How to connect two laptops via Wi-Fi in Windows 10

In today's digital world, the need to quickly transfer large amounts of data between devices is constant. Removing external hard drives or searching for flash drives becomes not only inconvenient but also slow, especially when both computers are in the same room. Local area network A wireless connection allows you to instantly share files, play online games, or even use the resources of one PC from another.

operating system Windows 10 The router provides powerful built-in tools for organizing such interactions, but the default settings are often hidden or modified for security reasons. Users often encounter a situation where computers see the router but are unable to see each other in the network environment. Understanding the principles of protocol operation and properly configuring profiles solves 90% of device visibility issues.

In this article, we'll cover every setup step, from checking drivers to creating shared folders with full access. You'll learn how to avoid common errors, why antivirus software might block connections, and which command line commands can help diagnose the problem if the graphical interface doesn't respond. The key point is that the workgroup and the “Private” network status match on both devices.

Checking compatibility and preparing equipment

Before beginning setup, ensure both laptops are technically ready to work in the same space. First, check that both devices are connected to the same wireless network. If one laptop is using guest Wi-Fi and the other is using the main Wi-Fi network, or one is using the 2.4 GHz band and the other is forced to use 5 GHz with client isolation, the connection will fail.

Make sure both devices have the latest drivers installed. Wi-Fi adaptersOutdated software may not correctly process broadcast requests, which are necessary for discovering other computers. It's also worth checking whether "Client Isolation" mode is enabled on your router. This is often enabled by default on public networks, but can be accidentally enabled at home.

⚠️ Attention: If you're on a corporate network or in a dorm, the system administrator may have blocked direct connections between user devices at the network hardware level. In this case, software settings on laptops won't help.

To check your current connection status, open the "Settings" menu and go to the Networks section. Here, it's important to ensure the network profile type is set to "Private." If the system considers the network "Public," it will automatically hide your computer from detection by other devices for security reasons.

Setting up a network profile and discovery

The first step in the configuration process is to change the network status on both laptops. When connecting to a new Wi-Fi network for the first time, Windows 10 often assigns the "Public Network" profile, making the PC invisible. To fix this, click the Wi-Fi icon in the system tray, select your connection, and click "Properties."

In the window that opens, find the profile switcher and set the value "Private"This action will allow the computer to respond to discovery requests and open ports for local data exchange. Repeat this step on the second laptop, as the settings are applied individually for each device and each network.

Next, you need to enable discovery features. Go to Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center. On the left, select Change advanced sharing settings. This is where you'll find the key visibility settings.

• 📡 Enable network discovery and automatic configuration of connecting devices.
• 📂 Enable file and printer sharing.
• 🔓 Allow Windows to manage HomeGroup connections (if available).

After making changes, be sure to click "Save Changes." If you don't, the system will ignore your changes the next time you log in to the network. It's also recommended to disable password protection for shared access in this menu if you're in a trusted home environment and want to simplify logging in without constantly entering your credentials.

Creating and configuring a workgroup

For computers to be displayed correctly in the network environment, they must be in the same working groupBy default, Windows 10 uses the name WORKGROUP, but sometimes on one of the laptops it can be changed by the user or third-party software, which will lead to them being “invisible” to each other.

To check and change the workgroup name, right-click "This PC" and select "Properties." In the window that opens, find the "Change settings" link (on the right) and click "Change" in the dialog box that appears. Here you will see the current computer name and workgroup name.

Make sure the "Workgroup" field on both laptops is identical. Letter case isn't important, but exact character matching is essential. The computer name itself must be unique for each device on the network to avoid addressing conflicts.

After changing the workgroup name, the system will require a reboot. Restart both devices for the changes to take effect and be correctly registered in the local domain.

What if the names don't change?

If the system doesn't allow you to change the workgroup name, it's possible your computer is part of a corporate network domain. In this case, you'll need to disconnect the PC from the domain or contact your system administrator. For home PCs, this restriction is rare and is usually caused by registry errors.

Organizing shared folders and resources

Once the foundation is laid, you can begin creating access points to your data. The easiest way is to use the standard "Shared Documents" folder, which is accessible by default when sharing is enabled. However, for convenience, it's better to create a dedicated sharing folder.

Create a new folder at the root of your drive or in a convenient location, right-click it, and select "Properties." Go to the "Sharing" tab and click "Advanced." Check the "Share this folder" box.

Next, you need to configure access permissions. Click "Permissions" and ensure that the "Everyone" group (or a specific user) has read and edit permissions. If you plan to transfer large video files or work directly with documents, "Edit" permissions are required.

• 📁 Select the Security tab in the folder properties.
• 👥 Add the user "All" if it is not in the list.
• ✅ Check the "Full Control" or "Change" boxes.

This folder will now be accessible from the other laptop over the network. To access the network environment, you can use File Explorer by entering the IP address of the first computer or its network name in the address bar in the format \\ComputerName.

⚠️ Attention: Granting full access to a folder on a public network (like a cafe or airport) is extremely dangerous. Make sure the network profile is set to "Private," otherwise your files may become accessible to strangers on the same Wi-Fi network.

Using Nearby Share

Windows 10 has a more modern and simple method of transferring files that does not require the creation of complex network structures - the function Near Share (Nearby Sharing). It works similarly to AirDrop in macOS and uses a combination of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to discover devices.

To enable this feature, go to Settings → System → Sharing. Turn on the Nearby Share toggle and select "Everyone" or "My devices only" for visibility. This method is ideal for quickly sharing photos, documents, or links.

The transfer process is extremely simple: simply right-click the file, select "Share," and select the second laptop from the list of available devices. A notification will appear on the receiving end, which must be confirmed to begin the upload.

It is important to note that for this feature to work, both laptops must have Bluetooth and they must be located close enough to each other. If the devices are not located, check whether your firewall is blocking the discovery protocol.

Diagnosing and resolving connection problems

Despite proper configuration, situations may arise where laptops cannot see each other. Often, the problem lies with Windows services that have been stopped for some reason. Open the command prompt (cmd) as administrator and check the service status. Function Discovery Resource Publication.

If the service is stopped, you can start it with the command net start fdrespubIt's also worth checking the "Function Discovery Resource Publishing" service. Without it, the computer won't advertise its presence on the network, even if all the settings are correct.

Another common cause of blocking is third-party antivirus software. It may consider the local network a potentially dangerous area. Try temporarily disabling the antivirus's firewall and checking if the second laptop appears in the network environment.

ping 192.168.1.XX

Use the command ping Use the second laptop's IP address to check the physical connection. If you can ping but can't see the folders, the issue is with the access settings. If there's no ping, the problem lies with the Wi-Fi drivers or router.

Why does the second laptop require a password to log in?

This happens if password protection for sharing is enabled on the first computer. To remove the prompt, select "Turn off password-protected sharing" at the very bottom of "Advanced sharing settings." Alternatively, create an identical account (username and password) on both computers.

How to find out the IP address of a laptop on the network?

Open the command prompt (Win+R, enter cmd) and type the command ipconfigYou're looking for the "IPv4 Address" line in the section for your wireless adapter. It typically looks like 192.168.0.X or 192.168.1.X.

Is it possible to connect laptops without a router?

Yes, it's called an ad-hoc network. One laptop can create a direct wireless connection, which the other can then connect to. However, in Windows 10, this feature is hidden and requires creating a profile via the command line (netsh wlan), which is more complicated than using a standard Wi-Fi router.