How to Access Files on Home Computer from Work [5 Free Ways]

How do I access files from another computer on my home network?

Are you looking to access files seamlessly from another computer within your home network? Whether you want to remotely share documents, photos, or videos between devices, the process is simpler than you might think. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to access files from another computer on your home network effortlessly.

How to access files on home computer from work [5 ways]

Follow the detailed steps of the listed five ways to learn how to access files on the home computer from work.

Way 1. Desktop file-sharing software

Optimal file access from work to your home computer is effortlessly achieved through desktop file-sharing software like AnyViewer. Recognized as one of the premier free remote desktop file-sharing applications, AnyViewer stands out for its popularity and effectiveness, making it a top choice for numerous users seeking seamless and secure access to files between different locations.

AnyViewer has the following benefits that make it the premier choice:

Free with no size limitation. AnyViewer offers free access with no size restrictions, allowing you to transfer as many files as needed.

Fast speed. Experience fast file transfer speeds for efficient data exchange.

High security. Ensure your data remains secure with AnyViewer's robust security features, including end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication.

Intuitive interface. Navigate seamlessly through an easy-to-use interface for a user-friendly experience.

Additional features. Beyond file transfer, AnyViewer excels with unattended remote access, screen sharing, mobile screen mirroring, and mobile control – providing a comprehensive remote desktop solution.

Step 1. On your work computer and home computer,  install and run AnyViewer. Sign up for an AnyViewer account and log in to this account on the two computers.

Step 2. Once logged in, the computers will be assigned to the account automatically.

Step 3. On the work computer, go to "Device" and find the home computer; click it and choose "File transfer" to share files. 

Step 4. Then a File Transfer dialog box will appear. You’re able to transfer files between devices freely by clicking the arrows after choosing the target files. You can also double-click the target file to achieve transfer.

Alternatively, you can click "One-click control" to take control of the home computer, and then transfer files using the "Files" from the toolbar.

Notes:✎...

Unlock enhanced capabilities by upgrading to a professional or enterprise plan

Max File Transfer Speed: Boost your speed to 10 MB/s for swift data exchange.

Multi-Threaded Transfers: Enjoy the efficiency of managing 5 threads of file transfers simultaneously.

Unlimited Simultaneous Files: Seamlessly handle an unlimited number of files at the same time.

Maximum Single File Size: Increase the limit to a substantial 1 TB for handling large individual files.

 

Way 2. Online Backup Services

In most people's perceptions, online backup just can protect you against data loss. It also can help you to access your files from a home computer. There are many platforms such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive, which can provide you with an easy way to back and upload your files. Just create an account and then you can get free storage of about 10-15GB. After uploading your files, you can log into your account on your work computer whether in your web browser or app and then you can access your files. 

Step 1. Open Google Drive and go to "My Drive." Click "Upload files" or "Upload folder."

Step 2. Choose "Upload files," pick your file, and click "Open."

Step 3. Watch the upload progress. Once done, find your file in the main interface.

Step 4. On another computer, open Google Drive, log in with the same account, locate the file, right-click, and select "Download" for remote file transfer.

Way 3. FTP Servers

The goal of FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is to enable file sharing and provide remote access to files. It allows the users to upload and download files. In this way, you can remotely access your files on your home computer from work. However, FTP has a very high latency, which also means that the time between requesting and receiving data can be very long. Moreover, the time of login is also very long, which requires you to be super patient.

Step 1. Obtain an FTP client like FileZilla, supporting FTPS with TLS encryption. Download and install it from filezilla-project.org.

Step 2. Open FileZilla; you'll see a screen similar to the provided screenshot.

Step 3. Once your Asset Bank has had FTP enabled and configured, you will see the following options when you click "Upload":

Step 4. On the next screen, you can click "Show help for using an FTP client to upload your files" to see the credentials needed to connect to the server.

Step 5. Enter details in FileZilla, and click "Quickconnect" to link up.

Step 6. Once connected, see a list of users. In "Local Site" (left), navigate to your folder. In "Remote Site" (right), go to your user's directory. Double-click or right-click and "Upload" your file.

Step 7. Back in Asset Bank, click "Next." The uploaded files are now in Asset Bank, and you'll be directed to add metadata. For folder structures, replicate them in your FTP server's upload directory.

Step 8. When the upload has been completed in Asset Bank you will be prompted to select a directory from which to import the assets as in the screenshot below.

Way 4. Command-line based PowerShell

If you want to transfer files via command lines, you can use PowerShell. PowerShell is a powerful scripting language and command-line shell that can be used for various tasks, including file transfer between local and remote computers. Follow the steps below to learn how to access files on home computer from work using PowerShell:

Step 1. Open PowerShell as an administrator on your local computer.

Step 2. Create a new remote session with the command:

$MYSESSION = New-PSSession -ComputerName PC02.TECH.LOCAL

Step 3. Verify the properties of the remote session using:

Get-PSSession

Step 4. Copy a file to the remote computer using the Copy-Item cmdlet:

Copy-Item -FromSession $MYSESSION C:\test.txt -Destination C:\test.txt

(You can also copy a local file to the remote computer using the ToSession parameter.)

Copy-Item -Path "C:\test.txt" -Destination "C:\" -ToSession $MYSESSION

Step 5. Verify if the file was copied with:

Invoke-Command -ScriptBlock { Get-ChildItem -Path "C:\test.txt" } -Session $MYSESSION

Step 6. After completion, remove the session using:

Remove-PSSession -Session $MYSESSION

Way 5. Dedicated NAS Devices

Saying professionally, NAS(Network Attached Storage) systems are network-connected storage devices that allow authorized network users and heterogeneous clients to store and retrieve data from a centralized location. It is like a huge repository in which you can store all your files on the NAS no matter how many they are. Where large files or a large number of small files need to be accessed, the processor helps to speed up the process tremendously. Using NAS devices can offer you great convenience. However, for most people, the price of it is out of reach.

Conclusion

Wondering how to access files on the home computer from work? This post outlines five solutions tailored to your needs. Based on the evaluation, third-party tools such as AnyViewer emerge as a reliable choice, ensuring a trifecta of cost-effectiveness, security, and user-friendly file access.