Creating a unified information space in an apartment or small office isn't just a whim, but a necessity for comfortable work with documents, multimedia, and peripherals. When multiple computers are connected into a single system via wireless router, eliminating the need to constantly use USB drives or cloud storage to transfer files between devices. You gain direct access to each PC's resources, significantly speeding up your workflow.
Modern Wi-Fi routers Windows LANs automatically create a basic local network immediately after devices are connected, but proper operating system configuration is required for full data exchange. Users often encounter computers that "don't see" each other despite successfully connecting to the same access point. In this article, we'll cover all configuration steps, from verifying the physical connection to fine-tuning Windows security settings.
It's important to understand that the setup process is virtually identical for different operating system versions, whether Windows 10 or Windows 11, although the layout of some menus may vary slightly. The key is to follow the steps sequentially to assign the correct network profiles and enable the necessary services. This will allow you to create a stable environment for printer sharing, online gaming, or watching movies from one computer's hard drive on a TV.
Checking physical connectivity and addressing
The first step to successfully setting up local networking is ensuring that all nodes are physically connected to the router. Computers can connect to the router in two ways: Ethernet cable or via wireless interface Wi-FiFor desktop PCs, a wired connection is preferable, as it provides higher data transfer speeds and a more stable signal, which is critical when working with large files.
Regardless of the connection type, all devices must be on the same subnet. This means their IP addresses must begin with the same number, for example, 192.168.1.X or 192.168.0.X, where X is a unique number for each device. If the addresses are on different subnets, communication between them will be impossible without complex routing.
To check your current IP address and connection status, use the command line. This is a quick way to ensure that your network card is working properly and has received an address from the router's DHCP server.
ipconfig /allIn the command output, find the line IPv4 address. Also pay attention to the parameter Main gateway — this is your router's address. Make sure this gateway is the same on all computers you want to connect.
Setting up a network profile in Windows
By default, the Windows operating system applies strict security rules to new connections, treating them as public. In this mode, the computer is hidden from detection by other devices, preventing unauthorized access in cafes or airports, but hindering work at home. To allow data exchange, you need to change the network profile to Private network.
The procedure for changing a profile in Windows 10 and 11 is performed through the settings menu. Open Parameters, go to the section Network and Internet, then select Wi-Fi or Ethernet Depending on your connection type, click on the name of your active network.
⚠️ Note: Changing your profile to "Private" makes your computer visible to other devices on this network. Only do this if you trust all users connected to your router.
In the window that opens, find the network profile type switch and set the value PrivateAfter this, the system will allow incoming connections and enable discovery. If this isn't done, even if shared folders are configured correctly, other computers won't be able to see your PC in the list of available devices.
Sometimes you need to restart your network adapter or the computer itself for changes to take effect. Check your network status by opening the Network and Sharing Center in Control Panel, where it should say "Private Network."
Enabling network discovery services
After changing your network profile, ensure that discovery and sharing features are enabled in Advanced Settings. Windows provides a centralized interface for managing these settings, which is often ignored by users, leading to device visibility issues.
To access the settings, go to Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Change advanced sharing optionsHere you'll see several profiles (Private, Guest, All Networks). In the "Private" profile, you need to enable the following options:
- 🔍 Enable network discovery.
- 📂 Enable file and printer sharing.
- 🔐 Allow managing network connections.
Pay special attention to the "All Networks" section. This is where a critical setting is located. Password-protected sharingIf enabled, accessing computer resources will require entering the login and password of the user account on that PC. For a home network, disabling this feature is often more convenient to ensure access is granted without unnecessary prompts, but in an office environment, this reduces security.
☑️ Setting up sharing
Don't forget to save your changes by clicking the button Save changes at the bottom of the page. The system may ask you to confirm administrator rights. After this, your computer will become visible in the network neighborhood of other devices if they are also on the private network.
