Creating a local area network within a single apartment or house is a basic task that allows you to share files between computers, connect network printers, or organize multimedia sharing. In the operating system Windows 10 This process has undergone a number of changes compared to earlier versions such as Windows 7, which made extensive use of the feature HomeGroupMicrosoft now emphasizes standard SMB protocols and manual configuration of sharing settings, which gives users more control but requires careful configuration.
To successfully implement your plan, you don't need in-depth knowledge of network technologies, but you must strictly follow the sequence of actions. The main requirement is having a working WiFi router, to which all devices involved in data exchange are connected. It's important to understand that the physical location of the equipment and the quality of the radio signal directly affect file transfer speed, so before beginning software configuration, it's a good idea to ensure the connection is stable.
In this article, we'll take a detailed look at how to transform disparate devices into a unified ecosystem. We'll cover changing network profiles, configuring sharing settings, opening specific folders to other users, and resolving common issues faced by PC owners running Windows 10. The key point is to assign all computers the same workgroup; without this, they simply will not “see” each other in the network environment.
Preparing equipment and checking physical connections
Before accessing software settings within the operating system, you need to ensure that the hardware is functioning correctly. All computers you plan to connect must be connected to the same router. This can be via a cable connection. Ethernet or via wireless interface WiFi. If you're using a laptop and a desktop computer, make sure they're within range of a strong signal to avoid connection drops while transferring large amounts of data.
Check the indicators on your router. Typically, the light labeled "ON" will be on or flashing. LAN or WLAN, indicates active packet exchange. If the indicators are not lit, there may be a problem with the cable or network adapter drivers. You can check the network controller's status in Windows Device Manager: it should be working without errors and have the latest manufacturer drivers installed.
⚠️ Note: If you use a guest network on your router, devices connected to it are often isolated from the main network due to the AP Isolation feature. To create a home network, connect all PCs to the main SSID.
It's also a good idea to find out the IP addresses of your devices in advance, as they may be needed for direct connections or setting up static addresses. This can be done via the command line by entering the command ipconfig. Write down the address indicated in the line IPv4 address, for each computer. Ideally, for desktop devices, it's best to configure static IP addresses in the router so that the addresses don't change after a reboot.
Changing the network profile to "Private Network"
By default Windows 10 When you first connect to a new network, it is assigned the "Public" profile. In this mode, the system blocks other devices from discovering your computer for security reasons. To make your home network visible and functional, you must change this status to "Private." Without this step, any further resource sharing will be futile, as the firewall will hide your PC from the outside world.
To do this, open the Start menu and go to Settings, then select Network & Internet. In the left column, select Status or Wi-Fi (depending on your connection type), find the name of your active network, and click it. In the network properties menu that opens, toggle the radio button to PrivateThe system will now consider this network trusted and allow discovery.
If you have multiple network adapters (e.g., Ethernet and WiFi), make sure the profile is modified specifically for the connection used to communicate with the router. In some corporate environments or when using specific antivirus software, profile settings may be managed by group policies, but for home users, modifications can be made through the standard interface. Windows is the only necessary action.
Setting up sharing options
After changing the network profile, you need to enable the corresponding services in the Network and Sharing Center. Go to Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center. In the left menu, select "Change advanced sharing settings." This section contains key switches that determine how your computer interacts with the surrounding environment.
In the "Private (Current Profile)" section, enable the following options: "Turn on network discovery" (along with automatic configuration of connected devices) and "Turn on file and printer sharing." These settings allow the computer to broadcast its presence on the network and accept connection requests to shared resources. Without network discovery enabled, your PC will be "invisible" to neighboring router users.
Below, in the "All Networks" section, we recommend enabling the "Turn on sharing so network users can read and write files in shared folders" option. Also check the "Turn off password-protected sharing" option if you want to simplify access within your trusted home network and avoid having to enter your username and password every time you connect from another device.
☑️ Checking sharing settings
Sharing folders and drives
Once the network infrastructure is set up, you can begin granting access to specific data. Select the folder you want to make available to other users. Right-click it and select "Properties." Go to the "Sharing" tab and click the "Sharing" button. General access...In the window that opens, select the user. Everyone (All) from the drop-down list, click Add and set the required permission level: Read (view only) or Read and Write (full control).
For more detailed access rights settings, such as denying certain users access to a folder, use the "Advanced Settings" button on the "Access" tab. Check the "Share this folder" box and click "Permissions." Here, you can fine-tune permissions for the "Everyone," "Administrators," or specific accounts by checking or unchecking the "Allow" and "Deny" columns.
