Sharing files and folders on macOS is a straightforward process that allows you to collaborate and share information with other users on your network or via the internet. This article will guide you through the steps to set up and manage file sharing on your Apple device.

Setting Up File Sharing

1. Enable File Sharing:

   • Open System Preferences from the Apple menu.
   • Click on Sharing.
   • Check the box next to File Sharing to enable it.

2. Add Shared Folders:

   • In the File Sharing section, click the + button under the "Shared Folders" list.
   • Navigate to the folder you wish to share and click Add.

3. Set Permissions:

   • Select the folder you just added.
   • In the "Users" section, you can specify who can access the folder:
     • Read & Write: Users can view and edit the files.
     • Read Only: Users can view the files but not edit them.
     • Write Only (Drop Box): Users can add files to the folder but cannot view its contents.
   • Click the + button under the "Users" list to add specific users or groups, or use the default options like "Everyone" or "Administrators".

4. Accessing Shared Folders:

   • On another Mac, open Finder.
   • Click Go in the menu bar and select Connect to Server.
   • Enter smb://[Your Mac's IP Address] or afp://[Your Mac's IP Address] and click Connect.
   • Log in with the credentials of a user who has access to the shared folder.

Sharing via AirDrop

AirDrop is a convenient way to share files wirelessly between Apple devices.

1. Enable AirDrop:

   • Open Finder.
   • In the sidebar, click AirDrop.
   • Set the "Allow me to be discovered by" option to Everyone or Contacts Only.

2. Send Files via AirDrop:

   • Open Finder and locate the file you want to share.
   • Drag the file to the AirDrop window and drop it onto the recipient's icon.

3. Receive Files via AirDrop:

   • Ensure AirDrop is enabled on your device.
   • When someone sends you a file, a notification will appear. Click Accept to save the file to your Downloads folder.

Examples

Example 1: Enabling File Sharing via Terminal

You can also enable file sharing using Terminal with the following command:

sudo launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.AppleFileServer.plist

Example 2: Checking Shared Folders via Terminal

To list the shared folders, use:

sharing -l