How to securely share files with people you trust

If you want to share files or folders with friends, family, or colleagues and it’s important that only those people have access, Windows 11 has you covered. Whether you’re sharing family photos, the next great marketing plan, or the final draft of your novel, you want to know that your files won’t be accessed by interlopers or leaked online. OneDrive and File Explorer offers ways to securely share your files with people you trust while maintaining privacy when you want it. Keep your files safe and share them without worry by following these helpful tips from Windows 11.

Microsoft OneDrive

Whether you’re collaborating on a business plan, sharing trip videos, or simply trying to organize your files, OneDrive allows you to access, edit, share, and organize from anywhere! What’s more is that all your files in OneDrive are automatically private unless you choose to share them with someone else.

How to share files securely in OneDrive

Thankfully, the process for sharing files via OneDrive is simple and allows you to keep tabs on who has access to what:

1. Open OneDrive via File Explorer or by signing into your Microsoft account.
2. Select the file or folder you want. 
3. Select the Share icon at the top of the File Explorer window or in the menu that appears when you right-click on the file or folder.
4. A pop-up will ask you to enter the email addresses of those people who should be given access. 
5. Select the Settings icon in the pop-up to decide on the level of access, whether they can download, and more.

Windows File Explorer

You may regularly use File Explorer to locate and organize files of all sorts, from school projects to photos taken on a digital camera before smartphones were a thing. You may not know, though, that you can securely share files with other uses directly from File Explorer. Here’s how!

How to share files securely in File Explorer

Follow these easy steps for secure file sharing over a network using File Explorer:

1. Locate the file or folder you’d like to share and right-click on it (or use the keyboard shortcut Shift + F10).
2. In the pop-up menu, select Show more options > Give access to > Specific people.

If you want to revoke access, no problem. Follow the steps above and choose Remove access instead of Give access to.

By giving access to specific people you trust through OneDrive and File Explorer, you can easily share content and rest assured that you are keeping your files and folders secure. Learn about more Windows 11 tips and tools—from security features to organizational tips—in the Windows Learning Center.