Setting up a local network between two PCs via Wi-Fi

Creating a local area network between two computers without using wires is a practical solution for modern apartments and small offices where cable installation is impossible or undesirable. Wireless technology It allows you to instantly establish data exchange, run online games, and even share peripherals like printers or scanners. To accomplish this, you'll need a standard Wi-Fi router and two devices with working wireless modules.

Unlike a wired connection, Wi-Fi network requires more careful configuration of security and sharing settings to prevent unauthorized access from outside. Modern operating systems, such as Windows 10 or Windows 11, have built-in tools to automate this process, but often require manual intervention to function correctly. Understanding the basic principles of operation TCP/IP protocols will help you avoid common configuration errors.

Before you begin setting up the software, make sure both computers are connected to the same wireless network. It is critical that the network type is defined by the system as "Private" and not "Public", as many discovery features are blocked by default in the public profile for security reasons. If you plan to transfer large amounts of data, it's better to use the standard 802.11ac or 802.11ax to achieve maximum speed.

Checking hardware and connecting to the router

The first step is to physically establish a connection between the devices. You need to make sure that router is working properly and is distributing IP addresses to both computers. Check the indicators on the router body: the light WLAN or Wi-Fi The indicator should be lit or blinking, indicating data is being transmitted. If one computer is connected via a cable and the other via wireless, they will still be able to communicate, but for a pure wireless network, both must be connected to Wi-Fi.

Open the list of available networks on each computer and find the name of your home network (SSID). When connecting, the system will ask for a password if the network is protected by an encryption protocol. WPA2 or WPA3After successfully entering the password, the operating system will assign an IP address to the network adapter automatically if enabled. DHCP server on the router.

You can use built-in diagnostic tools or third-party utilities to check signal quality. A weak signal can lead to connection interruptions when transferring large files. Review the table below to understand the approximate impact of distance and obstacles on speed:

If you notice that the signal on one of your computers is weak, try moving the router to a more central point in the room or raising it higher. Antennas The router's antennas should be oriented vertically for better coverage of the space.

Setting network type and discovery options in Windows

After physically connecting, you need to properly configure the network profile in the operating system. Windows may classify the new connection as "Public" by default, which hides your computer from other devices. To change this, go to Settings → Network & Internet → Properties and select the profile type "Private"This action will allow the computer to become visible to other devices on the local network.

Next, you need to configure the sharing settings. Open Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center → Change advanced sharing settingsHere you need to activate several key options: network discovery, file and printer sharing, and homegroup access (if used). Without these features enabled, computers simply won't "see" each other, even when on the same network.

• 📡 Network discovery: Allows the computer to see and be visible to other devices.
• 📂 File and Printer Sharing: Grants permission to read and write data to shared resources.
• 🔒 Password protection: It is recommended to enable this for private use so that only users with accounts have access.

Enabling these settings requires administrator privileges. If you're working in a corporate environment, some options may be blocked by group policies. On a home network, this usually doesn't cause any issues, but antivirus software may block connections. In this case, you'll need to add your network to the trusted list in the settings. firewall.

⚠️ Warning: Enabling network discovery in public places (cafes, airports) can expose your files to attackers. Always check your network type before enabling network sharing.

Create a shared folder for file sharing

Now that the network infrastructure is ready, you can create a place to store shared data. Select the drive or partition where the folder will be located and create a new directory, for example, named ShareRight-click on the folder and select Properties and go to the tab "Access"Here you need to click the "Advanced settings" button and check the "Share this folder" box.

The next step is to configure access rights for users. Click the button Permissions and select the "Everyone" group or a specific user from the list. For full network functionality, we recommend checking the "Full Control," "Modify," and "Read" boxes. This will allow the second computer to not only open files but also write new ones or delete old ones.

Don't forget about the tab too "Safety" in the folder properties. It often happens that network access is open, but NTFS file system permissions block access. Make sure the user is listed in the security groups. All or HomeGroup with the appropriate permissions. If the item is missing, add it manually using the "Edit" button.

Setting up printer sharing

If a printer is connected to one of the computers, you can also make it accessible to the second computer via Wi-Fi. To do this, open Settings → Devices → Printers & ScannersSelect your printer and click Control, then Printer properties and go to the tab "Access".

Check the "Share this printer" box and give it a descriptive network name, preferably without spaces or special characters, using Latin characters. This name will be displayed when searching for devices on the second computer. Make sure the printer drivers are installed correctly and the device is running in local mode before attempting to share it.

On the second computer, open Control Panel → Devices and Printers and select "Add a Printer." The system should automatically find the network printer. If the automatic search does not yield results, use the "The printer I want isn't listed" option and select search by name, entering the path in the format \\ComputerName\PrinterName.

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /flushdns