Creating and sharing a shared folder
Simply enabling discovery isn't enough—you need to tell the system which resources you're willing to share. The default "Shared Documents" folder is often inconvenient, so it's best to create a separate directory for network sharing. This could be a folder on the system drive or on a separate partition.
Create a new folder, name it something like, NetworkShareRight-click on it and select Properties. Go to the tab Access and press the button Advanced settings. Check the box. Share this folder.
Next, you need to configure access rights. Click the button PermissionsBy default, there may be a "Everyone" group with read-only permissions. If you want other users to be able to write to files, change the permissions or add a specific user.
| Permission type | Allow | Ban | Description of action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full access | Yes | No | Full control over files |
| Change | Yes | No | Writing and deleting files |
| Reading | Yes | No | View and copy only |
It is also important to check the tab Security in the folder properties. NTFS file system permissions take precedence over network permissions. Make sure the group is listed in the groups and users list. All or Users with read and execute rights.
What should I do if the "Access" tab is missing?
If you don't see the "Access" tab, the "Shared Folder Connection Manager" service may be disabled. Check Windows services (services.msc) and ensure that the SMB and Network Discovery services are running.
Mapping a network drive and searching for devices
Once a folder is shared, you can access it from another computer. The easiest way is to use Network Neighborhood. Open File Explorer and find Shared in the left pane. NetIf network discovery is configured correctly, you will see the names of all computers on your local network.
However, sometimes computer names may not display immediately due to the SMB protocol or caching. In this case, it's more efficient to enter the IP address directly. Find the IP address of the computer hosting the folder (as described in the first section) and enter it in the File Explorer address bar using the following format:
\\192.168.1.15After navigating to this address, you'll see a list of all shared folders on the remote PC. To avoid entering the address each time, you can mount the network folder as a separate drive. Right-click on This computer → Map a network driveSelect the drive letter, specify the path to the folder and check the box. Reconnect on login.
⚠️ Attention: If you are asked for a login and password when connecting, and you have disabled password protection, try entering the login of the remote computer (for example,
PC2\User) and leave the password field blank, or use the same login credentials on both PCs.
To manage network connections you can use the command net use in the command line. It allows you to view active connections and forcefully terminate them if necessary.
Diagnosing problems and troubleshooting errors
Despite the apparent simplicity, conflicts often arise on local area networks. Computers may not be able to see each other if the service is disabled on one of them. SMB 1.0 (although this is rare in modern systems) or if the antivirus software is blocking the connection. Another common cause is different network types (one PC on a private network, the other on a public network).
Check your Windows Firewall. Sometimes it can block incoming connections, deeming them suspicious. Try temporarily disabling the firewall on both computers to test. If the network works, you'll need to add an exception rule for the private network in the security settings.
- 🔌 Check if the LAN/WLAN indicators on the router for the corresponding ports are lit.
- 📡 Make sure both computers are connected to the same router (not to the guest network if the main and guest networks are isolated).
- 💻 Check if the Function Discovery Resource Publishing service is enabled.
If the problem persists, try resetting your network settings. In Windows 10/11, this can be done via Parameters → Network and Internet → Additional network settings → Network resetThis will reset all network components to factory settings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to network computers running Windows and macOS?
Yes, this is possible. macOS supports the SMB protocol used by Windows. On a Mac, go to Finder → Go → Connect to Server and enter the Windows PC's address. However, for stable operation, you may need to create identical user accounts and passwords on both devices.
Does a local network affect internet speed?
The local network itself doesn't affect internet speed. However, if you copy large files between computers over Wi-Fi, this occupies the wireless channel, and internet speed on other devices may temporarily decrease due to competition for airtime.
Is it safe to keep public access open all the time?
If you're on a home network with a strong Wi-Fi and router password, the risks are minimal. However, in public places or if your network is accessible by others, public folders can become a vulnerability. In such cases, it's best to disable network discovery.
Why did I lose access to a network folder after a Windows update?
Major Windows updates sometimes reset network settings to "Public" or change SMB security settings. Check your network profile type and folder access permissions after each major system update.