Modern users often need to quickly transfer large amounts of data between devices. External hard drives or flash drives can get lost, and cloud services are not always convenient due to internet speed or download limits. In these situations, the most effective solution is local area network, organized directly between two computers.
Connecting two laptops wirelessly allows you to share files, printers, and even gaming sessions without the need for extra wires. This method is especially useful when transferring hundreds of gigabytes of data, and the speed of a Wi-Fi router or direct connection is higher than the throughput of an external USB drive. It's important to configure security and sharing settings correctly.
In this article, we'll cover all the steps involved in establishing a connection, from checking hardware modules to setting up folder access rights in the operating system. We'll cover both standard router-based methods and specific direct connection options. Peer-to-Peer, which do not require additional equipment.
Checking wireless adapter hardware and drivers
Before you begin software setup, you need to ensure that both laptops are physically ready for use. Make sure that both devices are installed and working properly. Wi-Fi modulesIn most modern models, these components are built into the motherboard, but older devices may use USB adapters.
Make sure your drivers are up-to-date, as outdated software often causes unstable connections or devices not being visible on the network. Open Device Manager and find the "Network Adapters" section. If you see a yellow exclamation mark next to your adapter's name, you need to download the latest drivers from the manufacturer's official website.
⚠️ Warning: Some corporate security policies or antivirus programs may block the network adapter from operating in discovery mode. Ensure that your firewall is not blocking new connections.
It's also worth checking whether the wireless function is physically enabled. Many laptops have a key combination (often Fn + F2 (or a button with an antenna icon), which disables the module via hardware. Without an active signal, no software setting will have any effect.
Creating infrastructure: via a router or directly
There are two main scenarios for establishing communication between laptops. The first and most common is using wireless router (router) as a central access point. In this case, both laptops connect to the same Wi-Fi network, which automatically places them on the same local network segment.
The second option involves creating a network of the type Computer-to-Computer (Ad-hoc) or using the "Mobile Hotspot" feature in Windows 10/11. This method allows you to connect devices directly, without a router, which is useful in the field or when there is no active internet connection.
- 📡 Via router: Provides a stable signal and internet access for both devices simultaneously.
- 🔗 Direct connection: creates an isolated network, ideal for confidential data transfer without access to the outside world.
- ⚡ Speed: With a direct connection, the speed may be higher, since the data does not pass through the router's processor.
The method you choose depends on your current situation. If you have a router handy, it's easier to use that. If you're in a location without Wi-Fi, you'll have to set up the infrastructure yourself on one of your laptops.
Setting up a network profile and discovery settings
A key factor in Windows is the network profile type. For two laptops to successfully connect, the network status must be set to [Network Profile] on both devices. Private (Private). If a network is marked as "Public," the system blocks discovery by other devices for security purposes.
To change your profile, go to your network settings. In Windows 10, this is done via Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → Manage known networksSelect your network and set the switch to "Private." In Windows 11, the process may be slightly different, but the logic remains the same: you need to make your computer visible.
Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network and Sharing Center\Change advanced sharing settingsAfter changing the profile, you need to enable sharing features. In the Network and Sharing Center, select "Change advanced sharing settings." Here, you need to enable network discovery and file and printer sharing. Without these settings, the laptops simply won't "see" each other, even on the same network.
| Parameter | Private network | Guest/Public | All networks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Network discovery | Turn on | Disable | Disable |
| File sharing | Turn on | Disable | Doesn't matter |
| Access to media files | Turn on | Disable | Disable |
| Encryption | 128-bit | Not required | Not required |
Please note that changes take effect only after you save the settings. In some cases, you may need to restart the network adapter or even restart the operating system completely for all security policies to apply.
Setting up a direct connection (Mobile Hotspot)
If you don't have a router handy, you can turn one of your laptops into a hotspot. This feature is built into Windows 10 and 11 and doesn't require any third-party software. The second laptop will connect to the hotspot just like a regular Wi-Fi router.
On the first laptop, go to Settings → Network & Internet → Mobile HotspotEnable the feature and remember the network name and password that the system generates automatically. You can change the network name to something more descriptive, such as Laptop_Network, so as not to get confused.
⚠️ Note: When using a mobile hotspot, the laptop's battery will drain significantly faster. It is recommended to connect the device to a power source.
On the second laptop, scan for available Wi-Fi networks, find the newly created network, and enter the password. Once successfully connected, both devices will be connected to the same local network. Further folder sharing is performed in the same way as with the router.
- 📱 Range: Choose the 5GHz band for faster speeds or 2.4GHz for better compatibility with older adapters.
- 🔋 Energy: Keep an eye on the battery level as the hotspot mode is power-hungry.
- 🔒 Safety: Use the WPA2-Personal protocol to secure the data transmission channel.
Why isn't the hotspot working?
The feature may not work if the Wi-Fi adapter driver does not support virtualization mode or if the Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) service is disabled.
Setting up shared access to folders and files
Once a network connection is established, you need to determine which resources will be available for sharing. The standard approach in Windows involves using a folder General documents or creating a new folder with specially configured access rights.
Create a folder, for example, with the name ExchangeRight-click on it and select "Properties." Go to the "Sharing" tab and click "Advanced." Check "Share this folder" and click "Permissions."
In the window that opens, add the "Everyone" group (or a specific user, if you want to increase security) and grant it full access, write access, and read access. This will allow the second laptop not only to download files but also to write its own data to this folder.
Net Share Exchange=C:\Exchange /GRANT:Everyone,FULLIt's also important to check the security settings on the "Security" tab of the folder's properties. The appropriate permissions should also be set for the "Users" or "Everyone" group. If permissions are missing at the NTFS file system level, network access will be denied, even if the network settings are correct.
☑️ Checking folder settings
Connecting to network resources and troubleshooting
To access files on the second laptop, open File Explorer and go to the "Network" section. If all settings are correct, you'll see the name of the first computer. Double-clicking it will grant access to shared folders. The system may prompt you for the username and password for the first computer's account.
If the computers are not visible, you can try connecting directly using the IP address. Find out the IP address of the first laptop (command ipconfig in the command line). Then in the address bar of the second laptop's Explorer, enter \\192.168.1.XX (where XX is the address of the first PC).
- 🔍 Search: Use Explorer search to find network devices.
- 📝 IP address: A static IP makes it easier to always access resources.
- 🛡️ Firewall: Often blocks connections, ask for permission the first time you connect.
⚠️ Note: Operating system interfaces and menu item names may differ slightly depending on the version of Windows (Home, Pro, Enterprise) and installed security updates.
A common problem is the password requirement. If you want easier access, you can disable password protection in the "All Networks" section of the sharing settings. However, this will reduce the security of your local network, and anyone connected to your Wi-Fi will be able to access your files.
Why doesn't the second laptop see the first one, even though Wi-Fi is on?
Most often, the problem lies with the network profile. If the network is marked as "Public," Windows is hiding the computer from other devices. Also, check if the "Function Discovery Resource Publishing" service is enabled in the Windows services list.
How to transfer files faster than Wi-Fi?
Wireless technology has speed and stability limitations. For transferring terabytes of data, it's faster and more reliable to use an Ethernet cable (twisted pair) directly connecting laptops, or an external SSD with a USB 3.0/3.1 interface.
Is it possible to play online games through the created connection?
Yes, if the game supports a local area network (LAN). A direct connection or connection through a router creates a virtual LAN environment. Make sure your firewall isn't blocking the game's executable file.