Transferring Files from PC to Laptop via Wi-Fi: 3 Proven Methods

Transfer files between a computer and a laptop via Wi-Fi — a convenient alternative to cables and flash drives, especially when devices are in different rooms or you need to quickly exchange large amounts of data. Unlike Bluetooth, the wireless network provides speeds up to 300–1000 Mbps (depending on the standard 802.11n/ac/ax), and compared to cloud services, it saves download time and does not require the Internet.

However, not everyone knows that it is possible to connect two devices directly via Wi-Fi the minimum possible in three ways: through access point (Hotspot), Wi-Fi Direct or local network (ad-hoc). Each method has its own nuances: for example, Wi-Fi Direct works only on Windows 10/11 and requires adapter support, and Hotspot can limit speed on older laptops. In this article, we'll explore all the options with step-by-step instructions, compare them by speed and reliability, and explain how to avoid common errors—from missing drivers to firewall issues.

Method 1: Access point (Hotspot) on a laptop

The most universal method is to turn your laptop into virtual router, to which the second computer will connect. This method works even if the PC does not have a Wi-Fi adapter (it is enough Ethernet-cable for Internet distribution), but requires the laptop to support the function Hosted Network (in Windows 7/10/11).

Advantages of the method:

  • 🔄 Works on all versions of Windows (including Windows 7 with the update KB976036).
  • 📶 Does not require additional equipment (except a Wi-Fi adapter on a laptop).
  • 🔒 You can set a password to protect your network.

To set up Hotspot:

  1. Open Command line as administrator (click Win + X → Terminal (Administrator)).
  2. Enter the command to check for hosted network support: 
    netsh wlan show drivers

    Look for the line Hosted network support: yes. If there No — update your Wi-Fi adapter driver.

  3. Create a network named MyWiFi and password 12345678 (replace with your own): 
    netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=MyWiFi key=12345678
  4. Start the distribution: 
    netsh wlan start hostednetwork

Now on the second computer, find the network MyWiFi in the list of available Wi-Fi networks and connect using the specified password. To transfer files, use Windows Explorer (enter in the address bar \\COMPUTER_NAME\) or programs like Total Commander.

Update your Wi-Fi adapter driver|Disable your antivirus (it may be blocking the network)|Make sure Wi-Fi is enabled on your laptop|Check that there are no firewall restrictions on the second PC-->

⚠️ Attention: On some laptops Lenovo And HP function Hosted Network disabled by the manufacturer at the BIOS level. If the command netsh wlan start hostednetwork gives an error, try updating the BIOS or use alternative methods (see section 2).

2. Method: Wi-Fi Direct (direct connection)

Wi-Fi Direct — a technology that allows devices to connect directly without a router, as per Bluetooth, but at Wi-Fi speed. This method is supported by most modern laptops and PCs with adapters. Intel Wireless, Broadcom or Qualcomm Atheros, but may not work on older models (before 2015).

Pros Wi-Fi Direct:

  • 🚀 Transfer speed up to 250–500 Mbps (2-3 times faster than Hotspot).
  • 🔌 No network required - point-to-point connection.
  • 🛡️ Automatic traffic encryption (WPA2).

Cons:

  • ❌ Doesn't work on Windows 7 and some adapters Realtek.
  • ⚙️ Requires manual configuration on one of the devices.

Instructions for Windows 10/11:

  1. On your laptop, open Settings → Network and Internet → Wi-Fi.
  2. Click Wi-Fi Direct (if there is no item, your adapter does not support the technology).
  3. Enable discovery and wait for the second computer to find the laptop in the list of available devices.
  4. On your PC, connect to your laptop as you would to a regular Wi-Fi network (the password will be generated automatically).

Once connected, open conductor and enter in the address bar \\LAPTOP_NAME\If access is denied, check your sharing settings (Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center → Change advanced sharing settings).

What to do if Wi-Fi Direct is not working?

