Mac with file sharing enabled not automatically appearing under Network in Explorer on Windows 10

Question

I have set up file sharing on both my macOS Mojave and Windows 10 computer.

So far, I can access the Windows shares from the Mac and vice versa.

The problem is that, on the Window 10 system, I can't see the Mac icon automatically listed as a network location in Windows Explorer, even though I can access the Mac's shares if I manually enter their UNC path in the address bar.

Is there any way to have Windows remember the Mac's address and display the Mac icon?

Answer 1

Is there any way to have Windows remember the Mac's address and display the Mac icon?

Absolutely.

Actually, the way this works is that the PC doesn't remember the Mac's address but the Mac continually broadcasts its presence on the network and, if everything is set up properly, the PC will see this and list the Mac in Explorer under Network.

Most likely problem: workgroup name mismatch.

The most likely problem here is that the Mac and PC have two different workgroup names.

If these names do not match, then the PC will not list the Mac under Network in Explorer.

1. On the Mac, go to System Preferences, Network, Options, WINS. This is most likely blank right now. Change it to "Workgroup".

2. On the PC, check the workgroup in System settings: Windows + Pause/Break, or Windows + X, Y, then scroll down and click on System info. Change this field to "Workgroup" also. The workgroup name can be anything you want, it just needs to be identical on your Mac and PC.

Answer 2

You need to enable File Sharing on Mac OS X:

• Click on the Apple icon and then on System Preferences
• Click on the Sharing icon
• Place a check-mark next to File Sharing
• Click Edit if you wish to give the Mac an easier name for Windows
• Under Shared Folders, the Public folder is shared out by default. Click the + (plus) to share other folder(s). Under Users, edit the permissions as required.
• Click the Options button and ensure that all options have check-marks
• Under Windows File Sharing check the box next to the user name and enter a password

The specified shares should now be visible from Windows.

For more details see the article How to Access Mac Files from a Windows PC.