Organizing data exchange between devices within an apartment or office is no longer the preserve of system administrators at large corporations. Today, any user can set up local network between your gadgets using a standard router and the Windows 10 operating system. This opens access to shared folders, network printers, and allows you to stream media without unnecessary wires.
Many people encounter a situation where computers are connected to the same router but cannot see each other in the network environment. The problem lies in security settings and network profiles, which block external connections by default. In this article, we'll discuss how to effectively bypass these restrictions and create a stable connection.
Before attempting complex manipulations in the registry or command line, you need to ensure that the underlying infrastructure is working correctly. Windows 10 provides flexible network management tools, but requires care when choosing sharing options.
Preparing equipment and checking connections
The foundation of any local area network is a physical or wireless connection between all participants through a single central node. Make sure all computers you plan to connect are connected to the same Wi-Fi routerIf one device is on the guest network and the other on the main network, or one is connected via cable and the other via Wi-Fi with different client isolation settings, the connection will not be established.
Check the connection status on each PC. A Wi-Fi icon with signal strength should be displayed in the notification area in the lower-right corner of the screen. It's important that the network profile is set to "Private" and not "Public," as Windows automatically hides your computer from detection by other devices when using a public profile.
⚠️ Note: If you are in an office or public space (cafe, coworking space), creating a local network may be prohibited by the organization's security rules. In such cases, the operating system may block attempts to change discovery settings.
For diagnostics, you can use the built-in command line utility. Open a terminal and enter the command to check the IP address:
ipconfigFind your wireless interface in the list of adapters. Write down the address listed in the line. IPv4 addressAll computers on the network must have the same first three digits of this address (for example, 192.168.1.X), which confirms that they are on the same subnet.
☑️ Network readiness check
Setting up a network profile and discovery
Selecting the correct network profile is crucial for proper local network operation. Windows 10 may assign new connections the "Public Network" profile by default, which greatly limits your PC's visibility. You must manually switch this setting to "Private."
To do this, go to the Start menu and select Settings (the gear icon). Then follow the path Network and Internet → StatusIn the "Properties" section of the current connection, click the "Change Profile" button. After switching, the system will allow other devices to discover your computer.
The next step is to enable network discovery. Open Control Panel and go to Network and Sharing Center. On the left, select Change advanced sharing settings.
In the window that opens, expand the "Private (current profile)" tab. Here, you need to enable the following options:
- 📡 Turn on network discovery.
- 📂 Enable file and printer sharing.
- 🔐 Let Windows manage HomeGroup connections.
Be sure to save your changes by clicking the corresponding button at the bottom of the page. The system will then apply the new firewall rules.
Configuring shared access to folders and files
Once the computers have "seen" each other, you need to determine which resources will be available for sharing. You can share any folder on the drive, making it readable or writable from other devices.
Select the folder you want to share. Right-click it and select "Properties." Go to the "Sharing" tab and click "Advanced." Check the "Share this folder" box.
To manage access rights, click the "Permissions" button. Here you can configure who exactly can work with files:
- 👥 The "Everyone" group — any network user has access (less secure).
- 🔒 Specific user - access only for an account with a password.
- ✏️ Access type - you can allow read-only or full control (modify/delete).
There's also a "Security" tab in the folder's properties. Make sure "Everyone" or a specific user is added to the list of groups and users, and that the appropriate permissions are checked. Without configuring permissions in the "Security" tab, even with open network access, the system may return an error when attempting to log in.
⚠️ Note: Granting full permissions (modify and delete) to the "Everyone" group means anyone connected to your Wi-Fi network will be able to delete files in this folder. Use this option only on trusted home networks.
For easier navigation, you can also enable the "Shared Folders" feature. It's located in "Advanced Sharing Settings" under "All Networks." Enabling this option makes the folder Public accessible to all computer and network users.
Troubleshooting passwords and authentication
One of the most common problems when setting up a network is the requirement to enter a password when connecting to resources on another computer. By default, Windows either requires the username and password on both computers to match, or requires entering the administrator credentials of the remote machine.
