Share From File Explorer in Windows 10 Technical Preview
In the Windows 10 Technical Preview, the Share charm from Windows 8 was replaced by a dedicated Share button in File Explorer’s ribbon, letting you send files and folders to apps like Mail, OneNote, or any app registered as a share target. You select the file, click Share, and pick the app — the same basic flow that carried into the final Windows 10 release. Below is the full context, including how the feature worked in the preview builds, what changed before launch, and how to handle common issues.
Background: From Charms to Ribbon
Windows 8 introduced the Charms bar, a slide-in panel on the right edge of the screen with a Share charm that worked across apps. In the Windows 10 Technical Preview (first released October 2014), Microsoft removed the Charms bar entirely. The Share action moved into each app’s own interface — for File Explorer, that meant a Share button in the ribbon’s “Share� tab, visible when you select a file or folder.
This was a deliberate design shift: the Technical Preview was testing a more desktop-oriented interface, and the Share charm’s full-screen overlay was considered too disruptive for mouse-and-keyboard users. The ribbon Share button opened a compact panel at the top of the window, listing apps that could receive the selected item.
How Sharing Worked in the Preview
The process was straightforward, though the UI differed slightly from the final Windows 10 version:
- Open File Explorer and navigate to the file or folder you want to share.
- Click once to select it.
- Click the Share tab in the ribbon (or press Alt+S).
- Click the Share button — the first icon in the tab.
- A panel appears at the top of the window listing available share targets (apps). Choose one, and the app opens with the file attached or linked.
In early preview builds, the share panel was a simple list without thumbnails or search. Later builds added a search box and a “nearby sharing� option (which was removed before release). The core behavior — selecting a target app and sending the file — remained consistent.
Which Apps Appear as Share Targets
Share targets are apps that register themselves as able to receive files. In the Technical Preview, the typical list included:
- Mail — attaches the file to a new email.
- OneNote — inserts the file into a page.
- Skype (later builds) — sends the file in a chat.
- Twitter or Facebook apps — if installed and updated.
- Any third-party app that declared a share contract in its manifest.
Desktop (Win32) apps did not appear as share targets unless they specifically implemented the contract — most didn’t. This was a common complaint during the preview, because users expected to see apps like Notepad or Photoshop. Microsoft later added a “Desktop apps� section in Windows 10 version 1511, but that was after the Technical Preview period.
Common Problems and Workarounds
Preview builds were buggy, and sharing was no exception. The most frequent issues:
- Share button grayed out — This happened when you selected multiple files or a library that wasn’t indexed. Fix: select a single file, or move it to a regular folder.
- No apps listed — If the panel was empty, the share contract wasn’t working. A restart of Explorer (via Task Manager) usually fixed it.
- Mail app didn’t attach the file — Some builds had a bug where the attachment appeared as a link instead. Workaround: drag the file directly into the Mail compose window.
- Share panel didn’t open — This was often caused by a corrupted app cache. Running
wsreset.exe(for Store apps) sometimes helped.
If you were on a later preview build (after build 10041), you could also right-click a file and choose “Share� from the context menu — a shortcut that survived into the final release.
How It Differed From the Final Windows 10
The Technical Preview’s Share button was nearly identical to the shipping version, but there were small differences:
- In the preview, the share panel was a narrow strip at the top of the window; the final version uses a wider panel with app icons.
- Preview builds didn’t have “Share to� for multiple files; the final version allows sharing multiple files to some apps.
- The “Nearby sharing� option appeared in later preview builds (build 17035) but was removed and re-added in Windows 10 version 1803 — not part of the original Technical Preview.
For most users, the transition was seamless — the button worked the same way from the first preview to the final release.
Alternatives to the Share Button
If the Share button didn’t work or you preferred other methods, the Technical Preview still offered classic ways to share files:
- Right-click → Send to → choose Mail recipient, compressed folder, or a specific folder.
- Drag and drop the file into an open app window (e.g., Outlook, OneNote).
- Copy the file path and paste it into a chat or email — not a true share, but useful for network paths.
- Use the Copy button, then paste into an app that accepts file pastes (e.g., OneNote).
These methods worked in any Windows version and didn’t rely on the share contract.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Share button missing from my File Explorer?
In the Technical Preview, the Share tab is only visible when you select a file or folder. If you don’t have anything selected, the ribbon shows only the Home tab. Click a file first, then the Share tab appears. If it still doesn’t show, your build might be older than build 9860 — the Share tab was added in that build.
Can I share a folder, or only files?
Both files and folders can be shared, but the available apps may differ. For example, Mail will attach a folder as a compressed .zip file automatically. OneNote can insert a folder as a file attachment. Some apps only accept files, so the folder option may be grayed out.
How do I add an app to the share list?
You can’t manually add apps — they must register as share targets. For a desktop app to appear, its developer needs to implement the share contract, which is rare. For Store apps, the app must declare the “shareTarget� capability in its manifest. If you want an app to receive files, check its settings for a “Share� or “Integrations� option.
Does sharing work with cloud storage like OneDrive?
If the file is stored in OneDrive, the Share button may offer “Share link� instead of attaching the file. This was a feature added in later builds of the preview. If you see it, you can choose to send a link rather than the file itself — useful for large files.
Why does the Mail app open but not attach the file?
This was a known bug in early preview builds (before build 9926). The Mail app would open a new message but the attachment wouldn’t appear. Microsoft fixed it in later builds. If you encounter it, try dragging the file into the Mail window, or restart the Mail app from the Store’s “Downloads and updates� page.
Is there a keyboard shortcut for sharing?
Yes — select the file, press Alt+S to go to the Share tab, then press S again to activate the Share button. Alternatively, you can press Alt+Shift+S in some builds to directly open the share panel. The shortcut may vary between preview builds, but Alt+S is consistent.
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