A modern digital office or home media center rarely requires just one device. There's often a pressing need to quickly transfer gigabytes of photos, documents, or movies from one PC to another. Using flash drives in the age of high-speed wireless technologies seems archaic, and cloud storage can be problematic when there's no internet connection or data limits. This is where a local network built over your Wi-Fi connection comes in.
Connecting two computers wirelessly is a task that can be accomplished in minutes using the operating system's built-in tools. You won't need to purchase additional cables, switches, or complex networking equipment. Local Area Network (LAN) It allows you to not only share files, but also run joint games, use shared printers, and even control one computer from another via remote desktop.
In this article, we'll cover two main scenarios: a classic router connection, where both devices are on the same network, and a direct computer-to-computer connection without a router. We'll also cover security settings, access rights, and common errors that can occur during Windows configuration.
Preparing equipment and checking the network
Before moving on to complex settings, you need to ensure that the physical connection is working properly. Both computers must have working Wi-Fi adapters. If you plan to connect the PCs via a router, make sure both devices are connected to the same wireless network. This is the foundation without which further steps are pointless.
Check if the devices can see each other at a basic level. A simple ping command can be used for this. Open a command prompt on the first computer by entering cmd in the Start menu. You will need to find the IP address of the second computer. On the second PC, click Win + R, enter cmd and in the black window enter the command ipconfigFind the line "IPv4 address", it will look something like this 192.168.1.5.
Now go back to the first computer and in the command prompt type ping 192.168.1.5 (substituting the real IP of the second PC). If you see responses like "Reply from...," then there's a physical connection, and the problem lies in the access settings. If you see a message like "Request timed out," then packets are being lost, and you need to look for the cause in the drivers or router settings.
It's also important to ensure that the network type in Windows is correctly detected. The system often assigns the "Public Network" profile when connecting to a new Wi-Fi network for the first time, which blocks the device's visibility. Network profile must be changed to "Private" or "Home" to allow discovery.
Setting up sharing in Windows
After verifying the physical connection, you need to allow the operating system to share resources. In Windows 10 and 11, these settings are scattered across different menus, but the logic remains the same. Open Control Panel, go to Network and Internet, and select Network and Sharing Center. On the left, click the link "Change advanced sharing settings."
Here you'll see profiles for different network types. Expand the "Private" tab (or your current network profile). You'll need to enable the following features:
- ✅ Enable network discovery - allows other PCs to see your computer.
- ✅ Enable file and printer sharing — grants permission to work with resources.
- ✅ Allow Windows to manage HomeGroup connections - optional, but useful for automation.
Next, go to the "All Networks" section. Here you'll find a critically important setting: "Password-protected sharing." If you're on a trusted home network, it's best to disable this to avoid having to enter account passwords every time you connect. However, if you're in an office or a busy location, leave it enabled for security.
⚠️ Attention: Disabling password protection makes your shared folders accessible to anyone who connects to your Wi-Fi. Make sure your wireless network is configured with strong WPA2 or WPA3 encryption.
Be sure to click the "Save Changes" button at the bottom of the page, otherwise all settings will be reset when you close the window. The system may then require a restart of network services or the computer itself for the changes to take effect.
☑️ Network preparation checklist
Create a shared folder for file sharing
Simply enabling sharing isn't enough—you need to tell the system exactly what data can be transferred. Create a new folder on your drive or select an existing one that you plan to use as the clipboard. Right-click it and select "Properties." Go to the "Sharing" tab and click "Advanced Settings."
Check the "Share this folder" box. Below is the "Permissions" button. Here you can fine-tune user permissions. By default, the "Everyone" group is selected, but permissions are often limited to read only. To be able to write files from another computer, select the "Everyone" group and check "Full Control" in the "Allow" column.
There's a second level of protection—the "Security" tab in the folder properties. Sometimes permissions are granted in the access section, but not in the security section. Make sure "Everyone" or the specific user is listed in the groups and users list, and that they have "Modify" and "Write" permissions.
| Parameter | Access tab | Security tab |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Network access to the resource | Local NTFS permissions |
| Priority | Low (wide access) | High (blocks access) |
| Recommendation | Enable "Full Access" | Check write permissions |
| Influence | Online visibility | Physical recording to disk |
Once configured, the folder will be accessible over the network. Other users will be able to find it by opening "Network" in File Explorer or by using the direct path. Please note that the folder name on the network may differ from the name on the disk; this can be changed in the same advanced settings.
