Windows 7 running in VirtualBox cannot see shared folders

"Typically it just shows up a fake-virtual-server on the network - you can access it as though you would a file share on some real server. The name is VBOXSVR.

\\Vboxsvr\share_name

I haven't tested Win7 yet, but I have used this functionality on everything from Win200 through 2003. Do you have the guest additions installed?"

"Once you've added your Shared Folders in Settings of your Windows VM, they should appear.

If they not, you need to install Virtual Guest Additions on your virtual machine, by selecting Insert Guest Additions CD Image from the Devices menu (on your running VM window). After that, shared folders should be available once your Windows machine is fully booted."

"I met this problem when running Windows 10 on VirtualBox. It was resolved after combining some actions mentioned in different answers.
I set the Folder Name as Downloads, checked ""Auto-mounted"" and ""Make Permenant"" in Device -> Shared folder setting.

Under Networking, I had to fix this by adding the Host Only Adapter as one of my network adapters. I also enabled promiscuity (Allow all) on the other network adapter!

Only with this setting, I couldn't see my shared folder.

electing Insert Guest Additions CD Image from the Devices menu

Then, I found ""CD Drive (D:) VirtualBox Guest Additions"" appears next to ""Local Disk (C:)"" in ""This PC"". I ran VBoxWindowsAddition inside it. The setup will run and ask you to reboot the machine.
When the reboot was done, I can see the ""VBOXSVR"" computer in ""Network"". The driver ""\\VBOXSVR\Downloads"" is the shared folder that I'm looking for."

To connect the VM directly to your network and access all network-wide shared folders normally, add a Bridged Network Adapter to the machine's settings.