How to set up Local Storage Sharing on your TP-Link cable modem routers (new logo)

Here takes Archer CR700 as demonstration:

Share your USB storage devices with different users on the network.

Connect Your USB Disk

Insert your USB storage device into the modem router’s USB port directly or using a USB cable. Wait several seconds until the USB LED becomes solid on.

Tips:

• If you use USB hubs, make sure no more than 4 devices are connected to the modem router.

• If the USB storage device requires using bundled external power, make sure the external power has been connected.

• If you use a USB hard drive, make sure its file system is FAT32 or NTFS.

• Before you physically disconnect a USB device from the modem router, safely remove it to avoid data damage: Go to Advanced > USB Settings > Disk Settings and click

Access Your USB Disk

By default, all the network clients can access all folders on your USB disk. Refer to the following table for access instructions.

Tips:

You can also access your USB disk by using your Network/Media Server Name as the server address.

Refer to To Customize the Address of the USB Disk to learn more.

To Only Share Specific Content

By default, Share All is enabled so all content on the USB disk is shared. If you want to only share specific folders, follow the steps below:

1. Log into the web-based management interface of the cable modem router. If you don’t know how to do that, please refer to How to log into the web-based management interface of TP-Link cable modem routers (new logo)?

2. Select Basic > USB Settings > Folder Sharing. Focus on the Sharing Folders section.

Click the button to disable Sharing All, then click Add to add a new sharing folder.

3. Select the Volume and Folder Path, then enter a Share Name as you like.

4. Decide the way you share the folder:

• Enable Authentication: Tick to enable authentication for this folder sharing, and you will be required to use a username and password to access the USB disk.

Refer to To Set up Authentication for Data Security to learn more.

• Write Access: If you tick this checkbox, network clients can modify this folder.

• Enable Media Sharing: Tick to enable media sharing for this folder, and you can view photos, play music and watch movies stored on the USB disk directly from

DLNA-supported devices. Click Media Sharing to learn more.

5. Click OK.

Tips:

The modem router can share eight volumes at most. You can click on the page to detach the corresponding volume you do not need to share.

To Set up Authentication for Data Security

If you enable Authentication, network clients will be required to enter the username and password you set when accessing the USB disk.

1. Log into the web-based management interface of the cable modem router. If you don’t know how to do that, please refer to How to log into the web-based management interface of TP-Link cable modem routers (new logo)?

2. Select Advanced > USB Settings > Folder Sharing.

3. Choose to use the default Account (admin) or use a new account and click Save.

Note:

For Windows users, do not set the sharing username the same as the Windows username. Otherwise, Windows credential mechanism may cause the following problems:

• If the sharing password is also the same as the Windows password, authentication will not work since the Windows will automatically use its account information for USB access.

• If the sharing password is different from the Windows password, the Windows will be unable to remember your credentials and you will always be required to enter the sharing password for USB access.

4. Enable Authentication to apply the account you just set.

• If you leave Sharing All enabled, click the button to enable Authentication for all folders.

• If Sharing All is disabled, enable Authentication for specific folders.

Note:

Due to Windows credential mechanism, you might be unable to access the USB disk after changing Authentication settings. Please log out from the Windows and try to access again. Or you can change the address of the USB disk by referring to To Customize the Address of the USB Disk.

To Customize the Address of the USB Disk

You can customize the server name and use the name to access your USB disk.

1. Log into the web-based management interface of the cable modem router. If you don’t know how to do that, please refer to How to log into the web-based management interface of TP-Link cable modem routers (new logo)?

2. Select Advanced > USB Settings > Folder Sharing.

3. Make sure Network Neighborhood is ticked, and enter a Network/Media Server Name as you like, such as Myshare, then click Save.

4. Now you can access the USB disk by visiting \\Myshare (for Windows) or

smb: //Myshare (for Mac).

Get to know more details of each function and configuration please go to Download Center to download the manual of your product.