Keep in mind that in addition to sharing settings, permissions are also controlled in the "Security" tab of the folder's properties. If the user doesn't have read permissions at the NTFS file system level, sharing settings won't help. Make sure the group is listed in the security groups. Users or Everyone with the appropriate rights.
⚠️ Warning: Granting "Full Control" or "Write" permissions to the "Everyone" group means anyone who connects to your WiFi network will be able to delete or modify files in this folder. Use this only in a fully trusted environment.
Mapping a network drive and working with resources
To avoid searching for the necessary folders in your network neighborhood, it's convenient to map the remote folder as a network drive. To do this, open "This PC," right-click on an empty space, and select "Add new item to Network Neighborhood" or, more easily, click "Map network drive" in the top menu. Select an available drive letter and enter the path to the resource in the "Folder" field in the format \\Computer_Name\Folder or \\IP address\Folder.
If you use IP addresses, make sure they are static; otherwise, after a router reboot, the addresses may change, and the connection will stop working. For permanent connections, it's best to reserve IP addresses in your router's DHCP settings, binding them to the MAC addresses of your computers' network cards. This ensures that the router always assigns the same addresses to your devices.
The first time you connect, the system may prompt you for credentials. If you have disabled password protection, try logging in as a guest. If password protection is enabled, you will need to enter the username and password of the user account on the computer where the folder is located. The username and password must match on both computers for automatic login without a prompt.
Comparison of connection methods and protocols
Windows 10 uses several mechanisms to organize file access, and it is important to understand the differences between them. The traditional protocol SMB (Server Message Block) is the primary method for file shares. However, for multimedia, DLNA or streaming technologies are often used. The choice of method depends on your goals: working with documents requires SMB, while watching videos on a TV requires DLNA or Plex.
Below is a table comparing the main characteristics of different approaches to organizing access in a home network:
| Method | Protocol | Difficulty of setup | Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared folder (SMB) | SMB v2/v3 | Average | High (depends on passwords) |
| Homegroup (Removed) | Proprietary | Low (not available in Win 10) | Average |
| Media server | DLNA / UPnP | Low | Low (read only) |
| Cloud storage | HTTPS / Sync | Low | High (encryption) |
Why did the HomeGroup disappear?
Microsoft removed the HomeGroup feature in Windows 10 version 1803 because it created security vulnerabilities and conflicted with new sync methods. Standard SMB sharing is now used.
Solving typical problems and errors
One of the most common problems is when computers don't see each other in the network list, even though IP address access works. This is often due to a disabled discovery service or ports being blocked by an antivirus program. Check if the service is running. Function Discovery Resource Publication. Click Win + R, enter services.msc, find this service, set the startup type to "Automatic" and start it.
Another common error is "Windows cannot access \\computer." This is often resolved by enabling SMB 1.0 support, although this is less secure. Go to Control Panel → Programs and Features → Turn Windows features on or off. Find "SMB 1.0/CIFS file sharing support" and ensure both the client and server are enabled. However, for modern Windows 10 systems and routers, it's better to use SMB 2.0/3.0.
If the problem is slow transmission speed, check the WiFi band. On the frequency 2.4 GHz The speed in a real network rarely exceeds 20-30 Mbps due to the noise in the air. Switching to a range 5 GHz (if the router is dual-band) can increase the speed to 200-400 Mbps and higher, which is critical for working with large files.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to create a home network if one computer is connected via cable and the other via WiFi?
Yes, this is entirely possible. The main thing is that both devices are on the same subnet (receive IP addresses from the same router) and have the "Private" network profile. The physical connection type (cable or wireless) does not affect the logical organization of the Windows network.
Why am I constantly asked for a password when connecting to a folder?
This occurs if "Password-protected sharing" is enabled on the target computer. To remove the prompt, disable this option in "Advanced sharing settings" or create an identical account (username and password) on both computers.
How do I share an entire drive, not just a folder?
The procedure is similar to opening a folder. Right-click the drive (e.g., D:), select "Properties" → "Sharing" → "Advanced." Check "Share" and add the "Everyone" group with full permissions to the permissions. Be careful, this will give you access to all files on the drive.
Are my shared files visible on the internet?
No, if your router is configured correctly. Your home network is behind a NAT (Network Address Translation), and external internet requests are blocked by default. Files are only visible to devices connected directly to your WiFi router or via a VPN.