How to Transfer Data from One Laptop to Another via Wi-Fi: A Detailed Guide Comparing Methods

Transfer files between laptops via Wi-Fi — a convenient alternative to cables and flash drives, especially when you need to transfer tens of gigabytes of data without physical media. Unlike cloud services, direct sharing over a local network doesn't require uploading files to third-party servers and works even without internet access. However, not all methods are equally effective: transfer speeds can vary by up to 10 times, and some methods require pre-configuration.

In this article we will analyze 5 proven methods Transferring data over Wi-Fi - from built-in tools Windows, macOS And Linux to specialized programs like LocalSend or FeemYou will learn how to set up access point, use FTP server or share files via SSH, and compare the speed and reliability of each method. We'll pay special attention to common errors—for example, why a transfer might be interrupted halfway through or why one laptop can't see another on the network.

Important: If you work with confidential data (documents, passwords, financial information), avoid transferring it over open Wi-Fi networks - use secure protocols (SFTP, SSH) or encryption. Standard tools are sufficient for most home tasks, but we'll show you how to make the process as secure as possible.

1. Preparing laptops for data transfer via Wi-Fi

Before you start transferring files, make sure both laptops meet the minimum requirements:

📶 Wi-Fi adapter: must support the standard 802.11n (or newer) for speeds of 150 Mbps or higher. Older adapters 802.11g (54 Mbps) will make the transfer painfully slow.
🔋 Battery chargeWhen transferring large amounts of data (10 GB or more), laptops should not run out of battery power, as this could interrupt the process. Connect them to the network.
🛡️ Antivirus: Temporarily disable firewalls (eg. Windows Defender or Kaspersky), if they block the local connection. Don't forget to enable protection after the transfer!
📂 Free space: The receiving laptop must have enough space for the files being copied. Check this in This computer (Windows) or through Disk Utility (macOS).

Also make sure both devices are connected to one Wi-Fi networkIf you don't have a router, you can create one. access point on one of the laptops (instructions in the next section). For maximum speed, use the range 5 GHz - it is less loaded and supports higher speeds than 2.4 GHz.

⚠️ Attention: If you are transferring files between Windows And macOS/Linux, file names with Cyrillic or special characters (for example, photo#2026.jpg) may not display correctly. Rename them to Latin characters beforehand.

For convenience, make a list of folders and files that need to be transferred. This will help you not miss anything important and estimate the total amount of data. For example, if you are transferring user profile (C:\Users\Name), please note that folders AppData or Program Files can weigh tens of gigabytes.

📊 How much data do you typically transfer between devices?

Up to 1 GB

1–10 GB

10–50 GB

More than 50 GB

2. Method 1: Using the Nearby Cast feature (Windows 10/11)

"Low Range"** (Nearby Sharing) is a built-in tool Windows 10/11, which allows you to share files over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth without any additional software. This method is simple, but only suitable for file transfers. up to 1–2 GB — with large volumes, the speed drops sharply, and the connection may be interrupted.

To enable the feature:

On both laptops, open Settings → System → General Features.

In the section "Low Gear"** switch the slider to the position On.

Select visibility mode:

👥 Everything is nearby — the laptop will be visible to all devices on the network.

🔒 Only my devices — for accounts only Microsoft, linked to one profile.

On the sender's laptop, find the file in Conductor, right click and select Share → Short-range transmission.

A notification will appear on the recipient's laptop - confirm receipt of the file.

The transfer rate is usually 5–15 MB/s (40–120 Mbps), but may decrease with a weak Wi-Fi signal. The main advantage of this method is no need to configure a network or install softwareCons: file size limitation and frequent interruptions when transferring large numbers of small files (for example, a folder with photos).
⚠️ Attention: If the laptops don't see each other, check that both are connected to the same network. Wi-Fi (not via mobile data!) Also, make sure both devices have the latest updates installed. Windows — in older versions, "Near-range transmission" worked unstably.

