How To View, Create, Delete Network Shares Using Windows Command Prompt

Network shares make file sharing easy across your home or office network. While most people use the Windows interface for this, you can handle everything—view, create, and delete shares—right from the Command Prompt. It’s fast, powerful, and no-nonsense. Here’s how:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator

First, open Command Prompt as an administrator. You’ll need admin rights to manage shares.

• Press Windows Key, type cmd, right-click on Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator.

2. View Existing Network Shares

To list all network shares on your machine, type:

net share

This will display all shared folders, their resource paths, and any comments.

3. Create a New Network Share

Suppose you have a folder at C:\SharedFiles you want to share as PublicShare.

Type this:

net share PublicShare=C:\SharedFiles

That’s it. Your folder is now shared on the network as PublicShare.

To Add Permissions (Optional)

If you want to set user-specific permissions (like making it read-only):

net share PublicShare=C:\SharedFiles /grant:Everyone,READ

Or give full access:

net share PublicShare=C:\SharedFiles /grant:Everyone,FULL

Note: “Everyone” allows all users on the network. For more security, specify a username instead.

4. Delete a Network Share

To remove a share, use this command:

net share PublicShare /delete

Replace PublicShare with the name of your share. You’ll get a confirmation that the share is deleted.

5. Useful Tips

• Refresh: If a share doesn’t show up on other devices, try restarting your computer.
• List all shares again: Use net share any time to see what’s active.
• Share on a remote computer: Use PowerShell’s Invoke-Command or Remote Desktop. (The net share command works only on the local machine.)

Wrapping Up

Managing network shares from the Command Prompt is fast, clean, and great for troubleshooting or automation. Bookmark these commands—they save time and cut through the clutter.

Got questions or need more details? Drop a comment below!

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!