Setting up a local network between a desktop computer and a laptop is a common task faced by many home and office network users. The need to quickly exchange large amounts of data, share a printer, or even set up a game server requires a stable connection, which is impossible to achieve through external cloud storage due to speed limitations.
Modern wireless technologies Allows you to create a fully-fledged local area network (LAN) without running extra cables, using your existing Wi-Fi router. This solution is ideal for those who value order and mobility, allowing them to move around their home or office while maintaining access to their main computer's resources.
In this article, we'll cover the network setup process in detail, from checking your hardware to fine-tuning access rights in the Windows operating system. You'll learn how to avoid common mistakes and ensure maximum data transfer speeds.
Preparing equipment and checking the network
The first step is to ensure physical connectivity between the devices. Both computers—the desktop PC and the laptop—must be connected to the same router. It doesn't matter whether Wi-Fi connection or an Ethernet cable, the main thing is that they are on the same subnet.
Check the router's lights: if the devices are connected correctly, the corresponding LAN ports or wireless indicator should be lit or blinking. Make sure the network adapter on both devices is enabled and functioning properly.
⚠️ Important: If your router supports the Guest Network feature, make sure both devices are not connected to it. Guest networks often have client isolation, which prevents data exchange between connected devices.
You can use built-in Windows tools for diagnostics. Open a command prompt and enter the command ipconfigto find the IP addresses of the gateway and the devices themselves. The addresses must match by the first three digits, for example, 192.168.1.x.
Setting the network type in Windows
By default, the Windows operating system blocks discovery of other computers on the network if the network profile is set to "Public." This is a security measure, but it also prevents local connections. You need to change this setting to "Private" or "Home."
Open "Settings" from the Start menu and select "Network & Internet." Find your Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter in the list of available connections. Click the name of your active network to open its properties.
In the window that opens, find the network profile switch. Change the value from "Public" to "Private." This will allow the computer to be visible to other devices and open ports for local data transfer.
- 🔹 Click "Start" and select the "Settings" gear icon.
- 🔹 Go to "Network and Internet" → "Status".
- 🔹 Select "Properties" for the active connection.
- 🔹 In the "Network profile" block, set the marker to "Private".
Perform this procedure on both devices: the computer and the laptop. Only after changing the profile on both ends of the connection will they be able to "see" each other in the network environment.
Turn on network discovery and sharing
The next step is to configure sharing settings. Even with the correct network profile, Windows may block file sharing. For this purpose, there's a dedicated Network and Sharing Center.
Open Control Panel (you can find it in the search bar) and go to Network and Sharing Center. In the left menu, select Change advanced sharing settings.
Here you'll see profiles for different network types. Make sure you're in the "Private (current profile)" section. You'll need to enable the "Turn on network discovery" toggle and check the "Turn on automatic configuration of connecting network devices" box.
Also enable "File and Printer Sharing." Without this option, other users won't be able to access your shared folders, even if they see your computer on the network.
☑️ Access setup checklist
At the bottom of the window, find the "All Networks" section. Here you can configure sharing for public folders and, importantly, disable password-protected access if you're on a trusted home network.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling password protection allows anyone who connects to your Wi-Fi to access your files without entering a username and password. Only do this if you are completely confident in the security of your Wi-Fi channel and know all your neighbors.
After making all changes, be sure to click the "Save Changes" button. The system will apply the settings and restart network services.
Advanced configuration via registry and services
Sometimes the default settings aren't enough, especially on older versions of Windows or when using specific OS builds. In such cases, manual activation of SMB services is required.
Click Win + R, enter services.msc and press Enter. In the list of services, find "Function Discovery Resource Publishing." Make sure it's running and the startup type is set to "Automatic."
Also check the "Computer," "Server," and "Workstation" services. They should be running. If any of them are stopped, double-click them to start them.
For advanced users, there is the option to edit the registry. Click Win + R, enter regedit. Follow the path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkstation\ParametersCreate a DWORD value named AllowInsecureGuestAuth and meaning 1, if you have problems accessing old NAS storage or other PCs.
Why do we need SMB 1.0 service?
SMB 1.0 is an outdated and less secure protocol, but some older devices (printers, NAS) only work with it. It should only be enabled when absolutely necessary via Control Panel → Programs and Features → Turn Windows features on or off.
Creating a shared folder and setting permissions
Now that the network is set up, you need to select the data you want to share. Create a new folder on your drive or select an existing one.
Right-click the folder and select "Properties." Go to the "Sharing" tab and click "Advanced." Check the "Share this folder" box.
Click the "Permissions" button. Here you can configure who can do what with files. For home use, the "Everyone" group with "Full Control" or "Modify" permissions is usually sufficient.
Don't forget to check the "Security" tab. If the "Everyone" user or a specific user isn't listed there, add them and grant the appropriate permissions. Without NTFS file system-level permissions, network access won't work, even if network access is enabled.
- 📁 Create a folder, for example, "Exchange".
- 🔒 Right-click → "Properties" → "Access".
- 👥 Click "Share...", select a user or "Everyone".
- ✅ Click "Share" and then "Done".
To increase security, you can create a separate user in Windows with a simple password and grant access to folders to this user, rather than to the "Everyone" group.
Connecting to a computer and troubleshooting
To access your computer from a laptop (or vice versa), open File Explorer and enter the IP address of the target device in the address bar in the format \\192.168.1.X, where X is the last digit of the computer address.
If everything is configured correctly, a window will open displaying the contents of the shared folders. For convenience, you can right-click the folder and select "Mount as network drive" to make it appear as a separate drive in "My Computer."
The table below shows the error codes and their solutions:
| Error Code / Message | Probable cause | Solution method |
|---|---|---|
| 0x80070035 | The network path was not found. | Check your IP address, enable SMB 1.0 service, check your antivirus. |
| 0x80070005 | Access denied | Incorrect password, password protection is disabled, or you do not have NTFS rights. |
| 0x80004005 | Non-specific error | Problems with the SMB protocol, try updating your network card drivers. |
| No access, password request | Requiring credentials | Enter the login and password for the remote PC account. |
A common problem is antivirus or firewall settings. If nothing helps, try temporarily disabling your third-party antivirus and checking the connection.
Also, make sure the time and date are set to the same on both devices. Time misalignment can cause Kerberos authorization errors.
⚠️ Note: Windows and router interfaces are subject to update. If you don't find the described options, use the settings search or refer to the documentation for your router manufacturer and OS version.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the maximum file transfer speed over Wi-Fi?
Speed depends on the Wi-Fi standard (n, ac, ax) and the router's power. With the 802.11n standard, actual speeds rarely exceed 30-40 Mbps. The AC standard (Wi-Fi 5) allows for speeds of 50-80 Mbps, and AX (Wi-Fi 6) can reach speeds of over 100 Mbps under ideal conditions.
Is it possible to connect a computer and a laptop without a router?
Yes, this is called an ad-hoc network or direct connection. However, in modern versions of Windows, this is implemented inconveniently. It's easier to use the "Mobile Hotspot" feature on one device, turning it into a hotspot that the other one can connect to.
Why is my computer visible on the network, but folders won't open?
The problem is most likely with NTFS permissions (see the "Security" tab in the folder properties) or that the "Server" service is disabled. Also, check if your antivirus software is blocking the connection.
Do I need to know the IP address to connect?
Not necessarily. If network discovery is working correctly, the computer will be visible in the "Network" section of File Explorer. However, connecting by IP address (\\192.168.x.x) is the most reliable and fastest way.