--- title: "How to share through Cloud LAN" slug: "how-to-share-through-cloud-lan" description: "You will need to enable file sharing in Windows as other operating systems cannot access Windows home groups.You can also connect directly to a computer if you know the full name of the device." updated: 2025-07-09T14:06:20Z published: 2025-07-09T14:06:20Z --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.nordlayer.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # How to share through Cloud LAN Once you have successfully enabled [Cloud LAN feature](/docs/how-to-set-up-smart-remote-access-feature) in adminitrator's Control Panel and configured [device name in NordLayer application](/docs/setting-up-the-device-name-for-smart-remote-access) - you can now create network shares from [Windows](/docs/how-to-share-through-smart-remote-access#windows), [macOS](/docs/how-to-share-through-smart-remote-access#macos), or [Linux](/docs/how-to-share-through-smart-remote-access#linux) machines. ### Creating a Share on Windows You will need to enable file sharing in Windows, as other operating systems cannot access Windows home groups. To do this, open Control Panel and navigate to **Network and Sharing** > **Advanced sharing** settings. Enable **Network Discovery** and **File and printer sharing**. You can also change the following options if you would like to share public folders over the network - without requiring a password. ![Screenshot 2021-07-22 at 13.33.04.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc1049cd-8f71-4b89-b9b8-dbca9fdcdd16/Images/Documentation/Screenshot%202021-07-22%20at%2013.33.04.png) Locate the folder you would like to share in **Windows Explorer** or **File Explorer**, right-click on it and select **Properties**. Open the **Sharing** tab and use the options there to share a folder and configure its permissions. ![Screenshot 2021-07-22 at 13.33.11.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc1049cd-8f71-4b89-b9b8-dbca9fdcdd16/Images/Documentation/Screenshot%202021-07-22%20at%2013.33.11.png) ## Windows ### Accessing a Share on Windows You can connect directly to a computer using its full [DDNS name that you have created](/setting-up-the-device-name-for-smart-remote-access). Just type **\\FULL-DDNS-ADDRESS** (the name of a machine that has configured shares) into **Windows Explorer** or **File Explorer’s** location bar and press **Enter**. Alternatively, to only reach a specific share, right-click somewhere on your **Desktop** and select **New** -> **Shortcut**. ![Screenshot 2021-07-22 at 13.14.28.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc1049cd-8f71-4b89-b9b8-dbca9fdcdd16/Images/Documentation/Screenshot%202021-07-22%20at%2013.14.28%281%29.png) Type in the network location of the shared folder with this syntax: **\\FULL-DDNS-ADDRESS\SHARE-NAME** Please replace **FULL-DDNS-ADDRESS** with the name of your device set on the NordLayer application and **SHARE-NAME** will be the name of the folder or file that you have shared via network. --- ## macOS ### Creating a Share on macOS You will need to enable network file sharing to share folders on your macOS device. Open **System Preferences** and select **Sharing**. Enable **File Sharing** and click the **Options...** button here to ensure Share files and folders using **SMB** is enabled. Use the **Shared Folders** column to choose additional folders to share. Use the **Users** column to choose which users and groups can access and write to them. ![Screenshot 2021-07-22 at 13.38.32.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc1049cd-8f71-4b89-b9b8-dbca9fdcdd16/Images/Documentation/Screenshot%202021-07-22%20at%2013.38.32.png) ### Accessing a Share on macOS Open the **Finder**, click **Go** on the menu at the top of the screen, and select **Connect to Server**. Enter the following address, replacing **10.6.x.x** with the other device’s full DDNS name from the NordLayer application: ![Screenshot 2021-07-22 at 13.59.08.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc1049cd-8f71-4b89-b9b8-dbca9fdcdd16/Images/Documentation/Screenshot%202021-07-22%20at%2013.59.08%281%29.png) You will be prompted to authenticate with the appropriate credentials or log in as a guest. After connecting, the computer will appear under the **Shared** column in the **Finder** sidebar. To automatically connect to the shared folder each time you log in, open the **System Preferences** window and navigate to **Users and Groups** > **Login Items**. Drag and drop the network share from under the **Shared** column in **Finder** to the list of **Login Items**. --- ## Linux ### Creating a Share on Linux Use your desktop’s file manager to share a folder on Linux. Open the **file manager**, right-click a folder you would like to share, and select **Properties**. Click the **Local Network Share** tab and enable **Share** this folder. If this is the first time you have enabled sharing, you will be prompted to download and install the Samba software — this happens automatically when you provide your password. Configure your sharing settings after installing the Samba software — be sure to click the Create Share button to start sharing the folder. ![Screenshot 2021-07-22 at 13.41.56.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc1049cd-8f71-4b89-b9b8-dbca9fdcdd16/Images/Documentation/Screenshot%202021-07-22%20at%2013.41.56.png) ### Accessing a Share on Linux To connect directly to another machine, navigate to **Other Locations** and locate the **Connect to Server** field. Enter the path to a computer with a configured network share: **smb://DDNS-ADDRESS** replacing **DDNS-ADDRESS** with the other device’s full name from the NordLayer application. ![Screenshot 2021-07-22 at 14.03.09.png](https://cdn.document360.io/fc1049cd-8f71-4b89-b9b8-dbca9fdcdd16/Images/Documentation/Screenshot%202021-07-22%20at%2014.03.09%281%29.png) However you connect, you may need to authenticate with a user account name and password that has access to the files on the remote machine. This depends on whether you have enabled guest access and how you have set up your folder sharing permissions. **Note**: In case you have any questions or are experiencing any issues, please feel free to contact our [24/7 customer support team](/docs/how-do-i-contact-nordlayer-customer-support).