Establishing local communication between two PCs within the same apartment or office is a basic task that home network users often face. Unlike a direct Ethernet cable, a connection via Wi-Fi router This allows you to eliminate unnecessary wires and place devices in different rooms while maintaining high data transfer rates. Modern operating systems, such as Windows 10 and 11, have significantly simplified this process by automating many setup steps, but a basic understanding of networking principles is still required.
The method involves connecting both computers to the same router, which acts as a central switching node. The router automatically assigns each device a unique IP address within the same subnet, creating a virtual bridge for information exchange. It is important to understand, that the physical connection can be different: one PC can be connected via a cable, and the other via Wi-Fi, or both can be wireless - for the logical network, this does not matter if they are in the same segment.
The advantage of this approach lies in its versatility: you can not only transfer files, but also share a printer, play online games, or organize a media library for a Smart TV. However, before files start "flying" between folders, you need to properly configure security and detection settings in the operating system. Ignoring these steps is the most common reason why computers "don't see" each other, despite having working hardware.
⚠️ Attention: If you are on a corporate network or using public Wi-Fi (cafe, hotel), creating a local network with public access may be blocked by the administrator or pose a security threat to your data.
Preparing equipment and checking connections
The first step is to physically establish a connection. Make sure your Wi-Fi router It's turned on, working reliably, and distributing internet. Both computers must be connected to this router. It doesn't matter whether you're using a wireless connection or a LAN cable, as long as both devices are on the same local network, meaning they receive addresses from the same DHCP server (the router).
Check the connection status on each computer. In Windows, you can do this by looking at the network icon in the system tray or by opening Settings → Network & InternetIf one computer is connected to a guest network and the other to the main network, or if the Client Isolation feature is enabled on the router, communication between them is impossible. Client isolation is often enabled by default on public hotspots and completely prevents data exchange between devices within the network.
It's also worth paying attention to your antivirus software. Third-party firewalls (Kaspersky, ESET, Avast) may block incoming connections, deeming them suspicious. During setup, it's recommended to either temporarily disable network protection or add an exception for the local network in the firewall settings.
Setting up the network type and discovery profile
The key step, without which further actions are pointless, is choosing the correct network profile. Windows by default treats new connections as "Public," which provides maximum security: your computer is hidden from others and doesn't scan for neighbors. For a home local network, you need to switch the profile to "Private."
Do this on both computers. Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Status (or select an active Wi-Fi/Ethernet connection). Find the connection properties and change the network profile from "Public" to "Private." This will make your computer visible to other devices and open ports for standard file sharing services.
After changing your profile, you need to enable network discovery. Go to Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center → Change advanced sharing settingsHere, in the "Private (current profile)" profile, the following items should be enabled: "Turn on network discovery" and "Turn on file and printer sharing."
Unification of workgroup and computer names
Although modern versions of Windows can find devices even in different workgroups thanks to discovery protocols, the classic and most reliable method is to match the names and workgroups. The computer name must be unique for each device on the network, and the workgroup name must be the same.
To check and change these settings, click Win + R, enter the command sysdm.cpl and press Enter. In the window that opens, on the "Computer Name" tab, you will see the current values. By default, the workgroup is called WORKGROUPMake sure that the name is written exactly the same on both PCs, including the case of the letters.
- 🖥️ PC name 1: Office-PC (must be unique)
- 🖥️ PC Name 2: Home-Laptop (must be unique)
- 📁 Working group: WORKGROUP (must match on both)
If you've made any changes to the names, the system will require a reboot. This is necessary for the new identifiers to register on the domain or local network. Without a reboot, the changes may not take effect, and computers will "hide" from each other.
☑️ Check names and groups
Setting up shared access to folders and printers
Once the foundation is laid, you can move on to resources. You can share any folder, making it readable or writable from another computer. To do this, right-click the folder, select Properties → Access → Advanced settingsCheck the box "Share this folder."
The most important step is setting permissions. Click the "Permissions" button. Here you can specify who can do what with files. For a home network, it's common to add the "Everyone" group and grant it full permissions, but this reduces security. A more prudent approach is to use specific user accounts.
A shared printer is set up in a similar way. If the printer is connected to one of the computers (or is networked), go to Settings → Devices → Printers & Scanners, select the device, click "Manage," and enable sharing. On the second computer, this printer should automatically appear under "Network."
⚠️ Attention: Sharing system folders or the C: drive puts the integrity of your operating system at risk. Always create a separate folder (e.g., "Share") for files you plan to share.
IP Access and Visibility Troubleshooting
It often happens that the network is working, the names are configured, but the "Network" section in File Explorer is empty or displays an error. This is a typical problem with the SMB service in Windows. In this case, the most reliable access method is using a direct IP address. You can find the IP address of the target computer using the command ipconfig in the command line.
In the window that opens cmd Find the line "IPv4 address". It usually looks like this 192.168.1.X or 192.168.0.XTo access another computer, click Win + R and enter the address in double backslash format: \\192.168.1.55If the settings are correct, a window with the general contents will open.
If there is no access via IP, check Windows services. Click Win + R, enter services.mscFind the "Function Discovery Resource Publication" and "Discovery Provider Host" services. Set their startup type to "Automatic" and start them. Without these services, the computer won't announce its presence on the network.
| Problem | Probable cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Computers can't see each other. | Network Profile "Public" | Change to "Private" in the network settings |
| It asks for a password but won't let me in. | Different credentials | Enable sharing without a password or create a shared user |
| "Access Denied" error | Blocked by antivirus | Add the network to the firewall exceptions |
| Low transmission speed | 2.4 GHz band | Switch to 5GHz Wi-Fi or use a cable |
Why is a password sometimes required?
Windows requires authentication to access shared resources for security reasons. If you want to surf the network without passwords, you should select "Turn off password-protected sharing" in "Advanced sharing settings." However, this is only possible on a trusted home network.
Mapping a network drive for ease of use
Constantly entering IP addresses or navigating through the "Network" section is inconvenient. The best solution for permanent operation is to map the shared folder as a network drive. This will make the remote folder part of "My Computer" with its own drive letter (e.g., Z:).
In File Explorer, right-click "This PC" and select "Map network drive." Select any available drive letter from the list. In the "Folder" field, enter the path to the resource: \\ComputerName\Folder or \\192.168.1.55\SharedBe sure to check the "Restore at logon" box.
Now this folder will always be accessible, even if you don't remember the IP address. For fast work with large files (video editing, databases), it's recommended to use a static IP address for the main computer so it doesn't change after a router reboot.
Why can't computers see each other after a Windows update?
Often after major updates (for example, upgrading from version 1903 to 20H2 or later), Microsoft forces a change to the network profile "Public" and disables support for older SMBv1 protocols. You should recheck your network type and enable network discovery. You may also need to enable SMB 1.0 support in Windows components, although this is not recommended due to security vulnerabilities.
Is it possible to connect computers without a router?
Yes, this is called an ad-hoc network or direct connection. In Windows 10/11, you can create a "Mobile Hotspot" on one laptop, and connect a second one to it as a Wi-Fi hotspot. However, the speed and stability of this connection will be lower than using a full-fledged router.
What is the maximum speed on Wi-Fi?
Speed depends on the Wi-Fi router standard and adapters. With the 802.11n standard (2.4 GHz), actual speeds rarely exceed 20-30 Mbps. At 5 GHz (ac/ax standard), you can achieve 50-80 Mbps and higher, which is comparable to fast Ethernet, but a Gigabit Ethernet cable will always be more stable and faster (up to 110-120 Mbps).