How to transfer files from computer to computer via Wi-Fi: all working methods

Transferring files between computers wirelessly is a task that every user faces. Whether you need to copy documents to a work laptop, transfer photos from a home PC to a laptop, or share videos between devices, Wi-Fi connection is often the most convenient solution. But how can this be done quickly, safely, and without loss of quality?

Unlike wired connections (via USB or Ethernet), wireless transmission doesn't require additional cables and allows data exchange over distances of up to 100 meters (depending on the router's power). However, many users encounter difficulties: Windows The second computer doesn't see the network, the transfer speed leaves much to be desired, and files get "lost" along the way. In this article, we'll look at All current methods for transferring files via Wi-Fi between PCs as of 2026, including hidden settings that will speed up the process by 2-3 times.

You will learn:

• 🔹 How to set up local network between two computers without a router (via ad-hoc)
• 🔹 Step-by-step instructions for use FTP servers for transferring large files (up to 100 GB)
• 🔹 What programs (like LocalSend or Feem) allow you to exchange files at speeds of up to 50 MB/s
• 🔹 Why cloud services (Google Drive, Mega) sometimes work slower than direct transmission via Wi-Fi
• 🔹 How to avoid access errors and configure permissions for folders in Windows 10/11

Before proceeding with the instructions, please check if your hardware meets the minimum requirements:

1. Transfer files over a Windows local network (SMB)

The most reliable and universal way is to use the protocol SMB (Server Message Block), which is built into Windows by default. It allows you to share files between computers connected to the same router without any additional software. The transfer speed depends on the Wi-Fi standard: 802.11ac It reaches 30–50 MB/s, which is 2–3 times faster than cloud services.

To set up sharing:

1. Make sure both computers are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. You can check this in Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center.
2. On the computer from which you will transfer files, open Conductor, right-click on the folder and select Properties → Access → Share.
3. Select a user from the drop-down menu Everyone and press Share.
4. Go to the tab Security and configure permissions (Reading or Full access).

Now on the second computer:

1. Open Conductor and enter in the address bar \\[IP address of the first PC] (For example, \\192.168.1.100).
2. If you are asked for a login/password, use the account details of the first computer.
3. Copy the required files to the shared folder.

Both PCs are connected to the same router|

AP Isolation mode is disabled on the router|

Windows Firewall allows SMB access (port 445)|

The folder is shared with the user "Everyone"-->

⚠️ Attention: If computers can't see each other, check your settings. network profile V Settings → Network & Internet → Status → Change connection propertiesThe profile must be Private network, and not Public.

To speed up the transfer of large files (videos, archives), we recommend:

• 🔧 Disable SMB encryption (V Control Panel → Programs → Turn Windows features on or off uncheck Support for SMB 1.0/CIFS encryption).
• 🔧 Use Jumbo Frames (if the network card supports it). To do this, Device Manager Find your Wi-Fi adapter, open it Properties → Advanced and set the value 9014 for the parameter Jumbo Packet.
• 🔧 Switch to range 5 GHz (if the router is dual-band).

What should I do if my Wi-Fi transfer speed is below 10 Mbps?

If file transfer speeds over your local network are slower than expected, please check:

1. Channel congestion — disconnect other devices from the router (smartphones, smart speakers) during the transfer.

2. Router operating mode — in the settings (192.168.1.1) set a fixed channel (e.g. 36 or 40 for 5 GHz) instead Auto.

3. Wi-Fi drivers - update them through device Manager or from the manufacturer's website (for example, for adapters) Intel AX200 or Qualcomm Atheros).

4. Channel width - in the router settings, select 80 MHz instead of 20/40 MHz (if supported).

2. FTP server: transfer large files (up to 100 GB and more)

If you need to transfer tens of gigabytes (for example, a system backup or 4K video), regular SMB sharing may freeze. In such cases, it's best to deploy FTP server — it works more reliably with large volumes of data and supports download resumption when the connection is lost.

For Windows, the easiest way is to use the built-in IIS (Internet Information Services) or a free program FileZilla ServerLet's consider both options.

Method 1: FTP via built-in IIS (Windows 10/11 Pro)

1. Enable the component IIS:

   Control Panel → Programs → Turn Windows features on or off → Check "IIS Services" → OK

2. Open IIS Manager (find via Windows search).
3. Add a new site:
   • Specify the path to the folder containing files.
   • Set the port (eg. 2121 instead of the standard one 21, to avoid conflicts).
   • Set up authentication (it is better to choose Anonymous + Main).