Enable the feature on both laptops|

Select the visibility mode "All nearby"|

Connect to one Wi-Fi network|

Disable VPN (may block local connection)|

Close programs that use the network (torrents, streaming)

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3. Method 2: Creating a local network via an access point

If you don't have a router, you can set up direct data transfer by turning one of your laptops into a Wi-Fi hotspotThis method is universal and works between Windows, macOS And LinuxThe speed depends on the adapter, but usually reaches 20–50 MB/s (160–400 Mbps) on modern devices.

Instructions for Windows 10/11:

On the laptop that will be distributing Wi-Fi, open Command line as administrator (Win + X → Command Prompt (Administrator)).

Enter the command to create the network:
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=MyWiFi key=12345678 keyUsage=persistent

Here MyWiFi — network name, 12345678 — password (minimum 8 characters).

Start the access point:
netsh wlan start hostednetwork

On the second laptop, connect to the created network MyWiFi with the specified password.

Now you can share files via shared folders (see Method 4) or programs like LocalSend.

For macOS:

Open System Preferences → Sharing.

Turn on Public Internet → Wi-Fi and set up the network name/password.

On the second device, connect to the created hotspot.

Advantages of the method:

⚡ Works without a router.

🔒 Data is transferred directly, without intermediate servers.

📱 You can connect not only a laptop, but also a smartphone/tablet.

⚠️ Attention: If the second laptop does not connect after creating an access point, check that the first device is turned on Internet sharing permission (V Network parameters). Also make sure that your Wi-Fi adapter supports the mode SoftAP (most modern adapters support it).

How to check the transfer speed?

To estimate the actual speed, copy a test file (for example, 1 GB) and record the time.

Formula: Speed (MB/s) = File size (GB) × 1024 / Time (sec).

Example: 1 GB in 30 seconds = 34.1 MB/s (273 Mbps).

4. Method 3: Shared folders (SMB) - a universal method for any OS

Protocol SMB (Server Message Block) is a standard method for exchanging files on local area networks. It works on Windows, macOS And Linux, supports large files and folders, and allows you to customize access rights. Transfer speed depends on the network, but is typically 30–80 MB/s (240–640 Mbps) on 5 GHz.

Instructions for Windows:

On the laptop from which you will transfer files, create a folder (for example, C:\Transfer).

Right-click on the folder → Properties → Access → Share.

Select a user All and press Share.

Go to the tab Security → Change → add user All and give it to him Full access.

On the second laptop, open Conductor, enter in the address bar IP address of the first laptop (For example, \\192.168.137.1) and press Enter.

Enter the login/password for the first laptop account (if requested).

For macOS:

Open System Preferences → Sharing.

Turn on File sharing and add the folder to the list.

On the second Mac V Finder select Go → Connect to server and enter smb://IP address.

For Linux (For example, Ubuntu):

Install Samba:
sudo apt install samba

Set up the config /etc/samba/smb.conf, adding a section for the shared folder.

Restart the service:
sudo systemctl restart smbd

On the second device, connect via smb://IP address.

If the laptops do not see each other, check:

🔌 Both devices are on the same subnet (for example, 192.168.1.x).

🔥 The firewall does not block ports 137–139 And 445 (For SMB).

📡 It's enabled on the router multicast (needed to detect devices).

OS Max. speed Difficulty of setup Large file support

Windows up to 80 MB/s Low Yes (no restrictions)

macOS up to 60 MB/s Average Yes

Linux up to 100 MB/s High Yes

💡
If the transmission is too slow, try turning it off SMB encryption (V Windows: Control Panel → Programs → Turn features on or off → SMB File Sharing Support 1.0). This is not secure for public networks, but it will speed up the exchange on your home network.

5. Method 4: File transfer programs (LocalSend, Feem, Snapdrop)

Specialized utilities simplify file sharing by adding a user-friendly interface and additional features (for example, QR codes to connect or encryption). Let's consider three popular solutions:

LocalSend (cross-platform, open source)

The application works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android And iOS. Transfer is done directly over the local network without cloud servers. Speed is up to 50 MB/s.

📥 Download LocalSend from the official website (localsend.org).

🔗 Launch it on both laptops - they will automatically detect each other.

📎 Click Send, select files and confirm on the receiving device.

Feem (paid version with advanced features)

Feem Supports file transfer, text transfer, and even screen streaming. The free version is limited to 50 MB per file.

