Organizing data exchange between devices in a home or office environment often becomes a necessary task for operating system users. Windows 10Instead of using external drives like USB flash drives, setting up a direct connection via a wireless network is much more efficient and faster. This allows you to instantly transfer files of any size and also share peripherals, such as printers or scanners, connected to one of the computers.
The process of creating a local area network (LAN) via a Wi-Fi router requires a series of sequential settings in the operating system's network settings. Modern versions Windows 10 They have fairly flexible security tools that can block detection of other devices by default. Understanding how network profiles and firewall rules work will be key to successfully integrating your PCs into a unified digital ecosystem without the need for unnecessary cabling.
In this guide, we'll walk you through every setup step in detail, from checking basic settings to resolving common device visibility issues. You'll learn how to properly configure folder sharing, change the network type to private, and which system services are responsible for discovering computers on the local network.
Checking basic conditions and preparing equipment
Before beginning software configuration, it's critical to ensure the hardware is physically and logically ready for operation. Both computers must be connected to the same wireless router. It doesn't matter whether you're using built-in Wi-Fi modules in laptops or external USB adapters on desktop computers, as long as they're on the same network segment and receiving IP addresses from the same DHCP server.
Make sure both devices have the latest drivers for their wireless network adapters. Outdated software may not work correctly with detection protocols or have vulnerabilities that block connections. It's also worth checking that your antivirus software isn't blocking local connections, mistaking them for an external threat.
⚠️ Attention: If one computer is connected via Ethernet and the other via Wi-Fi, they will still be on the same network, but the data transfer speed will be limited by the wireless connection speed. Make sure the router assigns addresses to the same subnet (e.g., 192.168.1.x).
To diagnose the current connection status, open a command prompt. This can be done by pressing Win + R and entering the command cmdIn the window that opens, enter ipconfig and find the line "IPv4 Address." Write down this address for both computers; you'll need it for a direct connection if automatic detection doesn't work.
Setting up a network profile and discovery
operating system By default, Windows 10 assigns new networks the "Public" profile, making your computer invisible to other devices for security reasons. To create a local network, you need to change this setting to "Private." This will allow the system to open ports for local traffic and respond to discovery requests.
To change your profile, go to the Start menu and select Settings (gear icon). Then follow the path Network and Internet → StatusIn the "Properties" section of the current connection, click the "Public Network" button and toggle the switch to "Private." This must be done on both computers.
After changing your profile, you need to enable detection features. Open the Control Panel (you can find it in the search) and go to the section Network and Internet → Network and Sharing CenterOn the left, select "Change advanced sharing settings." Here, expand the "Private (current profile)" tab and enable the following options:
- 📡 Enable network discovery (and automatic configuration of connected devices).
- 📂 Enable file and printer sharing.
- 🔐 Allow Windows to manage HomeGroup connections (if applicable).
Don't forget to expand the "All Networks" tab at the bottom of the window and enable "Password-protected sharing" only if you trust all users on the network, or disable it for easier access in a home environment. After making all changes, be sure to click "Save Changes" at the bottom of the page.
☑️ Profile setup checklist
Sharing folders and resources
After configuring the network profile, the system is ready to exchange data, but specific resources (folders, drives) are still private. To make a folder accessible to the second computer, find it in File Explorer, right-click it, and select "Properties." Go to the "Access" tab and click "Advanced Settings."
In the window that opens, check the box next to "Share this folder." Below, click "Permissions" to determine what actions other users can perform. You can grant full access (read, write, and modify) or restrict access to reading files only.
There's an alternative, faster way to do this via the "Sharing" tab in the folder's properties. Click "Share," select "Everyone" (or a specific user) from the drop-down list, and click "Add." Then set the permission level and confirm by clicking "Share."
The nuances of NTFS access rights
Share Permissions and NTFS file system permissions can conflict. If both are denied, access is denied. If one permission is allowed but the other is denied, the more restrictive permission takes precedence. For home use, it's easiest to grant full permissions to the "Everyone" group on both partitions to avoid confusion.
It's important to note that with password protection enabled, the second computer will prompt for the username and password of the user account that shared the folder when attempting to log in. If the user accounts are different, you may need to create identical user accounts (username and password) on both computers or use guest access.
