How to connect two PCs to a local network via Wi-Fi

Setting up a local network between two personal computers without using cables is a task that many home office or multimedia system users face. Local area network Wireless connectivity allows you to instantly share documents, play online games, or stream video from one screen to another. This eliminates the need to fumble with flash drives or upload files to cloud storage, saving time and internet traffic.

To successfully complete this project, you will need a working Wi-Fi router connected to both devices and the correct operating system settings. Modern versions of Windows, such as Windows 10 And Windows 11, have built-in tools for managing network resources, but automatic settings often block access for security reasons. The key point is to assign both computers addresses from the same subnet, which is the basis for them to be “visible” to each other.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the entire process in detail: from checking your hardware to setting access rights to specific folders. You'll learn how to change your network profile, manage services, and diagnose problems when computers can't see each other in the list of available devices.

Preparing equipment and checking connections

Before starting software configuration, you need to ensure the physical infrastructure is ready. Both computers must be connected to the same wireless router. This means they must use the same access point, even if one is connected via cable and the other via Wi-Fi, although for stability, it's best to use the same connection type.

Check the connection status on each device. Make sure the network icon in the system tray shows an active, unrestricted connection. If one of the PCs shows "No Internet Access," this isn't always critical for the local network, but initial driver setup and updates may require internet access.

It's also important to consider your router's frequency range. If your router is dual-band (2.4 GHz And 5 GHz), make sure both devices aren't isolated from each other by the provider's security settings. In rare cases, operators enable a client isolation feature that prevents devices within the network from exchanging data.

⚠️ Attention: Some internet service providers enable the "Client Isolation" feature by default in their plans. If you've configured everything correctly but still can't ping, contact your provider's technical support or check your router settings to see if they're blocking local traffic between devices.

Setting up a network profile and discovery

By default, the Windows operating system treats new networks as public, hiding your computer from other devices. The first step is to change the network profile to "Private." This tells the system you're in a trusted environment, such as your home or office, and allows discovery.

To do this, go to the menu Settings → Network & Internet → StatusClick on your Wi-Fi connection properties. In the window that opens, find the "Network Profile" section and switch the radio button from "Public" to "Private." This must be done on both computers.

Next, you should check your sharing settings. Open Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing CenterOn the left, select "Change advanced sharing settings." Here you need to enable network discovery and file and printer sharing for the current profile.

• 🔍 Enable the "Turn on network discovery" option to automatically install connected devices.
• 📂 Enable "Turn on file and printer sharing" to allow access to resources.
• 🔐 Only disable "Password-protected sharing" if you completely trust all devices on the network and want to simplify access without entering a login.

After making changes, be sure to click "Save Changes." The system may prompt you to confirm administrator privileges. Without this step, computers will be blocked from connecting.

Checking IP addresses and configuring TCP/IP protocol

For a local network to function properly, both computers must be on the same subnet. This means the first three numbers in their IP addresses must match, but the last three must be different. Typically, the router automatically assigns addresses via DHCP, but sometimes it's useful to check these values ​​manually.

To find your IP address, open the command prompt. Click Win + R, enter cmd and press Enter. In the black window, enter the command ipconfigFind the "IPv4 Address" line. Write down this value; you'll need it to connect.

C:\Users\User>ipconfig
Ethernet adapter Ethernet:
IPv4 address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.45
Subnet mask. . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default gateway . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

If automatic address assignment doesn't work or the addresses are assigned from different ranges (for example, 192.168.0.x and 192.168.1.x), the devices won't see each other. In this case, you can manually assign static IP addresses in the adapter settings.

For manual configuration, go to Control Panel → Network Connections, right-click your Wi-Fi adapter and select "Properties." Find "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" in the list, select it, and click "Properties." You can enter static information here.

Creating a shared folder and setting access rights

Once the network infrastructure is set up, you need to create the resource you want to share. This could be a folder containing documents, photos, or installation files. Simply moving files to the "Public" folder is often insufficient for flexible management.