If there is no item in Windows settings Wi-Fi Direct, try:

1. Update the Wi-Fi adapter driver (download from the laptop manufacturer's website, not through device Manager).

2. Enable support in BIOS (chapter Advanced → Wireless → Wi-Fi Direct).

3. Use third-party utilities like Connectify or Virtual Router Plus (but they may limit the speed).

Parameter Hotspot (distribution) Wi-Fi Direct Local area network (ad-hoc)
Max. speed 100–150 Mbps 250–500 Mbps 50–100 Mbps
Windows 7 support Yes (with update) No Yes
Password required Yes Automatically Yes
Works without a router Yes Yes Yes
Difficulty of setup Average Low High

3. Method: Local area network (ad-hoc)

If the first two methods did not work (for example, on an old PC without support Hosted Network), you can create wireless ad-hoc networkThis method is universal, but requires manual configuration of IP addresses and often suffers from low speed.

How to set up ad-hoc network:

  1. On your laptop, open Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Set up a new connection → Set up a wireless ad hoc network.
  2. Specify a network name (eg. AdHocNet), select the security type WPA2-Personal and set a password.
  3. On the second computer, connect to the created network.
  4. Manually set IP addresses on both devices:
    • On the laptop: 192.168.1.1 (mask 255.255.255.0).
    • On PC: 192.168.1.2 (mask 255.255.255.0).

To transfer files, use ping commandto check the connection: 

ping 192.168.1.2

If the packets arrive without any loss, open shared access to the folders via Properties → Access → Share.

⚠️ Attention: In Windows 10/11, the interface for creating ad-hoc networks is hidden. To restore it, use the following command: 
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=AdHocNet key=password keyUsage=persistent

or third-party utilities like Virtual Router Manager.

Wi-Fi distribution (Hotspot)|Wi-Fi Direct|Local network (ad-hoc)|Cloud services (Google Drive, Yandex.Disk)|I don't know, haven't tried it yet-->

4. Optimizing transmission speed

Even with a successful connection, file transfer speeds over Wi-Fi can be disappointing. Common causes include:

  • 📡 Old Wi-Fi standard: adapters 802.11g (up to 54 Mbps) 10 times slower 802.11ac (up to 1300 Mbps).
  • 🔋 Energy saving: Windows may limit Wi-Fi performance in power settings.
  • 🛡️ Firewall/antivirus: Kaspersky, Avast or built-in Windows Defender scan the transferred files.

How to speed up transfer:

  1. Switch your Wi-Fi adapter to maximum performance mode:
    • Open Device Manager → Network Adapters → Your Wi-Fi Properties → Power Management.
    • Uncheck the box Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
  • Use archiving (For example, 7-Zip or WinRAR) to compress files before transferring - this will reduce the data volume by 30-70%.
  • Disable your firewall during the transfer (don't forget to turn it back on!): 
    netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state off

    • 5. Common mistakes and their solutions

    Even with proper setup, the connection may drop or files may not transfer. Let's look at the most common issues:

    "Unable to connect to the network":

    • 🔌 Check if the Wi-Fi adapter is turned on on both devices (the indicator on the key F2/F12 or in Device Manager).
    • 🔄 Restart the service WLAN AutoConfig: 
      net stop wlansvc & net start wlansvc
    • 📋 Make sure that both PCs are enabled File and Printer Sharing (in network settings).

    Network without Internet access:

    • This is normal—direct file transfers don't require an internet connection. To remove the warning, manually set the IP addresses (see Section 3).

    "Access Denied" when opening a folder:

    • On the target computer, open Control Panel → System → Advanced system settings → Computer name and check that both devices are in the same workgroup (WORKGROUP by default).
    • Add the user of the second PC to the folder access settings (Properties → Security → Edit → Add → Enter user name).
    ⚠️ Note: If the connection drops when transferring large files (>10 GB), try:
    • Disable TCP Offloading in the network adapter settings (tab Additionally).
    • Use FTP server (For example, FileZilla Server) instead of Windows sharing - it works more reliably with large volumes.

