很少有人关注Windows在网络共享方面是如何设置的，与网络共享(network sharing)什么以及如何共享。幸运的是，Windows 10和Windows 8.1 都提供了一个面板，可让您控制每个重要设置，以便文件网络共享(file network sharing)仅在您连接到受信任的专用网络并且以安全方式(secure manner)完成共享时启用。以下是如何在Windows中查找每个高级(Windows)网络共享(network sharing)设置以及如何配置它们：
注意：(NOTE:)本指南适用于Windows 10和Windows 8.1。两种操作系统之间几乎没有细微差别，它们被适当地突出显示。
第一步(Step 1)：打开网络和共享中心(Network and Sharing Center)
首先，您必须打开网络和共享中心(Network and Sharing Center)。一种方法是启动控制面板(Control Panel)并转到"Network and Internet -> Network and Sharing Center"。本文介绍了其他打开方法：什么是 Windows 中的网络和(Windows)共享中心(Network and Sharing Center)？
第 2 步(Step 2)：访问高级共享设置
Windows 10 和Windows 8.1已在(Windows 8.1)“高级共享”("Advanced sharing")设置窗口中对所有高级网络共享设置进行了分组。要打开它，请单击或点击网络和共享中心(Network and Sharing Center)左侧的“更改高级共享设置”("Change advanced sharing settings ")链接。
可用设置分为 3 个部分，按网络配置文件(network profile)分组：专用(Private)、访客(Guest)或公共(Public)和所有网络(All Networks)。每个网络配置文件(network profile)都有不同的默认值，这些默认值在连接到该类型的网络时应用。分配给现有网络连接(network connection)的配置文件由位于可用配置文件之一名称旁边的语句“当前配置文件”指示。(current profile")
您可以通过单击或点击右侧的箭头来折叠或展开任何类别。
私人(Private)配置文件具有以下设置：网络发现(Network discovery)、文件和打印机共享(File and printer Sharing)以及家庭组连接(HomeGroup connections)。来宾或公共配置文件在(Guest or Public)Windows 10中具有相同的设置，在 Windows 8.1 中只有网络发现(Network discovery)和文件和打印机共享。(File and printer Sharing)
还有第三类设置：所有网络(All networks)。它包括公共文件夹共享(Public folder sharing)、媒体流(Media Streaming)、文件共享连接(File sharing connections)和密码保护共享(Password protected sharing)。这些设置及其默认值适用于所有网络连接。让我们在本指南的后续步骤中了解如何一一配置所有这些设置：
第 3 步(Step 3)：打开或关闭网络发现(Turn network discovery)
启用此设置后，Windows 会搜索网络上的其他设备，并允许同一网络上的其他计算机和设备查找基于 Windows 的计算机或设备(computer or device)。在网络发现(Network discovery)中，您还将找到Microsoft未记录的子设置：“打开网络连接设备的自动设置”("Turn on automatic setup of network connected devices")。它有什么作用？你应该打开还是关闭(Off)它以及何时？要找出答案，请阅读本指南：什么是Windows中网络连接(Network Connected)设备(Devices)的自动设置(Setup)？
建议：(Recommendation:)对于专用(Private)网络连接打开网络发现(network discovery)，对于公共网络连接的访客(Guest of Public network connections)关闭它，这样您的设备将不会被其他计算机看到，其他人将无法访问您在网络上正常共享的内容是值得信赖的。
第 4 步(Step 4)：打开或关闭文件和打印机共享(Turn file and printer)
接下来，您可以启用或禁用文件和打印机共享(File and printer sharing)。应用此设置后，您可以与网络上的其他计算机和设备共享文件和打印机。当它被禁用时，您将无法共享任何内容(share anything)。即使您的计算机对网络上的其他设备可见，也没有人能够查看任何共享文件夹和打印机。
建议：(Recommendation:)对于专用(Private)网络连接，打开文件和打印机共享(File and printer sharing)，对于公共(Guest of Public)连接的访客，将其关闭。
第 5 步(Step 5)：打开(Turn HomeGroup)或关闭家庭组连接
家庭组连接(HomeGroup connections)用于启用或禁用Windows中的家庭组(Homegroup)共享功能。此设置仅适用于专用(Private)网络连接。如果您有多个Windows设备，则应保持此功能打开并使用它来轻松进行网络共享。要打开它，请选中“允许 Windows 管理家庭组连接”("Allow Windows to manage Homegroup connections")框。如果您选择“使用用户帐户和密码连接到其他计算机”("Use user accounts and passwords to connect to other computers") ，则在连接到其他网络计算机以及连接到您的计算机时，您必须手动输入用户名和密码。(username and password)如果您想了解更多关于什么是家庭组(Homegroup)请阅读我们的指南以及如何设置它：什么是家庭组(Homegroup)以及它是如何工作的？
接下来，我们将重点关注“所有网络(All Networks)”部分中的设置。您必须小心这些设置，因为它们适用于两种类型的网络连接：公共和私有。
第 6 步(Step 6)：打开或关闭公共文件夹共享(Turn Public)
启用此设置后，网络上的人员（包括家庭组(Homegroup)成员）可以访问您的公共文件夹(Public folder)中的文件，该文件夹位于“C:UsersPublic”中。要了解有关此网络共享功能的更多信息，请阅读本指南：什么是公用文件夹以及如何(Public Folder & How)使用它？。
建议：如果您的计算机上只有一个(Recommendation:)用户帐户(user account)，我们建议您关闭此功能。如果你有多个用户账号(user account)需要在它们之间共享数据，这个功能可能会很有用。此外，最好在连接到专用网络时使用此功能。
第 7 步(Step 7)：打开或关闭媒体流
媒体流打开时，您可以使用Windows Media Player和其他程序流式传输多媒体文件（图片、视频和音乐）。如果您的网络中有 Xbox 控制台，您可以轻松地将您的库流式传输到它。如果要更改当前状态，请单击或点击(click or tap) “选择媒体流选项”("Choose media streaming options")。