💻 Install Feem on both laptops.

🔄 On one device, tap Send File, on the other - Receive.

📡 Select the file and wait for the transfer to complete.

Snapdrop (web version, no installation required)

The service works through a browser on the principle Airdrop from Apple. Suitable for one-time transfer of small files (up to 2 GB).

🌐 Open snapdrop.net on both laptops.

🖥️ Drag and drop files into the browser window on the sending device.

📥 The receiving laptop will receive a notification - confirm the download.

Advantages of the programs:

🎯 Intuitive interface (no need to configure SMB or FTP).

🔒 Some support end-to-end encryption (For example, LocalSend).

📱 You can transfer files between laptops and smartphones.

⚠️ Attention: Free versions of programs (for example, Feem) may show ads or limit speed. To transfer sensitive data, use LocalSend — its code is open and verified by the community.

💡
For maximum speed, choose programs with support multi-streaming transmission (For example, LocalSend). This will speed up the exchange of large files by 20–30%.

6. Method 5: FTP server for professional transfer

If you need to transfer tens of gigabytes (for example, backups, video projects, or databases), conventional methods may be too slow. In this case, FTP server - It is optimized for transferring large amounts of data and supports resuming interrupted downloads.

Instructions for Windows:

Set up an FTP server, for example, FileZilla Server or built-in IIS:

For IIS: open Control Panel → Programs → Turn Windows features on or off and check the box next to it Internet Information Services → FTP Server.

For FileZilla Server: Download from the official website and follow the installation wizard.

Set up the server:

Create a user (eg. transfer) and specify the folder for sharing.

Open the ports 20–21 (for FTP) and 50000–51000 (passive mode) in the firewall.

On the second laptop, connect via an FTP client (for example, FileZilla Client or WinSCP), entering the IP address of the first laptop, login and password.

For macOS/Linux:

Use the built-in vsftpd (Linux) or PureFTPd (macOS).

Configuration is carried out through configuration files (/etc/vsftpd.conf).

Connection - via ftp://IP address V Finder or Terminal.

FTP speed depends on the network, but with proper configuration it can reach 80–100 MB/s (640–800 Mbps). Main advantages:

📦 Support packet transmission (thousands of files at a time).

⏸️ Resume an interrupted download.

🔧 Flexible access rights settings.

Cons:

⚙️ Complex setup for beginners.

🔓 By default, data is transferred without encryption (use SFTP for safety).

⚠️ Attention: If the FTP server is not responding, check that the router is enabled. passive FTP mode (passive mode) and open the appropriate ports. Also, make sure that the server's IP address does not change (configure static IP in the network parameters).

7. Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

The method you choose depends on the amount of data, operating systems, and your experience. Below is a comparison table:

Method Max. speed Complexity Suitable for Cons

Short range transmission (Windows) 5–15 MB/s Very low Small files (up to 1–2 GB) Slow, often interrupted

Access point + shared folders 20–50 MB/s Low Medium sizes (5–20 GB) Requires network configuration

LocalSend/Feem 30–50 MB/s Low Any files, cross-platform Limitations in free versions

FTP server 80–100 MB/s High Large volumes (from 50 GB) Complex setup, security risks

SSH/SFTP (Linux/macOS) 60–90 MB/s Average Confidential data Doesn't work on Windows without additional software

Recommendations:

📁 For documents and photos (up to 5 GB) - LocalSend or shared folders.

🎥 For videos and backups (10–100 GB) — FTP or SSH.

💻 For one-time transfers between different OS - Snapdrop.

🔒 For confidential data — SFTP or LocalSend with encryption.

8. Typical mistakes and their solutions

Even with proper configuration, Wi-Fi data transfer may be interrupted or too slow. Let's look at the most common issues:

🔌 Laptops can't see each other on the network

Reasons and solutions:

📡 Different subnets: check the IP addresses (must be in the same range, eg. 192.168.1.x).

🔥 Firewall: temporarily disable it or add a port exception 137–139, 445 (SMB), 21 (FTP).

📵 Airplane mode: Make sure Wi-Fi is turned on on both devices.