    6. Alternative programs for file transfer

    If Windows' built-in tools seem complicated, you can use specialized utilities. These automate network setup and often offer additional features (such as QR code sharing or connection recovery after a disconnect).

    Program Pros Cons Speed
    LocalSend Cross-platform (Windows, Android, macOS), encryption Requires installation on both devices Up to 50 MB/s
    Feem Simple interface, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth transmission Advertising in the free version Up to 30 MB/s
    Snapdrop Works through a browser (no installation required) Low speed with a large number of files Up to 10 MB/s
    Dukto R6 Drag-and-drop support, no file size limit Outdated interface Up to 100 MB/s

    Example of use LocalSend:

    1. Download the program from official website and install on both devices.
    2. Launch LocalSend and select Send on one computer and Get on the other.
    3. Select files and confirm the transfer. The data will be transferred directly over Wi-Fi, without using cloud servers.

    7. Security when transferring files over Wi-Fi

    Direct file transfers over Wi-Fi are more vulnerable than over a cable—data can be intercepted if the network isn't secure. Follow these guidelines:

    • 🔐 Always use WPA2-Personal (or WPA3, if supported) instead of the open network.
    • 🔄 Change your Wi-Fi password regularly (especially in public places).
    • 🛡️ Turn off folder sharing after the transfer is complete: 
      net share

      This command will show all shared resources. To block access:

      net share FOLDER_NAME /delete
    • 👁️ Check which devices you connect to - attackers can create a network with a similar name (MyWiFi_secure instead of MyWiFi).

    If you are transferring confidential data (documents, passwords, photographs), additionally:

    • Archive the files with a password (7-Zip or WinRAR support AES-256).
    • Use VPN (For example, WireGuard) to encrypt traffic within a local network.
    ⚠️ Attention: Never turn it on in public networks (cafes, airports) File and Printer Sharing for network type PublicWindows automatically blocks such connections, but some programs (for example, FTP servers) can ignore these settings.

    FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

    Is it possible to transfer files between Windows and macOS/Linux?

    Yes, but for this:

    • On macOS turn on General access V System Preferences → Sharing → File Sharing.
    • On Linux use Samba: 
      sudo apt install samba

      sudo smbpasswd -a user

    With Windows, devices connect via MAC_LINUX_IP_ADDRESS.

    Why is the transfer speed lower than Wi-Fi promises?

    Actual speed depends on:

    • Wi-Fi standard: 802.11n gives up to 150 Mbps, 802.11ac — up to 1300 Mbit/s.
    • Channel: use 5 GHz instead of 2.4 GHz (less interference).
    • Hard drive: HDD slows down when writing/reading, SSD speeds up the process.
    • Protocol: SMB 3.0 (Windows 10/11) faster SMB 1.0.

    To check your current speed, use iPerf or LAN Speed Test.

    How to transfer files if there is no Wi-Fi on the PC?

    Options:

    • Use Ethernet cable (direct connection or via router).
    • Buy USB Wi-Fi adapter (from 500 ₽, for example, TP-Link TL-WN725N).
    • Transfer files via smartphone (connect it as a USB modem or use LocalSend on the phone).
    Is it possible to transfer files via Wi-Fi between two laptops without a router?

    Yes, all the methods described in the article (Hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct, ad-hoc) work without a router. The main thing is that at least one of the laptops has a Wi-Fi adapter.

    What should I do if my computer can't see my laptop on the network?

    Check:

    1. Both devices in one working group (WORKGROUP).
    2. Enabled on the target PC File sharing And Network discovery.
    3. The firewall does not block ports 137–139 And 445 (For SMB).
    4. IP addresses of devices in the same subnet (for example, 192.168.1.x).

    If the problem persists, use IP address instead of the computer name (for example, \\192.168.1.2\).

    📖 Read also

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