如果已打开，您将看到一个窗口，其中列出了您的计算机和(computer and others)网络中启用了媒体流的其他计算机。如果您不需要使用此功能，您可以按Block All按钮，然后按OK将其禁用。
如果媒体流已关闭，系统会要求您将其打开。如果您想启用它，请单击(Click)或点击“打开媒体流” 。("Turn on media streaming")然后，您将看到一个类似于上面的窗口，您可以在其中编辑媒体流设置。
建议：(Recommendation:)仅当您使用媒体流并连接到专用网络时才打开此功能。
第 8 步：为(Step 8)文件共享(file sharing)连接设置加密
下一个设置是关于用于文件共享连接的加密类型，当计算机相互连接并相互复制文件和文件夹时。默认情况下，这设置为 128 位加密，因此您的数据传输将是安全的且更难拦截。
建议：(Recommendation:) 128 位加密适用于大多数操作系统，因此没有理由更改它，除非您的旧设备或计算机无法正确访问您的共享文件和文件夹。在这种情况下，您可以选中“为使用 40 位或 56 位加密的设备启用文件共享”("Enable file sharing for devices that use 40- or 56-bit encryption")复选框，并记住这是一个不太安全的选项。
第 9 步(Step 9)：打开或关闭密码(Turn password)保护共享
(Password)只有在您的计算机上设置了用户帐户和密码时，受(user account and password)密码保护的共享才允许人们访问您的共享文件和文件夹。此功能对于未包含在家庭组中的计算机很有用（(Homegroup)如果您使用的是一台）。例如，您网络中的Linux 或 Mac OS X 计算机(Linux or Mac OS X computers)将无法使用家庭组(Homegroup)，并且使用它们的人在访问您的共享文件夹时需要输入您的Windows 计算机(Windows computer)上存在的用户名和密码。(username and password)
建议：(Recommendation:)始终开启此功能，以防止不受欢迎的人访问您的共享资源。
第 10 步(Step 10)：保存您的高级网络共享设置
摆弄所有可用设置后，不要忘记单击或点击保存更改(Save changes)。
否则，您的设置将不会被应用。
重要提示：许多人常犯的错误！
如果您选择了错误的网络位置(network location)，请不要尝试更改该位置的网络共享设置，因为当您连接到另一个网络时，您将面临各种不便和安全问题。相反，请尝试为您的网络重新分配正确的位置。如果您不知道如何执行此操作，请阅读以下指南：
- 通过 3 个步骤将您的Windows 10 网络位置(network location)更改为 Private 或Public
- 在Windows 8.1中将(Windows 8.1)网络(Network)的位置从专用(Private)更改为公共(Public)
结论
我们希望您发现本指南很有用，并且现在您知道如何在装有Windows 10或 Windows 8.1的计算机和设备上最好地设置网络(set network)共享。如果您有任何疑问或问题，请随时使用下面的评论表提问。
How to customize advanced network sharing settings in Windows
Very few people pay attention to how Windows is set when it comes to network sharing, what is shared with the nеtwork and how. Luckily, both Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 offer a panel that allows you to control every important setting, so that file network sharing is enabled only when you are connected to trusted private networks and sharing is donе in a secure manner. Here's how to find every advanced network sharing sеtting in Windows and how to configure thеm:
NOTE: This guide applies to both Windows 10 and Windows 8.1. There are very few minor differences between the two operating systems and they are highlighted appropriately.
Step 1: Open the Network and Sharing Center
First, you have to open the Network and Sharing Center. One way is to start the Control Panel and go to "Network and Internet -> Network and Sharing Center". Other methods for opening it are described in this article: What is the Network and Sharing Center in Windows?.
Step 2: Access the advanced sharing settings
Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 have grouped all their advanced network sharing settings, in the "Advanced sharing" settings window. To open it, click or tap the "Change advanced sharing settings " link found on the left side of the Network and Sharing Center.
T he available settings are split into 3 sections, grouped by network profile: Private , Guest or Public and All Networks. Each network profile has different defaults which are applied when connecting to a network of that type. The profile assigned to your existing network connection is indicated by the statement " current profile" placed next to the name of one of the available profiles.