On the second computer, connect via Conductor (enter ftp://[IP address]:2121) or use FileZilla Client.

Method 2: FileZilla Server (for all Windows versions)

FileZilla Server — a more flexible solution with encryption and speed limiting support. Download the program from the official website and follow the instructions:

1. When installing, leave the port 14147 for administration and 21 for FTP.
2. In the server settings (Edit → Settings) turn it off Passive mode (or configure a range of ports, for example, 50000-51000).
3. Create a user and specify the home directory.
4. On the second PC, connect via FileZilla Client or Conductor (enter ftp://[IP address]).

⚠️ Attention: If the FTP server is not responding, check that the ports are open on your router. 20-21 (for active mode) or a range of ports for passive mode. Also disable Windows Firewall for the duration of the test or add an exception for FileZilla Server.

Advantages of FTP:

• 🔹 Support resume downloading (if the connection is interrupted, the transmission will continue from the point where it was interrupted).
• 🔹 Opportunity limit the speed (useful if you don't want to overload the network).
• 🔹 Works even on weak PCs (doesn't require powerful resources).

Flaws:

• 🔸 No encryption (FTPS or SFTP) data is transmitted in clear text.
• 🔸 You need to configure ports on your router (if you are connecting from another network).

3. Programs for fast Wi-Fi transfer (up to 50 MB/s)

If setting up SMB or FTP seems complicated, specialized programs can help. They automate the process, offer a user-friendly interface, and are often faster than standard protocols. Let's look at the top three solutions for 2026.

1. LocalSend (free, cross-platform)

LocalSend - open analogue AirDrop for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Transfers are made directly over the local network at speeds of up to 50 MB/s (on Wi-Fi 6).

• 🔹 How to use:
  1. Install the program on both computers from the official website (localsend.org).
  2. Launch LocalSend and select Send → specify files.
  3. A notification about an incoming file will appear on the second PC - confirm receipt.
5. 🔹 Pros: no file size limits, encryption TLS, support QRC codes for quick connection.
6. 🔹 Cons: requires installation on both devices.

2. Feem (paid, but with a trial period)

Feem - another popular solution with support folder transfer And video streaming. The speed reaches 40 MB/s on Wi-Fi 5.

• 🔹 Peculiarities:
  • Works without the Internet (only via local network).
  • Supports broadcast history (you can download the files again).
  • There is a function Clipboard Sync — copy the text on one PC and paste it on another.

🔹 Price: ~$5 for a 3-device license (free version limited to 50MB per transfer).

3. Snapdrop (web service, no installation required)

If you can't install programs, use Snapdrop — web version AirDrop. Works through a browser using technology WebRTC.

1. Open the website on both PCs snapdrop.net.
2. Confirm access to the local network in the browser.
3. Drag and drop files into a browser window on one PC and select the target device on the other.

⚠️ Attention: Programs like LocalSend or Feem create their own peer-to-peer networks, which may conflict with corporate VPNs or proxies. If the transfer doesn't start, temporarily disable the VPN or check your firewall settings.

Program comparison:

4. Cloud services: when to use them

Cloud Transfer (Google Drive, Yandex.Disk, Mega) seems like a simple solution, but it doesn't always work. The main drawback is Speed ​​Limit, which providers impose on uploads and downloads. For example, with a plan offering "up to 100 Mbps," the actual upload speed to the cloud rarely exceeds 5–10 MB/s.

When is the cloud more profitable than direct transmission:

• 🔹 Need to transfer files at a distance (for example, to another country).
• 🔹 Data volume less than 5 GB (otherwise you will have to wait for hours).
• 🔹 No access to the local network (for example, transferring files from a work PC to a home PC).
• 🔹 Important versioning (the history of changes is saved in the cloud).

How to speed up cloud transfer:

1. Use Mega - It offers 20 GB for free and encrypts files on the client side.
2. Archive files in .zip or .rar before loading (reduces the number of I/O operations).
3. Upload at night when the channel is less busy.
4. For Google Drive use the utility rclone (speeds up loading by 30–40%):

rclone copy C:\files remote:backup -P --transfers=8

⚠️ Attention: Some cloud services (eg. Dropbox) limit download speed for free accounts. If files get stuck at 99%, try a different service or split the archive into 2–3 GB chunks.

Comparison of cloud file transfer services:

* Speed ​​is indicated for a tariff with a throughput of 100 Mbps.

