How to connect computers to a local network via Wi-Fi in Windows 10

Creating a local network between multiple devices within a single room is a fundamental task faced by every user who wants to share files without using external storage devices. Local area network (LAN) allows you to not only transfer documents, photos, and videos at high speed, but also share printers or even play online games. In an era when cable connections are becoming a thing of the past, wireless Wi-Fi becomes the most convenient and aesthetic solution for home and small office.

operating system Windows 10 While it offers a wide range of tools for configuring network interactions, standard security settings often block device visibility by default. Users must manually enable several settings to allow computers to "see" each other. Incorrect configuration can result in the network functioning, but data exchange being impossible due to firewall policies or disabled discovery services.

In this article, we'll walk you through the setup process in detail, covering not only the basic steps but also the often-overlooked nuances. You'll learn how to properly classify your network, set up sharing, and troubleshoot common connection errors. A critical requirement is that all connecting computers must be on the same subnet, which is automatically achieved when connecting to a single router.

Checking basic connection parameters

The first step before beginning a detailed setup is to ensure the physical connection is working correctly. All computers you plan to connect must be connected to the same wireless router. If you have a dual-band router broadcasting both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks, make sure the devices are on the same logical network, although modern routers usually connect them automatically.

It is necessary to check the IP addresses of the devices. In the operating system Windows addresses should be issued automatically through DHCP- router server to avoid conflicts. If one of the computers has a static IP address from a different subnet, the connection will fail. To check, open the command prompt and enter the command ipconfigto see the current settings.

It's also worth paying attention to the network profile. Windows 10 divides connections into "Public" and "Private." For a local network to work, the profile must be strictly "Private," as in public mode, the system hides the computer from other devices for security reasons.

Setting up network type and discovery

The central element of setup is changing the network profile. When you first connect to Wi-Fi, Windows asks if you want to make this computer discoverable. If you answer "No," the network is marked as public and file sharing is blocked. You can change this through the settings menu.

Go to Start → Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-FiClick the name of your active wireless network. In the menu that opens, select the "Private" profile. This will allow your computer to respond to discovery requests from other devices within range.

Next, you need to enable discovery services. Open Control Panel, go to Network and Sharing Center, and select Change advanced sharing settings. Here, enable the following options for the current profile:

• 🔍 Enable network discovery (and installation of network devices).
• 📁 Enable file and printer sharing.
• 🔐 Allow Windows to manage HomeGroup connections (if available).

After making changes, be sure to click the "Save Changes" button. Without this step, all settings will remain inactive, and the computer will continue to ignore incoming connection requests.

Enabling folder sharing

Once computers are able to see each other, you need to configure the resources you plan to share. Simply enabling discovery isn't enough; you need to explicitly tell the system which folders are readable and writable by other network users.

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. Below, in the "Permissions" button, you can configure permissions: Full Control allows other users to modify and delete files, while Read Control only allows them to view them.

There's also a simplified method via the "Sharing" tab in the folder's properties. By clicking the "Share" button, you can add a specific user (e.g., "Everyone") and assign them a permission level. This is a more secure method, as it doesn't affect the system's file system security settings. NTFS.

⚠️ Warning: Granting "Full Control" permissions to the "Everyone" group on a public network can be risky. Make sure your Wi-Fi is protected with a strong encryption password. WPA2/WPA3.

Matching usernames and passwords

One of the most common connection issues is the requirement to enter credentials. When one computer attempts to access another's resources, the target machine prompts for a username and password. This is a Windows security mechanism that prevents unauthorized access.

The ideal option for a home network is to create identical accounts on all computers. If both computers have a user named Admin and the same password, the system will skip the authorization step automatically. However, in reality, names often differ.

When the password entry window appears, you must enter the account credentials for the computer whose resources you are accessing, not the one you are currently using. The username is often required to be entered in the format ComputerName\UserNameIf you don't know the name of the target computer, you can find it in the system properties.

To make life easier on your home network, you can disable the password requirement. In "Advanced sharing settings," find the "All networks" section at the very bottom and select "Turn off password-protected sharing." This will allow you to connect to shared folders without entering credentials, but will reduce the level of data security.

Using the command line for diagnostics

If the graphical interface doesn't provide answers, built-in command-line utilities come to the rescue. They allow you to check the node's availability and port status. The main tool is the utility ping.

Open the command prompt (cmd) and enter the IP address of the target computer, for example: ping 192.168.1.55If you receive a "Reply from..." response, the physical connection and basic routing are working. If you receive a "Timeout exceeded" response, the problem is at the network or firewall level.

It is also useful to check the list of visible computers on the network. Command net view will display a list of all devices that responded to the discovery request. If the desired computer is not listed but can be pinged, the discovery service on it is disabled or blocked.

To reset network settings, you can use the command netsh winsock reset, which will reset the network stack. After running this command, a computer restart is required. This often helps if the network adapter is behaving erratically.

Common mistakes and how to solve them

Despite the apparent simplicity, the setup process can be fraught with errors. Users often encounter situations where the computers can see each other, but when attempting to open a folder, an access error or an error message appears stating that the operation could not be completed.

One possible cause may be a disabled Function Discovery Resource Publishing service. Check its status in the Services menu (accessible via services.msc). It must be running and operating automatically. Without it, the computer will not correctly advertise its capabilities on the network.

Another common problem is port blocking by antivirus software. Third-party security suites often have their own firewall, which is stricter than the standard Windows one. When installing a new antivirus, it may switch the network profile to "Public," ignoring Windows settings.

Below is a table of common error codes and their probable causes:

⚠️ Note: Windows Settings interfaces may vary slightly depending on your build version (Home, Pro, Enterprise) and installed updates. If you can't find the option, use the Settings search or the command line.

Questions and Answers (FAQ)