Sharing a Mac with family members, or juggling a separate work account on the same machine? Sooner or later you will need to move a file from one macOS user account to another — and dragging it to a USB stick every time gets old fast. Fortunately, macOS has a built-in solution: File Sharing combined with the /Users/Shared folder, which is readable and writable by every account on the Mac. Once set up, passing files between accounts is as simple as copying them into a folder.
Here is the exact setup, step by step.
How to transfer files between user accounts
- Open System Settings and go to General > Sharing. This is the central hub for all of macOS’s network and sharing services.
- Next to File Sharing, click the “i” info button. A dialog opens showing which folders are shared and who can access them.
- Turn on File Sharing and set per-user permissions. For each user or group in the list you can choose Read Only (they can copy files out but not add any), Write Only (they can drop files into a Drop Box without seeing its contents), or Read & Write (full access). Pick the level that fits your situation.
- Click Done. File Sharing is now active on this Mac.
- Switch to the other user account and open Finder. Every Mac ships with a /Users/Shared folder that is accessible to all accounts on the machine — no network setup required. You can reach it with the Finder shortcut Shift + Command + G and typing /Users/Shared.
- Copy files into /Users/Shared from the first account, then pick them up in the second. Drop the files in while logged in as the first user, switch accounts, open /Users/Shared, and copy them to wherever you need them.
A few details that make this smoother: files you place in /Users/Shared keep their original ownership, so the receiving account may need to authenticate once to move them elsewhere — that is normal. If you share files frequently, add /Users/Shared to the Finder sidebar for one-click access in both accounts. And remember that File Sharing also works over your local network, so the same dialog controls what other Macs on your Wi-Fi can see; keep the permissions tight if you enable network sharing too. Apple’s own support documentation covers the full range of sharing options if you want to dig deeper.
If it still doesn’t work
If the second account cannot see the shared folder, double-check that File Sharing is actually switched on — the toggle in the Sharing pane must be blue, and clicking the info button again should show your users with the permissions you assigned. If files copy over but cannot be opened, the issue is usually ownership: select the file in Finder, choose File > Get Info, and check the Sharing & Permissions section at the bottom to grant the second account access.
On newer versions of macOS, also confirm that both accounts are standard-or-higher users and that the Mac has not gone to sleep mid-transfer on a laptop. As outlets like MacRumors have pointed out, toggling File Sharing off and back on resolves most stubborn cases where the shared folder simply does not appear.
Frequently asked questions
Can I share files between accounts without turning on File Sharing?
Yes, for basic transfers. The /Users/Shared folder exists on every Mac and is accessible to all local accounts even with File Sharing switched off. File Sharing mainly matters when you want fine-grained per-user permissions or access from other devices on your network.
Is the Shared folder safe to use for sensitive files?
Any user account on the Mac can read what you put in /Users/Shared, so treat it like a public drop zone: move sensitive files to their final destination and delete the copies afterward. For anything confidential, 9to5Mac recommends encrypting the file or using an encrypted disk image before sharing.
The bottom line
Moving files between macOS user accounts does not require third-party tools or cloud uploads. Enable File Sharing, use the /Users/Shared folder as your hand-off point, and set sensible permissions — the whole process takes a couple of minutes and works every time.
More Mac tips: learn how to change folder colors and add emoji in macOS 26 or quickly open your installed apps list in macOS 26.