To make access easier on your home network, you can disable the password requirement. Return to "Advanced sharing settings," expand the "All networks" section, and find "Password-protected sharing." Select "Turn off password-protected sharing" and save your changes.
If you prefer to leave protection enabled (which is recommended for security), you will need to create identical accounts on all computers on the network. The login and password must match exactly, including case.
| Parameter | No password (Home network) | With password (Office/Security) |
|---|---|---|
| Convenience | High (automatic entry) | Low (data entry required) |
| Security | Low (everyone has access to Wi-Fi) | High (private access only) |
| Data risk | Medium/High | Minimum |
| Recommendation | For closed Wi-Fi only | For any networks |
If you receive an access error, try adding credentials manually. Open Control Panel → Credential Manager → Windows Credentials. Click Add and enter the IP address of the remote computer, as well as the username and password of the user on that computer.
What to do if the password is not accepted?
If the system says the password is incorrect, even though you're sure it's correct, try creating a new local user with a simple password (letters and numbers only, no special characters) and sharing the folder specifically for that user. Older SMB protocols sometimes conflict with complex passwords containing special characters.
Access to a network printer and multimedia
A local network allows you to not only share files but also use a single printer to print from any computer. If the printer is connected to one of the computers via USB, it can be shared. If the printer is networked (connected to a router or has its own Wi-Fi network), setup is even simpler.
To share a USB printer, go to "Settings" → "Devices" → "Printers & Scanners." Select the desired printer, click "Manage" → "Printer Properties" → the "Sharing" tab. Check the "Share this printer" box and give it a friendly network name.
On other computers, open Settings → Devices → Printers & Scanners → Add a printer or scanner. The system should find the shared device. If the search doesn't return any results, click "The printer I want isn't listed" and select "Select a shared printer by name," entering the path in the following format: \\ComputerName\PrinterName.
In addition to documents, streaming video and music over a local network is convenient. Enable "Media Streaming" in the Network and Sharing Center. This will allow Smart TVs, game consoles, and other PCs to see your computer's media library and play content directly from your hard drive.
Diagnosis and resolution of typical errors
Even with proper configuration, problems may still occur. Computers may disappear from the network list, or access may be blocked by antivirus software. First, check the Windows services responsible for networking.
Click Win + R, enter services.msc and find the following services. They should be running and have the startup type set to Automatic:
- 🛠️ Function Discovery Resource Publication.
- 🔍 Discovery Provider Host (SSDP Discovery).
- 🌐 Network Discovery.
The problem is often caused by third-party antivirus programs (Kaspersky, ESET, Avast), which have their own built-in firewalls. Try temporarily disabling network protection in your antivirus or switching the network profile in your antivirus to "Home" or "Trusted."
It's also worth checking the SMB 1.0 protocol. In Windows 10, it's disabled by default for security reasons, but some older network devices (NAS, older printers) require it. You can enable it via Control Panel → Programs and Features → Turn Windows features on or off → SMB 1.0 file sharing support.
Why can computers see each other, but folders won't open?
Most likely, the issue is with the access rights on the Security tab or that the Server service is disabled. Check if the service is running. Server in the list of Windows system services.
How do I find out the IP address of another computer on the network?
Ask the owner of the other PC to enter the command ipconfig in the command line and enter the numbers after the words "IPv4 address." Or, view the list of connected clients in your router's web interface.
Is it possible to combine computers running Windows 7 and Windows 10?
Yes, you can. However, on Windows 10, you may need to enable SMB 1.0 support and disable the SMB signing requirement in Group Policy, as Windows 7 uses older security protocols.
Does Wi-Fi speed affect file copy speed?
Yes, directly. The data transfer speed on a local network is limited by the speed of the slowest link. If the router only supports the 802.11n standard and the files are gigabytes, the process may take considerable time. For larger amounts of data, it's better to use an Ethernet cable.