Create a new folder at the root of your drive or anywhere convenient, such as your desktop. Give it a descriptive name, such as NetworkShareRight-click the folder, select "Properties," and go to the "Sharing" tab. Click the "Advanced" button.

Check the "Share this folder" box. Click "Permissions" below. By default, the "Everyone" group is set to read-only. If you want other computers to be able to write to or delete files, select the "Everyone" group and check "Full Control" or "Change."

Remember that access rights work on the principle of least privilege. If the user doesn't have write access in the NTFS security properties (Security tab), even the sharing settings won't help. Check both tabs to be sure.

Connecting to a network resource from another PC

Now let's move on to the second computer that will access the files. Open File Explorer and enter the IP address of the first computer, which we found earlier, in the address bar. The input format should be two backslashes followed by the IP address.

\\192.168.1.10

Press Enter. If everything is configured correctly, a window will open displaying the contents of the shared folder. The first time you connect, the system may prompt you for credentials. You'll need to enter the username and password for the account on the first computer (the one where the folder is located).

For ease of use, we recommend mapping the network folder as a separate drive. In File Explorer, right-click "This PC" and select "Map network drive." Select any available drive letter (e.g., Z:) and enter the path to the resource in the "Folder" field or browse to find it.

• 💾 Select a drive letter from the drop-down list.
• 🔗 Specify the path to the shared folder or find it using the "Browse" button.
• ✅ Check the "Restore at logon" box to automatically connect the drive after a reboot.

⚠️ Attention: If you receive an access error when entering your password, make sure the account on the first computer has a password. Blank passwords in Windows often block network access for security reasons.

Troubleshooting and Common Errors

Despite the apparent simplicity, setting up a local Wi-Fi network can be challenging. Computers may not see each other, may request passwords repeatedly, or may display an access error. Most often, the problem lies with Windows services or the firewall.

Check the Function Discovery Resource Publishing service. Click Win + R, enter services.mscFind the network discovery-related services (Function Discovery Resource Publication, SSDP Discovery, UPnP Device Host) in the list. Make sure they are running and the startup type is set to "Automatic."

Reset network settings

If all else fails, you can try resetting the network stack. Open a command prompt as administrator and enter the following commands: netsh winsock reset and netsh int ip reset. Afterward, you must restart your computer.

It's also worth checking to see if Windows Firewall is blocking the local connection. Go to "Windows Firewall with Advanced Security" and check the inbound rules. The "File and Printer Sharing (Echo-Request - ICMPv4-In)" rule should be allowed if you're using the ping command for diagnostics.

Another common cause is different network types. If one PC has the network defined as "Private" and the other as "Public," they may ignore each other's requests. Unifying the network profile solves 90% of these problems.

Questions and Answers (FAQ)

Is it possible to connect two PCs directly via Wi-Fi without a router?

Yes, this is possible using Wi-Fi Direct technology or by creating a virtual access point (Hosted Network) on one of the laptops. However, the speed and stability of this connection may be lower than using a full-fledged router, and setup requires using the command line.

Why am I asked for a password when connecting, even though I didn't set one?

Windows enables password protection for sharing by default. You can disable it in "Advanced sharing settings" by selecting "Turn off password-protected sharing." Alternatively, create identical user accounts with the same passwords on both computers.

What is the maximum Wi-Fi data transfer speed in a local network?

The speed depends on the Wi-Fi standard (802.11n, ac, ax) and the router's power. In the standard Wi-Fi 5 (AC) Actual speeds can reach 400-800 Mbps, which is significantly faster than USB 2.0 but slower than a Gigabit cable. For transferring large amounts of data (hundreds of GB), a cable is better.

Can computers see each other if they are connected to different frequencies (2.4 and 5 GHz)?

Yes, they do. The router doesn't care what frequency the client is using, as long as they're on the same subnet and connected to the same routing device. Frequency only affects signal speed and range.