MobileMe: Using your iDisk Public folder to share files

  • Last Modified: October 09, 2009
  • Article: HT1774
  • Old Article: 52369

Summary

You can use the Public folder on your MobileMe iDisk to share files via the Internet. 

Important: Do not give your MobileMe account password to anyone. Other people only need to know your member name and Public folder password (if you use one) to access your shared files.

If you'd like to learn how to use the iDisk File Sharing feature to share files outside your Public folder, see this Help article instead. 

Products Affected

MobileMe, Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows XP

To share your files, just copy the files you want to share to the Public folder on your iDisk. Then, once your files have been uploaded, give your MobileMe member name and Public folder password (if you use one) to others so that they can connect to your Public folder.

Note: If iDisk synchronization is turned on, be sure that the iDisk on your computer is synchronized with your iDisk. 

Connecting to an iDisk's Public folder

Using a web browser

You can open a MobileMe member's Public folder to see and copy files. If the member has set access privileges to read-write, you can also add and remove files. You need to know the member's public password in order to read from or write to the folder.

  1. In your web browser, go to: http://public.me.com/membername (where membername is the other person's member name. For example, if the member name is "laura12345", you would connect to http://public.me.com/laura12345).
  2. If their Public folder is protected, enter the Public folder password.  You need to know the member's Public password in order to read from or write to the folder.

Using Mac OS X v10.4 or later

  1. Choose iDisk from the Go menu, then choose Other User's Public Folder from the submenu.
  2. Type the member name of the person whose Public folder you want to open in the Member Name field, then click Connect.
  3. If a password is required, type it in the Password field and click OK. The person's Public folder opens in a new Finder window.

Using Windows Vista

  1. Click the Start menu and select Computer. 
  2. In the window that opens, click "Map network drive" on the toolbar. If you do not see the toolbar, press the Alt key on your keyboard to display the File menu, and then click Tools and choose Map Network Drive. 
  3. Type the following URL in the folder field: http://public.me.com/membername (where membername is the other person's member name. For example, if the member name is "laura12345", you would connect to http://public.me.com/laura12345). You need to know the member's public password in order to read from or write to the folder.
  4. Click Finish.

Using Windows XP

  1. Click the Start menu and select Network Connections. Click My Network Places from the sidebar. 
  2. From the window that opens, select "Add a network place" to open the Add Network Place Wizard. 
  3. On the next screen, select "Choose another network location."
  4. When prompted for the URL for your iDisk, enter the following: http://public.me.com/membername (where membername is the other person's member name. For example, if the member name is "laura12345", you would connect to http://public.me.com/laura12345). You need to know the member's public password in order to read from or write to the folder.
  5. Name your connection, click Next, and then Finish. 


Using a different operating system

If you are using an operating system that is not listed in the MobileMe System Requirements (bottom of page), then you might still be able to set up a direct connection to an iDisk Public folder. However, Apple can't guarantee that the iDisk will function as expected, or assist you in troubleshooting any connection issues that may arise.  If you're using a WebDAV application on another operating system, enter the following as the location to open: http://public.me.com/membername (where membername is the other person's member name. For example, if the member name is "laura12345", you would connect to http://public.me.com/laura12345). You need to know the member's public password in order to read from or write to the folder.

Additional Information

For best results, see About naming files for sharing.

Important: Information about products not manufactured by Apple is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute Apple’s recommendation or endorsement. Please contact the vendor for additional information.

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