What to do if the folder won't open?
If you receive an access error when trying to log in, try adding the "Guest" user to your allowed group. To do this, enable guest access in the advanced sharing settings. However, keep in mind that this reduces your security level.
Connecting via network address and Explorer
The fastest way to access another computer's shared resources is to use its IP address or network name. Open any file explorer on the first computer. In the address bar, enter two backslashes and the IP address of the second computer, for example: \\192.168.1.5. Press Enter.
If all settings are correct, you will see open folders on the second computer. For ease of use, you can right-click the desired folder and select "Map network drive." Select any available drive letter (for example, Z:), and the folder will appear in "My Computer" as a regular local hard drive partition.
You can also use the computer's network name instead of the IP address. You can find it in the system properties (settings) System → About the system). The command will look like this: \\NameOfPCThis is more convenient because IP addresses assigned by the router via DHCP can change after a reboot, but the name remains constant.
If the system asks for a login and password, enter the user account information. second computer (the one to whose folders you are connecting). The login is often required in the format PCName\UserName.
Organizing a direct computer-to-computer connection
What if you don't have a router handy, or it's broken, and you need to transfer files urgently? Windows allows you to create a direct wireless connection (Ad-Hoc). In this case, one computer broadcasts the Wi-Fi, and the other connects to it, creating a mini-LAN.
On the first computer (the one that will be "distributing"), open a command prompt as administrator. Enter the command to create a virtual network:
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=MyDirectNet key=Password123Here MyDirectNet — the name of your network, and Password123 — password. After creating the network, start it with the command:
netsh wlan start hostednetworkNow, on the second computer, find the "MyDirectNet" network you created in the list of available Wi-Fi networks and connect using the password. Once connected, you'll need to configure public access (IP addresses) manually, as there's no DHCP server on this network. Enter static addresses in the IPv4 properties on both computers:
- 📡 PC 1: IP
192.168.137.1, mask255.255.255.0 - 📡 PC 2: IP
192.168.137.2, mask255.255.255.0, gateway192.168.137.1
⚠️ Attention: When connecting directly, your antivirus or Windows Firewall may be blocking incoming connections. If pinging fails, temporarily disable the firewall to test or create an exception rule for the private network.
This method is especially useful for laptops when traveling or setting up new hardware where wired internet access is not available and drivers need to be transferred from one PC to another.
Diagnosis and solution of typical problems
Even with careful configuration, errors may still occur. One of the most common is "Windows cannot access..." with error code 0x80070035 (the network path was not found). This is often due to a disabled discovery service. Click Win + R, enter services.msc and find the "Function Discovery Resource Publication" service. Set the startup type to "Automatic" and start it.
Another issue is different versions of the SMB protocol. Older computers (Windows XP, 7) may not be able to connect to Windows 10/11 because SMBv1 is disabled by default. Enabling it is not recommended due to vulnerabilities; it's better to configure modern protocols or use third-party software like Total Commander with a LAN plugin.
If file transfer speeds are extremely slow (a few kilobytes per second), check your Wi-Fi frequency. The 2.4 GHz band is highly susceptible to interference and has low throughput. For fast transfer of large files, it is critical to use the 5 GHz band if your adapters and router support the 802.11ac or ax standard.
It's also worth checking your Wi-Fi adapter's power-saving settings. Find your wireless adapter in Device Manager, go to Properties, and under the "Power Management" tab, uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power." This will prevent connection drops when idle.
Questions and Answers (FAQ)
Is it possible to connect a computer and a laptop without a router?
Yes, this is possible. You can use the "Mobile Hotspot" feature in Windows 10/11 to turn one of your laptops into a hotspot, or create a direct ad-hoc connection via the command line, as described in the section above.
Why can't computers see each other in the Network folder?
Most likely, the network profile is set to "Public." Switch it to "Private" in the network settings. Also, make sure the "Discovery" service is enabled on both PCs and they are in the same workgroup (WORKGROUP by default).
What is the maximum speed when transferring via Wi-Fi?
Speed depends on the Wi-Fi standard. For 802.11n (2.4 GHz), the actual speed will be 3-5 Mbps. For 802.11ac (5 GHz), you can achieve 40-80 Mbps and higher. A wired connection (Ethernet) will always be faster and more stable than a wireless one.
Do I need to disable my antivirus to set up a network?
Usually not. Simply add your network to the trusted list in your antivirus settings. Completely disabling protection is only necessary for in-depth diagnostics if you're confident your local environment is secure.