** Dropbox artificially limits speed for free accounts.

5. Router-free transmission: Wi-Fi Direct and ad-hoc networks

If you don't have a router at hand, you can organize direct connection between computers. There are two ways to do this: Wi-Fi Direct (modern standard) and ad-hoc networks (outdated, but works on older PCs).

Method 1: Wi-Fi Direct (Windows 10/11)

Wi-Fi Direct Allows devices to connect directly, like Bluetooth, but at Wi-Fi speeds. To do this:

1. On the first PC, open Settings → Network & Internet → Mobile Hotspot.
2. Turn on Allow use of my internet connection (even if there is no internet).
3. On the second PC, connect to the created network (the name and password will be displayed on the first screen).
4. Now you can transfer files via SMB, FTP or programs like LocalSend.

Method 2: Ad-hoc network (Windows 7/8/10)

If Wi-Fi Direct not supported, create ad-hoc net:

1. Open Command line on behalf of the administrator.
2. Enter the command to create the network:

   netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=MyNetwork key=12345678

3. Start the network:

   netsh wlan start hostednetwork

4. On the second PC, connect to the network MyNetwork with a password 12345678.

⚠️ Attention: IN Windows 11 support ad-hoc networks through netsh may be disabled. In this case, use Wi-Fi Direct or programs like Connectify Hotspot (paid, but with a trial period).

Advantages of direct connection:

• 🔹 High speed (no loss on the router).
• 🔹 Security (data is not transmitted through third-party devices).
• 🔹 Works even without internet.

Flaws:

• 🔸 On older adapters, the speed may be lower than through a router.
• 🔸 Manual IP address configuration is required (if DHCP is not used).

How to set up a static IP for an ad-hoc network?

If computers don't see each other in ad-hoc networks, assign static IP addresses:

1. On the first PC: Control Panel → Network → Change adapter settings → Wi-Fi → Properties → Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).

2. Install:

- IP address: 192.168.1.1

- Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

3. On the second PC, repeat the steps, but set the IP 192.168.1.2.

4. Check the connection with the command ping 192.168.1.1 V Command line.

6. Transfer files between Windows and macOS/Linux

If one of the computers is running on macOS or LinuxStandard Windows methods (like SMB) may not work due to protocol differences. Let's look at cross-platform solutions.

Windows → macOS

• 🔹 Via SMB:
  1. On Windows, share the folder (as in the first method).
  2. On Mac, open Finder → Go → Connect to Server (or Cmd+K).
  3. Enter smb://[Windows PC IP address] and log in.

🔹 Via AirDrop:

• On Mac, turn on AirDrop V Finder.
• Install on Windows AirDrop for Windows (For example, Snapdrop or Droid Transfer).

Windows → Linux

• 🔹 Via Samba (SMB analog for Linux):

  sudo apt install cifs-utils # Install SMB support
  sudo mkdir /mnt/windows_share
  sudo mount -t cifs //[IP address]/[folder_name] /mnt/windows_share -o user=[user_name]

• 🔹 Via SSH (SFTP):

  scp -r /path/to/files user@[IP address]:/path/on/remote/PC

macOS/Linux → Windows

• 🔹 On Windows, enable FTP server (as in section on FTP) and connect from macOS/Linux via ftp://[IP address].
• 🔹 Use rsync to synchronize folders:

  rsync -avz /path/to/files user@[IP address]:/path/on/Windows

⚠️ Attention: When connecting with Linux To Windows SMB share There may be problems with file name encoding. To fix this, add the following parameter to the mount command: iocharset=utf8:

sudo mount -t cifs //192.168.1.100/share /mnt/windows -o user=name,iocharset=utf8

7. Optimizing Wi-Fi transmission speed

If files are transferring too slowly, the problem may be with your network, router, or computer settings. Here's how to speed up the process:

1. Setting up the router

• 🔧 Switch to range 5 GHz (less busy than 2.4 GHz).
• 🔧 Turn on WMM (Wi-Fi Multimedia) in the router settings (improves traffic prioritization).
• 🔧 Turn it off Band Steering (if the router is dual-band) - sometimes it distributes devices incorrectly.
• 🔧 Set a fixed channel (eg. 36 for 5 GHz) instead Auto.

2. Windows setup

• 🔧 Turn it off TCP autotuning:

  netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=restricted

• 🔧 Increase size TCP Window:

  netsh interface tcp set global receive