Establishing local connectivity between devices in an apartment or house is no longer the preserve of system administrators at large companies. Today, every user can integrate their devices into a single ecosystem to share files, play online games, or control a smart home without unnecessary wires. The process of creating a home network via a wireless connection WiFi requires only a basic understanding of the operating principles of the equipment and attention to detail in the settings.
Modern operating systems such as Windows 10 And Windows 11, have significantly simplified this process by hiding complex technical parameters behind intuitive interfaces. However, despite automation, situations sometimes arise where standard algorithms fail, requiring manual intervention in the adapter or router configuration. Understanding exactly how your router and a network adapter will help you avoid typical connection errors.
In this article, we'll cover every step of building a local area network, from selecting the right hardware to fine-tuning security and sharing settings. You'll learn which protocols are used for data transfer, how to properly configure device visibility, and what to do if computers can't see each other in the network environment.
Selecting equipment and preparing the router
The foundation of any wireless network is a high-quality router. It acts as the central hub, distributing traffic between connected devices. When choosing a model, pay attention not only to the advertised speed but also to the encryption standards supported, such as WPA3, which provides maximum protection of transmitted data from unauthorized access.
Signal coverage is an important aspect. If you plan to connect computers in different rooms or on different floors, make sure the router's antenna power is sufficient. For larger areas, it makes sense to consider multi-mode systems. MESH, which allow you to create seamless coverage without losing speed when switching between access points.
⚠️ Important: Make sure your router firmware is updated to the latest version. Manufacturers frequently release patches to fix security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit to penetrate your local network.
Initial router setup is usually done through the web interface. To do this, connect your computer to the router via cable or WiFi and enter the device's IP address, which is often found on a sticker on the bottom of the device, into your browser. The default address usually looks like this: 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1.
In the router settings menu, it's important to change the default administrator password and configure the wireless network settings. We recommend setting a complex WiFi password using symbols to prevent unauthorized access to your network.
Setting up a network profile in Windows
Once the equipment is ready for use, the operating system on the computers must be properly configured. Selecting a network profile is key. When you first connect to a new network, Windows asks if you want to make this computer visible to other devices. To create a full-fledged local network, select the "Private Network" profile.
If you mistakenly select the "Public Network" profile, the system will block most detection features, assuming you're in a cafe or airport. You can change this setting in "Settings" -> "Network & Internet" -> "Status." Here, click the connection properties and toggle the switch to "Private."
Enabling the correct profile activates the necessary discovery services. Without this step, computers may be physically connected to the same router but logically isolated from each other by the operating system's firewall.
It's also worth checking that network discovery is enabled. In Control Panel, under "Network and Sharing Center," select "Change advanced sharing settings." Here, enable "Turn on network discovery" and "Turn on file and printer sharing" for the current profile.
Creating a workgroup and sharing
In order for computers to communicate correctly with each other, they must be in the same workgroup. By default, Windows uses the name WORKGROUP, and changing it to abbreviations or complex names is not recommended to avoid compatibility issues with other devices, such as TVs or printers.
You can check and change the workgroup name through "My Computer" (System Properties). Click "Advanced system settings," go to the "Computer name" tab, and ensure that all devices on the network have the same name. After changing the name, you will need to restart your computer.
☑️ Check network settings
The next step is setting up shared access to specific resources. You can share any folder, making it readable or writable from other devices. To do this, right-click the folder, select "Properties" -> "Sharing" -> "Advanced Settings," and check "Share."
It's important to configure access permissions correctly. You can allow all network users to read files or restrict access to specific accounts. For increased security, we recommend creating separate local accounts with passwords for accessing shared resources.
Using HomeGroup and Alternatives
Older versions of Windows had a handy HomeGroup feature that automatically set up shared access to libraries and printers. However, starting with Windows 10 version 1803, Microsoft abandoned this feature in favor of more flexible, but difficult to configure mechanisms.
Today, third-party programs or built-in cloud storage features are often used to quickly share files. However, the classic network connection method remains the most reliable for transferring large amounts of data without internet bandwidth bottlenecks.
⚠️ Important: If you disable passwords for shared access (guest access), remember that anyone who connects to your WiFi will be able to access your files. Only use this option on fully trusted networks.
If you need to share a printer connected to one of your computers, use the Printer Settings feature in Control Panel. Select the desired printer, go to Properties, and enable sharing on the Sharing tab.
For users who find the standard Windows tools too cumbersome, there are alternatives in the form of synchronization programs such as Resilio Sync or SyncTrayzorThey create their own secure network over your existing connection and automatically sync selected folders.
Solving common connection problems
Even with proper configuration, situations may arise where computers cannot see each other. One of the most common causes is services being blocked by an antivirus or firewall. Check your antivirus software's security settings and ensure the current network is classified as "Trusted."
The problem may also lie with the Function Discovery Resource Publication service. In Windows 10 and 11, it's often disabled by default. To enable it, run Command Prompt as administrator and enter the following command:
sc config fdrespub start= autoAfter executing the command, the service must be started through the Services menu (