You can collapse or expand any category by clicking or tapping the arrow placed to its right.
The Private profile has the following settings: Network discovery , File and printer Sharing and HomeGroup connections. The Guest or Public profile has the same settings in Windows 10 and only Network discovery and File and printer Sharing in Windows 8.1.
There is also a third category of settings: All networks. It includes Public folder sharing , Media Streaming , File sharing connections and Password protected sharing. These settings and their defaults apply to all network connections. Let's learn how to configure all these settings one by one, in the next steps of this guide:
Step 3: Turn network discovery On or Off
When this setting is enabled, Windows searches for other devices on the network and it allows other computers and devices on the same network to find your Windows–based computer or device. In Network discovery you will also find a sub-setting that is not documented by Microsoft: "Turn on automatic setup of network connected devices". What does it do? Should you turn it On or Off and when? To find out please read this guide: What is the Automatic Setup of Network Connected Devices in Windows?.
Recommendation: For Private network connections turn on network discovery and for Guest of Public network connections turn it off, so that your device won't be visible to other computers and others won't be able to access what you are sharing normally on the networks that are trusted.
Step 4: Turn file and printer s haring On or Off
Next, you can enable or disable File and printer sharing. When this setting is applied, you can share files and printers with other computers and devices on your network. When it is disabled, you won't be able to share anything. Even if your computer is visible to other devices on the network, no one will be able to view any shared folders and printers.
Recommendation: For Private network connections turn on File and printer sharing and for Guest of Public connections turn it off.
Step 5: Turn HomeGroup connections On or Off
The HomeGroup connections is for enabling or disabling the Homegroup sharing feature in Windows. This setting is available only for Private network connections. If you have multiple Windows devices, you should keep this feature turned on and use it for easy network sharing. To turn it on, check the box that says: "Allow Windows to manage Homegroup connections". If you choose "Use user accounts and passwords to connect to other computers" , you must manually type a username and password when you connect to other network computers and when they connect to your computer. If you want to know more about what a Homegroup is and how to set it up please, read our guide: What is the Homegroup and how does it work?.
Next, we will focus on the settings that are found in the All Networks section. You must be careful with these settings because they apply to both types of network connections: public and private.
Step 6: Turn Public folder sharing On or Off
When this setting is turned on, people on the network, including Homegroup members can access the files from your Public folder which can be found at "C:UsersPublic". To learn more about this network sharing feature, read this guide: What is the Public Folder & How to Use it?.
Recommendation: We recommend keeping this feature turned off, if you have only one user account on your computer. If you have multiple user accounts that need to share data between them, this feature may be useful. Also, this feature is best used when connected to private networks.
Step 7: Turn media streaming On or Off
When media streaming is on, you can stream multimedia files (pictures, videos and music) using Windows Media Player and other programs. If you have an Xbox console in your network you can easily stream your libraries to it. If you want to change the current status, click or tap "Choose media streaming options".
If it is turned on, you will see a window listing your computer and others from your network which have media streaming enabled. If you don't need to use this feature, you can disable it by pressing the Block All button and then OK.
If media streaming is turned off, you will be asked to turn it on. Click or tap "Turn on media streaming" , if you want it enabled. Then, you will see a window similar to the one above, where you can edit your media streaming settings.
Recommendation: Turn on this feature only if you use media streaming and when you are connected to a private network.
Step 8: Set the encryption for file sharing connections
The next setting is about the type of encryption used for file sharing connections, when computers connect to each other and copy files and folders from one another. By default, this is set to 128-bit encryption, so your data transfer will be secure and harder to intercept.
Recommendation: The 128-bit encryption works well with most operating systems, so there's no reason to change it, unless you have older devices or computers which cannot properly access your shared files and folders. In this case you can check the box that says "Enable file sharing for devices that use 40- or 56-bit encryption" and keep in mind that this is a less secure option.
Step 9: Turn password protected sharing On or Off
Password protected sharing allows people to access your shared files and folders only if they have a user account and password set on your computer. This feature is useful for computers which are not included in the Homegroup (in case you are using one). For example, Linux or Mac OS X computers in your network will not be able to use the Homegroup and the people that are using them will need to type a username and password that exists on your Windows computer, when accessing your shared folders.
Recommendation: Keep this feature turned on at all times to prevent unwanted people from accessing your shared resources.
Step 10: Save your advanced network sharing settings
After fiddling with all the available settings, do not forget to click or tap Save changes.
Otherwise, your settings will not be applied.
IMPORTANT : A common mistake that many people make!
If you have chosen the wrong network location do not try to change the network sharing settings for that location, because you will be exposed to all sorts of inconveniences and security issues when you connect to another network. Instead, try to re-assign the correct location for your network. If you don't how to do this please, read the following guides:
Conclusion
We hope that you have found this guide useful and that now you know how to best set network sharing on your computers and devices with Windows 10 or Windows 8.1. If you have any questions or problems, do not hesitate to ask using the comments form below.