🔄 Incompatible protocols: if one laptop uses SMBv1, and the other one is SMBv3, turn on support SMBv1 V Control Panel → Programs → Windows Components.

🐢 Slow transfer speed

How to speed up:

📶 Switch to range 5 GHz (in the router or access point settings).

🔌 Use a cable Ethernet for one of the laptops (if the router supports Gigabit LAN).

🗑️ Archive small files in .zip or .rar - this will reduce the number of input/output operations.

🔧 Turn it off SMB encryption (see advice above).

❌ The transmission is interrupted halfway through

Possible reasons:

🔋 Low battery - connect laptops to the power supply.

📶 Weak Wi-Fi signal - move devices closer to the router or use signal repeater.

💾 Insufficient disk space - check the free space on the receiving laptop.

🔄 IP address conflict - assign static IPs manually (e.g. 192.168.1.100 And 192.168.1.101).

⚠️ Attention: If you are transferring files via FTP and the connection is broken, try reducing the size MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) up to 1400 in the network settings. This will help avoid packet fragmentation.

How to check connection stability?

Open Command line and enter:

ping 192.168.1.1 -t

(replace 192.168.1.1 to the IP of the second laptop).

If the packet loss rate is >5%, there is a problem with the network (interference, weak signal, router overload).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about Wi-Fi data transfer

❓ Is it possible to transfer files between Windows And macOS without additional programs?

Yes, use it. shared folders via SMB:

On Windows Share the folder (as described in Method 3).

On Mac V Finder click Go → Connect to server and enter smb://IP-address_of_PC.

Enter your account login/password Windows.

If file names are displayed in gibberish, rename them to Latin characters before transferring.

❓ Why is the transfer speed via Wi-Fi lower than via cable?

Wi-Fi is always slower

How to Transfer Data from One Laptop to Another via Wi-Fi: A Detailed Guide Comparing Methods

1. Preparing laptops for data transfer via Wi-Fi

2. Method 1: Using the Nearby Cast feature (Windows 10/11)

3. Method 2: Creating a local network via an access point

4. Method 3: Shared folders (SMB) - a universal method for any OS

5. Method 4: File transfer programs (LocalSend, Feem, Snapdrop)

LocalSend (cross-platform, open source)

Feem (paid version with advanced features)

Snapdrop (web version, no installation required)

6. Method 5: FTP server for professional transfer

7. Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

8. Typical mistakes and their solutions

🔌 Laptops can't see each other on the network

🐢 Slow transfer speed

❌ The transmission is interrupted halfway through

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about Wi-Fi data transfer

OS	Max. speed	Difficulty of setup	Large file support
Windows	up to 80 MB/s	Low	Yes (no restrictions)
macOS	up to 60 MB/s	Average	Yes
Linux	up to 100 MB/s	High	Yes

Method	Max. speed	Complexity	Suitable for	Cons
Short range transmission (Windows)	5–15 MB/s	Very low	Small files (up to 1–2 GB)	Slow, often interrupted
Access point + shared folders	20–50 MB/s	Low	Medium sizes (5–20 GB)	Requires network configuration
LocalSend/Feem	30–50 MB/s	Low	Any files, cross-platform	Limitations in free versions
FTP server	80–100 MB/s	High	Large volumes (from 50 GB)	Complex setup, security risks
SSH/SFTP (Linux/macOS)	60–90 MB/s	Average	Confidential data	Doesn't work on Windows without additional software

How to Transfer Data from One Laptop to Another via Wi-Fi: A Detailed Guide Comparing Methods

1. Preparing laptops for data transfer via Wi-Fi

2. Method 1: Using the Nearby Cast feature (Windows 10/11)

3. Method 2: Creating a local network via an access point

4. Method 3: Shared folders (SMB) - a universal method for any OS

5. Method 4: File transfer programs (LocalSend, Feem, Snapdrop)

LocalSend (cross-platform, open source)

Feem (paid version with advanced features)

Snapdrop (web version, no installation required)

6. Method 5: FTP server for professional transfer

7. Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

8. Typical mistakes and their solutions

🔌 Laptops can't see each other on the network

🐢 Slow transfer speed

❌ The transmission is interrupted halfway through

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about Wi-Fi data transfer

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