How to create a Wi-Fi network between two computers in Windows 10

Organizing local interaction between devices is a basic skill that every operating system user needs. Windows 10Sharing large video files, collaborating on documents, or using a shared printer requires a stable connection that's easy to implement without unnecessary cables. Wireless technology allows you to connect a desktop PC and a laptop, or two laptops, into a single ecosystem in minutes.

Modern routing standards provide sufficient data transfer speeds for most home tasks. You won't need specialized software or complex engineering knowledge, as all the necessary tools are already built into the operating system. The key is to properly configure security settings and device visibility in the local area.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the configuration process in detail, eliminating common mistakes that often lead to computers not "seeing" each other. We'll cover firewall settings, network profiles, and resource access rights. Following this process will help you create a reliable communication channel between your devices.

Compatibility Check and Basic Requirements

Before beginning the detailed setup, make sure both computers are connected to the same wireless access point. This is a fundamental requirement: if one device is connected via Ethernet and the other via Wi-Fi, they can still communicate, but only if the router doesn't separate them into different VLANs or guest networks. In a standard home setup, all devices should be on the same network segment.

Make sure that the network adapter is activated on both computers and that the latest drivers are installed. Network discovery — a key feature that can be disabled by default for security reasons. Without it enabled, the operating system will hide the device from other users of the local connection, making data exchange impossible.

⚠️ Note: If you're using public Wi-Fi (at a cafe or airport), creating an open local network may be blocked by the client isolation access point settings. In these circumstances, connecting two devices directly will be impossible.

It's also worth checking your operating system version. Although SMB protocols support interoperability between different versions of Windows, security updates are critical for stable operation. Outdated builds may conflict with new encryption standards.

Setting up a network profile and device visibility

The first step in the configuration process is changing the network profile from "Public" to "Private." Windows 10 assigns the "Public" profile to new connections by default, which severely limits the computer's visibility to other devices. This is a security mechanism that needs to be reconfigured for home use.

To do this, go to the "Settings" menu and select "Network & Internet." In the list of available connections, find your active Wi-Fi network and click on it. In the properties window that opens, change the switch to "Private." This will allow the system to open ports for local communication.

Next, you need to enable discovery features. Open Control Panel and go to Network and Sharing Center. On the left, select Change sharing settings. Here, you'll need to enable network discovery and file and printer sharing for the current profile.

• 📡 Enable the "Turn on network discovery" option to automatically install network devices.
• 📂 Enable "Turn on file and printer sharing" to allow access to resources.
• 🔐 If necessary, enable "Let Windows manage HomeGroup connections."

Save your changes by clicking the "Save Changes" button. The operating system is now ready to announce its presence and accept incoming connection requests from trusted devices.

Configuring sharing settings

After setting up your profile, you need to determine which resources will be accessible to other users. You can share a specific folder, an entire drive, or a connected printer. It's important to understand the difference between "Read" and "Modify" permissions to prevent others from accidentally deleting your files.

To configure access to a folder, right-click it and select "Properties." Go to the "Sharing" tab and click "Advanced." Check the "Share this folder" box and click "Permissions."

In the window that opens, you'll see a list of groups and users. Select the "Everyone" group (or add a specific user) and select the desired permissions at the bottom: "Full Control," "Modify," or "Read." For simple file transfers, read and modify permissions are usually sufficient.

Don't forget to also check the "Security" tab in the folder's properties. NTFS (file system) permissions take precedence over network permissions. If the "Everyone" user or a specific account name isn't listed in the security list, access will be denied, even if the network settings are correct.

Using these settings ensures that when connecting from another computer, the user will either be presented with a clear system of restrictions or have full control, depending on your configuration.

Firewall and Security Management

The built-in Windows Defender (firewall) often becomes an unnoticed obstacle, blocking incoming connections even with properly configured network settings. The system may consider local traffic suspicious if the rules aren't configured accordingly.

To eliminate this factor, open Control Panel, select Windows Defender Firewall, and go to Allow an app.... Find File and Printer Sharing in the list and make sure the boxes for Private and, if necessary, Public are checked.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling the firewall completely to configure your network is dangerous. It's better to create an exception for a specific type of traffic than to leave your system unprotected from external attacks.

If you use third-party antivirus software (Kaspersky, ESET, Avast), their built-in firewalls may intercept network control. In this case, you should look for the settings in the antivirus interface under "Firewall" or "Network Protection."

It's also worth checking whether SMB 1.0 protocol support is enabled, although this is rarely required for modern Windows 10 systems. More importantly, ensure that SMB Direct support is enabled to speed up large data transfers over the network.

Connecting to shared resources by IP address

Sometimes automatic discovery fails, and computers don't show up in the network neighborhood. In this case, the most reliable method is to connect directly via IP address. This bypasses discovery protocol issues and allows you to access files directly.

First, find out the IP address of the computer where the files are located. To do this, open the command prompt on it (press Win + R, enter cmd and press Enter) and enter the command ipconfigFind the "IPv4 Address" line—it usually looks like 192.168.1.X or 192.168.0.X.

On the second computer, open File Explorer and enter the address in the address bar in the format \\192.168.1.X (Replace X with actual numbers). Press Enter. If your permissions and firewall settings are correct, a window will open with a list of available folders.

• 💻 Enter the login and password for the remote computer account when prompted.
• 📁 Check the "Remember credentials" box to avoid having to enter your password again.
• 🚀 Click "OK" to access the content.

For convenience, you can map a network folder as a local drive. In the File Explorer window, right-click on an empty space and select "Map network drive." Select any available drive letter and specify the path to the resource. The folder will now appear in "My Computer" as a regular hard drive partition.

Solving common access problems and errors

One of the most common issues is the error "Windows cannot access..." or a password prompt that the system doesn't accept. This is often due to the fact that passwordless sign-in for network accounts is disabled by default in Windows 10.

If you want to simplify access and avoid entering passwords (which is only allowed on a trusted home network), you can change the security policy. Click Win + R, enter secpol.msc and go to "Local Policies" → "Security Options." Find "Password-protected sharing" and disable it.

Another common cause is time misalignment. If the system time on both computers is significantly different, Kerberos authentication protocols may block the connection. Ensure the date and time are set correctly on both devices.

Also worth mentioning is the "Discovery Provider Host" service. If it's stopped, your computer may not be visible on the network. Check its status via services.msc and if necessary, run it, setting the startup type to "Automatic".

⚠️ Note: Interfaces and menu item names may vary slightly depending on your Windows 10 build version (Home, Pro, Enterprise) and installed updates. Always consult the latest Microsoft documentation if the interface looks different.

If none of the methods helped, try temporarily disabling your antivirus software or resetting your network settings with the command netsh winsock reset in the command line with administrator rights, and then be sure to reboot the system.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)