# Configure and access shared folders on Linux In this article, you will learn how to set up a shared folder on Linux and access another device's shared folder from a Linux device. {% hint style="info" %} **Note** For this procedure, Ubuntu 24.04 LTS is used as an example. {% endhint %} ## Prerequisites Before you begin, download and prepare the [Samba](https://www.samba.org/) app on your Linux device. Samba uses the [SMB](https://nordvpn.com/blog/what-is-smb/) protocol to share resources over the network. If you want to configure a shared folder using the GUI, you should also install the [nautilus-share](https://packages.ubuntu.com/noble/nautilus-share) package.
Install Samba To install Samba, on your system: 1. Open **Terminal**. 2. Run the following command, which will fetch updates from your repositories and install Samba:\ 
sudo apt update && sudo apt install samba -y
Enable Samba authentication To secure access to your shared folders, you need to create a Samba password. 1. Open **Terminal**. 2. Run the command below, which will prompt you to create a new Samba password for your current user:\ 
sudo smbpasswd -a $USER
3. Enter and confirm your new password.
Terminal output asking for the SMB password.
4. Add your current user to the `sambashare` group with this command:\ 
sudo usermod -aG sambashare $USER
5. Restart your PC.
GUI only: Install nautilus-share The `nautilus-share` extension adds folder-sharing options to the system's context menu allowing convenient setup. 1. Open **Terminal**. 2. Install `nautilus-share` by running the command below:\ 
sudo apt install nautilus-share -y
3. To activate the extension you need to restart the Nautilus processes. Use this command to quit Nautilus:\ 
nautilus -q
\ Next time you open the **Files** app, Nautilus will start automatically.
## Configure a shared folder Depending on your system, you may opt to configure a shared folder using the operating system's file manager or by using the command line. {% tabs %} {% tab title="GUI" %} To create a network share using a file manager's network-sharing options: 1. Right-click the folder you want to share and choose **Sharing options**.
Selecting "Sharing options" from the context menu.
2. Select **Share this folder**, and, if needed, enter a custom name for your network share. 3. Click **Create share**.
"Create share" buttong highlighted.
{% endtab %} {% tab title="Terminal" %} Take the following steps to share a folder via the command line: 1. Open **Terminal**. 2. Navigate to the folder that you want to share and print out its absolute path by using the `pwd` command.\ **Example** 
/home/meshnet/Desktop/MeshnetFolder
Output of 'pwd' command
3. Run the following command to open the Samba configuration file using the Nano text editor:\ 
sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf
4. At the end of the file, append the following lines where `` is the name for your network share and `` is the absolute path of the folder from step 2:\ 
[<ShareName>]
   path = </path/to/folder>
   read only = no
   browsable = yes
**Example**
Samba configuration file with the changes for the shared folder.
5. Press **Ctrl** + **X**, **Y**, and **Enter** to save changes and exit. 6. Run the following command to restart the Samba process:\ 
sudo systemctl restart smbd
{% endtab %} {% endtabs %} {% hint style="info" %} **Note** To access the shared folder, the peer device will need to use your Linux username and the previously created Samba password for authentication. {% endhint %} ## Access shared folders {% hint style="info" %} **Note** You can find platform-specific instructions for accessing the shared folder in the appropriate guides: * [Access shared folders from Windows](https://meshnet.nordvpn.com/how-to/remote-files-media-access/configure-and-access-shared-folders-on-windows#access-shared-folders) * [Access shared folders from macOS](https://meshnet.nordvpn.com/how-to/remote-files-media-access/configure-and-access-shared-folders-on-macos#access-shared-folders) * [Access shared folders from Android](https://meshnet.nordvpn.com/how-to/remote-files-media-access/set-up-folder-sharing/access-shared-folders-on-android) * [Access shared folders from iPhone/iPad](https://meshnet.nordvpn.com/how-to/remote-files-media-access/set-up-folder-sharing/access-shared-folders-on-ios) * [Access shared folders from Android TV](https://meshnet.nordvpn.com/how-to/remote-files-media-access/set-up-folder-sharing/access-shared-folders-from-android-tv) {% endhint %} Most Linux file managers let you directly access files shared on other devices. In this example, you will learn how to access a network share using GNOME Files. 1. Run the `nordvpn meshnet peer list` command and copy the Nord name of the sharer's device.
Terminal output of the 'nordvpn meshnet peer list' command with a peer device's Nord name underlined.
2. Open GNOME **Files** and select **Other locations** in the sidebar.
"Other locations" option highlighted.
3. In the **Enter server address** field at the bottom, type in`smb://`, paste the copied Nord name, add a slash (/) followed by the network share name, and click **Connect**.\ \ **Example** `smb://secret.meerkat-himalayas.nord/MeshnetFolder`\
Shared folder's network path entered in the file manager.
4. Select **Registered user** and enter the username and password for accessing the shared folder.
5. Click **Connect**. The shared folder should now open in the file manager. ## Mount a shared folder The shared folder you connect to becomes unavailable after a system restart, which means that you would need to reconnect to the folder each time you wish to access the files stored in it. However, by utilizing [CIFS](https://wiki.samba.org/index.php/LinuxCIFS_utils), you can mount the shared folder directly on your system and use it as a persistent storage location. ### Prepare a mounting point 1. Open **Terminal**. 2. Fetch repository updates and install CIFS by entering the following:\ 
sudo apt update && sudo apt install cifs-utils -y
3. Create a new directory using the `mkdir` command, where you want to mount the shared folder.\ \ **Example** 
mkdir SharedFolder
4. Navigate to the newly created folder using the `cd` command and print out its full path using the `pwd` command.
Ouput of 'pwd' command
5. Check your user ID number by executing this command:\ 
echo $UID
### Edit the file system table 1. Open the `fstab` file with root privileges using the Nano text editor by running this command:\ 
sudo nano /etc/fstab
2. At the end of the file, append the following line for the shared folder: 
//<NordName>/<ShareName> </path/to/folder> cifs username=<USERNAME>,password=<PASSWORD>,uid=<UID>,iocharset=utf8 0 0
Where: * `` is the Nord name or the Meshnet IP of the host device. * `` is the name of the network share you are trying to access * `` is the path to the mounting point from Step 4 of the [Prepare a mounting point](#prepare-a-mounting-point) section. * `` and `` are the authentication details for accessing the shared folder. * `` is the user ID from Step 5 of the [Prepare a mounting point](#prepare-a-mounting-point) section. \ **Example** 
//secret.meerkat-pyrenees.nord/MeshnetFolder /home/meshnet/SharedFolder cifs username=meshnet,password=securepwd123,uid=1000,iocharset=utf8 0 0
3. Press **Ctrl** + **X**, **Y**, and **Enter** to save changes and exit. 4. Run the following command to mount the network share:\ 
sudo mount -a
5. Apply the changes to your file system table by reloading SystemD with the following command:\ 
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
You can now access the shared folder from the sidebar in the **Files** app.
The mounted shared folder highlighted in the "Files" app.
## See also * [Configure and access shared folders on Windows](https://meshnet.nordvpn.com/how-to/remote-files-media-access/set-up-folder-sharing/configure-and-access-shared-folders-on-windows) * [Configure and access shared folders on macOS](https://meshnet.nordvpn.com/how-to/remote-files-media-access/set-up-folder-sharing/configure-and-access-shared-folders-on-macos)