Free Network Share Browser tool for Windows administrators

Browse files, folders, and active sessions of shares on any remote Windows computer. Agentless, instant, and 100% free. Audit share permissions, troubleshoot access, and identify rogue shares across your domain.

Browse remote sharesActive session audit100% agentless

Built for IT admins who value speed and simplicity

Every feature is purpose-built for real Windows administration work — designed to save time, reduce disruption, and keep your fleet under control.

0
Agents to install

Audit network shares before they become incidents

Browse the shares, folders, and active connections on any remote Windows computer — including hidden admin shares (C$, ADMIN$). Identify rogue shares, audit permissions, troubleshoot access issues, and spot suspicious file activity in real time, all from one admin console.

All sharesActive sessionsHidden shares

Complete share enumeration

List every share on the target machine — user-created shares, hidden administrative shares (C$, ADMIN$, IPC$), and printer shares. Nothing escapes the audit.

User sharesAdmin shares

Active session visibility

See who's currently connected to the shares — username, source machine, idle time, and open file count. Spot unusual connections immediately and respond fast.

Live sessionsOpen files

Permission audit

Review share-level and NTFS permissions for each share. Identify everyone-readable shares, missing permissions, and overly permissive ACLs before they cause compliance failures.

ACL auditCompliance

File-level browsing

Drill into shared folders and review file structures remotely. Useful for forensics, recovery scenarios, and verifying data placement — without ever touching the endpoint.

Browse filesForensics

Unified admin console

Pairs with System Inventory for context and Currently Logged-on User to map sessions to identities. All 15 free Windows admin tools live in one console — switch between Share Browser, Remote Desktop, and more without opening another window.

With 14 othersSingle download

Get going in under 60 seconds

From download to first result in five simple steps. No complex configuration, no firewall rules, no additional licensing.

  1. 1

    Download and install Free Windows Admin Tools

    Install the bundle on your admin workstation. No agent on target PCs — installation takes under two minutes and requires no license key.

    Requirement: Install only on the admin's machine — target computers need no installation.
  2. 2

    Open Network Share Browser from the sidebar

    Click Share Browser in the sidebar of the unified console. The tool loads instantly alongside the other 14 utilities.

    Tip: Start with your file servers — they hold the most sensitive shares and benefit most from regular audits.
  3. 3

    Pick your Windows domain from the left panel

    Domain-joined computers populate from Active Directory. No CSV imports, no IP lists to maintain.

    Multi-domain? Target servers in your 'Data' OU first for compliance reviews — they hold the regulated data.
  4. 4

    Choose the computer whose shares you want to audit

    Click the target machine from the list. Online endpoints show a green status indicator so you skip the unreachable ones.

    Best practice: Look for shares with unexpected names or non-standard locations — possible signs of rogue sharing.
  5. 5

    Inspect shares, sessions, and files

    View all shares, active sessions, and drill into folder structures. Export findings for compliance and remediation in seconds.

    Going further: For automated share policy enforcement and data loss prevention, see Endpoint DLP Plus (free for 25 endpoints).

Built for real IT admin scenarios

Rogue share detection

Periodically scan your fleet for unauthorized shares — common signs of data exfiltration, shadow IT, or compromised workstations sharing themselves out.

Compliance & ACL audit

Generate evidence for compliance audits (HIPAA, PCI-DSS, GDPR) showing share-level access controls across regulated systems.

Forensics & incident response

During an incident, quickly enumerate active sessions on a suspected machine and map open file handles — critical for understanding scope and impact.

Need real share protection? Meet Endpoint DLP Plus

When passive auditing isn't enough, Endpoint DLP Plus actively protects sensitive data — discovers and classifies data, enforces share policies, blocks unauthorized transfers, and prevents leakage via email, cloud, USB, and apps. Free for up to 25 endpoints.

  • Data discovery & classification
  • Channel-based policies
  • USB & cloud control
  • Insider threat alerts
  • Audit-ready reporting
  • Active blocking
Endpoint DLP Plus
Data Loss Prevention
25Free endpoints
ActiveEnforcement
AllData channels
Free ยท 25 endpoints

Frequently asked questions

Yes. 100% free with no endpoint limits, trial period, or hidden costs. Part of the Free Windows Admin Tools bundle from ManageEngine, trusted by 250,000+ IT administrators worldwide.

Yes. The tool lists all shares including hidden administrative shares like C$, ADMIN$, and IPC$ — full visibility for proper audits.

Yes. The tool shows active sessions: connected username, source machine, idle time, and open file count for each share.

Yes. The tool uses standard Windows SMB administrative APIs over authenticated domain credentials. No installation on target machines.

This free tool is read-only — for inspection and auditing. For active share management and data loss prevention, see Endpoint DLP Plus.

Get the Free Network Share Browser Tool

Plus 16 other free Windows admin utilities in a single download. No credit card, no sign-up form.