Network shares

A network share makes a folder on your server available to other devices on your home network. Once shared, a folder shows up on a laptop’s file manager or a TV’s media app like any other network drive. Shares use SMB, the protocol Windows, macOS, and most devices already speak.

Create a share

1. In Files, open the storage space and find the folder you want to share.
2. Start a share and pick that folder as the source.
3. Give the share a name. This is the name devices will see.
4. Choose who can reach it. For each household user, set Read (can open and copy) or Read & write (can also add and change files).
5. Review and create.

The people you grant access are household users. Create them first if you haven’t, since they sign in from their devices with that username and password.

Connect from a device

Point the device at your server and the share name:

• Windows: open \\<your-server-ip>\<share-name> in File Explorer.
• macOS: in Finder, choose Go, Connect to Server, and enter smb://<your-server-ip>/<share-name>.
• Phones and TVs: add a network or SMB source using the same address.

Sign in with the household user’s username and password when prompted.

Manage a share

Each storage space lists its active shares. From a share you can change who has access or stop sharing it. Stopping a share doesn’t touch the folder or its files; it just makes it unavailable on the network.

To reach files on another machine from Bitsmith, see Connected locations.