Mapping a network drive and searching for devices
Once the folders are shared, you can proceed to the actual connection. Open File Explorer and select Network in the left pane. If the profile setup was successful, you should see the name of the second computer. If the computer isn't visible but you know its IP address, enter a path like this in File Explorer's address bar. \\192.168.1.55 (replace the numbers with your actual IP).
For easy, ongoing use, you can map a shared folder as a network drive. This will allow you to work with remote files as if they were on your computer's hard drive (e.g., drive Z:). To do this, right-click "This PC" in File Explorer and select "Map network drive."
| Parameter | Description | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| Disk | Letter for assigning a network resource | Z: or any free |
| Folder | Path to the resource on the remote PC | \\IP Address\FolderName |
| Restore | Automatic connection upon login | The checkbox is checked |
| Other data | Using other credentials | As needed |
In the connection window, specify the path to the folder in the format \\ComputerName\Folder or \\IP address\FolderIf the systems require authorization, enter the username and password for the remote computer account. Make sure the "Restore at logon" box is checked to avoid repeating the procedure after each reboot.
Configuring Windows Firewall and Services
If you've completed all the previous steps and the computers still can't see each other, the problem may lie in Windows Firewall settings or stopped system services. The firewall can block incoming connections even if the network profile is private.
To check, open the firewall control panel using the search function. Select "Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall." Click "Change settings" and ensure that "Network discovery" and "File and printer sharing" are checked under "Private."
It is also necessary to check the operation of critical services. Click Win + R, enter services.msc and find the following services in the list:
- 🛠️ Function Discovery Resource Publication.
- 🔍 Function Discovery Provider Host.
- 💻 DNS Client.
For each of these services, double-click the service, set the "Startup type" to "Automatic," and click "Start" if the service is stopped. Restarting the computer after these steps often resolves the issue of the PC disappearing from the network list.
⚠️ Attention: Third-party antivirus programs (Kaspersky, ESET, Avast) have their own built-in firewalls that may ignore Windows settings. If you use a third-party antivirus, check its network settings and ensure the current network is marked as "Trusted" or "Home."
Diagnosing problems and troubleshooting errors
Despite the correct settings, users may encounter access errors such as "Windows cannot access..." or "You do not have permission to use this network resource." This is often due to a mismatch in SMB protocol versions. In newer versions of Windows 10, SMB 1.0, which is used by older devices or NAS systems, is disabled by default.
If you need to connect a very old device or a specific network drive, you may need to enable SMB 1.0 support. To do this, go to Control Panel → Programs and Features → Turn Windows features on or off. Find "SMB 1.0/CIFS file sharing support" in the list and check the box.
Another common issue is time synchronization. Make sure both computers have the same date and time. Time differences can cause Kerberos authentication errors, especially on domain networks, but are also common in workgroups.
To reset network settings as a last resort, you can use the reset command. Open Command Prompt as administrator and enter:
netsh winsock resetnetsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns
After running these commands, you must restart your computer. This will reset your network adapters and protocol stacks to factory settings, eliminating any possible software conflicts.
Why is my computer not visible on the network even though the internet is working?
The internet and local network use different mechanisms. Most likely, the network profile is set to "Public," which hides the PC. The "Discovery Resource Publishing" service may also be disabled. Check these two settings first.
How to transfer files without setting up sharing?
You can use cloud storage (OneDrive, Google Drive), instant messengers, or create a temporary local HTTP server point using specialized software like HFS, but the standard method via the "Network" is the most stable and fastest for regular tasks.
Should I disable the firewall completely?
No, it's not secure. It's enough to add an exception rule for "Private Networks" or allow a specific application. Disabling the firewall completely leaves the system vulnerable to attacks from the external network if the router doesn't provide adequate protection.
What is the maximum Wi-Fi transfer speed in a local network?
Speed depends on the Wi-Fi standard (n, ac, ax) and signal quality. With the 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) standard, actual file transfer speeds typically range from 30 to 80 MB/s, which is significantly slower than gigabit Ethernet, but sufficient for working with documents and streaming video.