. I now have a fully functional setup that I’m very happy with. Thanks for the help!
Posted by Carter Smith on February 5, 2011, 8:53 pm

Thank you. Many blessings.
Posted by aaron on February 20, 2011, 5:33 pm

Thanks for this… I got it all working… but am having an issue with sharing files from Mac to PC…

It seems to be sharing jpgs ok… but as soon as I want to share a text file it seems to have a problem. The file appears to transfer and for a second or two you see it… but then it disappears… whoosh!

Never to be seen again…

I’m stumped!
Posted by Cam on February 22, 2011, 8:09 am

Thank you for posting the best and easiest instructions I have found for this and God bless you!
Posted by AGuth3 on March 20, 2011, 1:12 pm

Please help Eric.
First off let me thank you for your detailed article to file share between vista and a leopard mac. However, I need more help. When I try to get to the point of entering usernames and passwords to connect to shared folders, they won’t take on either machine. Can you elaborate on which UN/PW to use on each side of the “fence”? I know my UN/PW on both machines, but I am frustrated why it doesn’t finally connect. I noticed on the Laptop I have, when I try to enter a UserName, it puts a main directory in front of the username I have for it, example: user-PC\aguth3 instead of just aguth3 when trying to log into the imac i have. Is this normal?
Posted by James Crisp on May 16, 2011, 5:39 am

my itunes folder path will not be picked up on my mac
Posted by mustafa on October 9, 2011, 6:56 am

Tank’s
Posted by Jeff on October 12, 2011, 10:48 pm

This post was EXACTLY what I needed! I am finally released from a vicious cycle of trying to set up file sharing between my Vista PC and iMac with Snow Leopard, failing, getting frustrated, giving up for a while, finding some website or forum with new info, and trying and failing again. Especially frustrating were the places where I would read that the Mac would just automatically detect the PC. Yeah, well, it didn’t. The solution was not too difficult, but I never would have figured it out on my own. Thank you so much!