Computers

How to share a hard drive across your Wi-Fi network

How to share a hard drive across your Wi-Fi network
Here's a look at sharing a hard drive across your network using your Wi-Fi router
Here's a look at sharing a hard drive across your network using your Wi-Fi router
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Play media files from the drive connected to the router
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Play media files from the drive connected to the router
Format to give it a new name and start before using it
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Format to give it a new name and start before using it
Map it as a network drive
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Map it as a network drive
The drive connected to the router will appear as a shared folder
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The drive connected to the router will appear as a shared folder
Use the drive connected to the router like you would any drive connected to your computer
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Use the drive connected to the router like you would any drive connected to your computer
Map the drive connected to the router
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Map the drive connected to the router
Create a shortcut to the drive for easy access
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Create a shortcut to the drive for easy access
The connected drive will be displayed in the router
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The connected drive will be displayed in the router
Here's a look at sharing a hard drive across your network using your Wi-Fi router
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Here's a look at sharing a hard drive across your network using your Wi-Fi router
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Have you ever wondered what that USB port on your Wi-Fi router is for? Most modern routers have at least one or maybe two, and today we'll take a look at how Windows users can set it up with a hard or flash drive to share content across a local network.

Note: For this article I'm using a Cisco Linksys E4200 Wi-Fi router. The interface for each router manufacturer will, of course, vary, and have different options for sharing the drive. Here's a look at using Windows to access the drive, which is the same process for any router with a connected USB drive, despite its internal software features.

Choose a hard or flash drive to share

The first thing you'll want to do is find a hard drive or flash drive that you want to use to hold data that you're going to share with everyone. One thing to consider before selecting a drive is to check your router's documentation to see if there are any storage limitations – certain routers do have a storage cap.Of course you'll be able to get more data at a cheaper price if you use an external hard drive. But if you only have a few things to share, then a flash drive will do. In this example I'm using a Centon 64 GB DataStick Pro.

After settling on a drive, I recommend formatting it using Windows. Some routers offer the ability to format the drive using built-in software, but I've had the best luck formatting it with Windows.

To format the drive in Windows, connect it to an open USB port on your PC, find it in Computer (called This PC in Windows 8), right-click on the drive, and select Format. A quick format should do in most cases, and while you're at it, give the drive a memorable name so you know what it contains. This step isn't entirely necessary, but if you can, it's nice to start with clean gear.

Format to give it a new name and start before using it
Format to give it a new name and start before using it

Access the routerTo get to the router settings, open any browser on a computer connected to your Wi-Fi network. Then type in the appropriate IP address of the router to get into it. Usually it will be something like 192.168.1.1 – again, if you're not sure, check the router's documentation.

Then you should be asked for the router's login information. If you're still using the default settings like "admin" for both the username and password, take this opportunity to set it to something more secure. You don't want just anyone being able to access your network or the drive you add to it.

Now, in the router's settings, look for a heading called drive storage, file sharing, or something similar. There you will see the information on the drive that you connected to your router.

The connected drive will be displayed in the router
The connected drive will be displayed in the router

Access the drive connected to router

To be able to read and write to the attached drive, open the Network folder on Windows. Then clear the path at the top of Windows Explorer and enter \\ followed by the router's IP address. For example: \\192.168.1.1 as shown below. The drive will show up in Windows Explorer as a shared folder with the name you gave it. You will need to enter the router path for each computer you want to connect to the drive. If you're prompted for a username and password, use the same credentials you used to log into the router.

The drive connected to the router will appear as a shared folder
The drive connected to the router will appear as a shared folder

You'll be able to use the drive exactly like one connected to your PC. You can create folders, copy videos, music, documents, and more. And you can do this from any computer as long as you open Network and type in the router path address that you did in the step above.

Use the drive connected to the router like you would any drive connected to your computer
Use the drive connected to the router like you would any drive connected to your computer

If you're going to keep the drive attached to your router and continue to use it, you're not going to want to enter in the router path each time. To make things much easier, just map it as a network drive – it's not as complex as it sounds.

Right-click the drive and select "Map network drive" and give it a drive letter that isn't already being used, make sure "Reconnect at sign-in" is checked, then click Finish. After that, any time you restart and connect your desktop or laptop computer to the network, the drive connected to the router will appear.

Map the drive connected to the router
Map the drive connected to the router

Also, if you want easier access to the drive, you can create a shortcut on the desktop.

Create a shortcut to the drive for easy access
Create a shortcut to the drive for easy access

Remember that everyone connected to your Wi-Fi network will be able to access that drive (provided you've mapped it on all systems), so make sure you aren't putting anything too sensitive on it. This is a great solution for families who want to share music, videos, and photos among all computers in the house. It provides yet another way to back up your data, too.

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10 comments
10 comments
Purple-Stater
Very nice. I've known this was possible but never had a need to do it so hadn't researched it. Thanks for laying it out so nicely.
taomander
Hi- I wonder if you could post a similar article for Mac Users? Much appreciated. -Alex
pmshah
If you have one of those routers that support dd-wrt yoy would be better off installing it. It is much easier that way.
louwin
Thanks but any hints on how to speed up the transfer?
I plugged in a reasonably fast USB3 drive to it and get like 2MBps from it :(
Abhishek Singh
How to access this USB in android and other mobile platforms?
kyle_S
Hey so I was wondering does this same process allow me to acces my hard drive from a different WIFI. For example my hard drive is connected to my internet in lets say Texas and right now I am in Florida and I want to access my hard drive can I do it?
Daniel Blecha
I have my external hard drive plugged into my router, and have FTP available so I can use it over the net anywhere BUT the problem as you eluded to when you stated "do not put sensitive materials on the hard drive"; How can one Put a Password on it? How can I make it "secure"? -------Your help is greatly appreciated !!!!!!
PS: for Klye_S ------- In your router settings, click on "Enable FTP internet". That will give you an internet address (usually an IP # with some words like "share" in it) that you can you to access your hard drive from anywhere.
Daniel Blecha
Regarding my post earlier today: Just thinking: Is my Network (Harddrive Attached by USB to Router) Already "Password Protected" even if someone is using the FTP address, as we do have a password to get through the router already? ---- Dumb question, but i am illiterate in many things --smile ----- THANKS!
MichaelFos
I know one more solution and really had tried software from this step-by-step instructions http://www.eltima.com/share-usb-drive-over-network/.
swp789
It would not work for me - both laptops. one win7 one win 10.
Kept asking for user name and password. Tried all combos of my user names and passwords for my router. I put in allowable mac id's for access. Somewhere there is a disconnect.
Hard wired computers work just fine with a few clicks.
I can access router just fine to see and change settings etc. But, not for accessing my hard driv on the Router.