How to create a WiFi network between Windows 10 laptops

Setting up a local network between multiple computers often becomes a necessity for quickly transferring large files, collaborating on documents, or playing online games without an internet connection. Windows 10 This process has undergone several changes compared to older versions, often causing confusion among users accustomed to the simple methods of Windows 7. The system now requires more careful configuration of access profiles and network services to ensure security.

Creation LAN (Local Area Network) via wireless connection WiFi Allows you to eliminate unnecessary cables and maintain workplace mobility. However, despite its convenience, the wireless protocol has its own set of challenges, such as signal stability and proper firewall settings. If you plan to regularly exchange data between devices, proper initial configuration will save you hours of troubleshooting down the road.

In this guide, we'll walk you through every setup step, from changing your network profile to sharing folders. You'll learn which services need to be running and how to check if your devices are visible in your network environment. It is critical that the workgroup name matches on all connected computers, otherwise they simply will not see each other in the list of available devices.

Preparing equipment and checking drivers

Before proceeding with software settings, you need to ensure that the hardware is in good working order. All laptops planned to be connected to a single network must be equipped with working WiFi adaptersIt is desirable that the devices support the standards 802.11n or newer to ensure acceptable data transfer speeds. Older adapters that only support 802.11g can become a bottleneck, drastically reducing the performance of the entire network.

Make sure that each laptop has the latest network hardware drivers installed. Lack of updates can result in an unstable connection or even the complete inability to create a local network. You can check this through the Device Manager or using the laptop manufacturer's utilities.

• 📶 Check the WiFi indicator: it should be on or flashing, indicating that the module is working.
• 💻 Make sure all laptops are connected to the same wireless router network.
• 🔋 Disable power saving mode for your WiFi adapter in Device Manager to prevent it from turning off randomly.

It's important to understand that the quality of the local area network you create directly depends on the quality of the WiFi signal. If one of the laptops is in an area with poor reception, file transfer speeds to it will be extremely slow, and the connection may be constantly interrupted.

Setting up a network profile and discovery

The first step in software configuration is changing the network profile. By default, Windows 10 assigns new connections to the "Public Network" profile, which severely limits your computer's visibility to other devices for security reasons. We need to change this status to "Private Network."

To do this, go to the Start menu and select Parameters (gear icon). Then follow the path Network and Internet → StatusIn the Properties section of your current connection, click the Change Profile button. Select the option PrivateThis action will make the computer visible to other devices and open the necessary ports for local data exchange.

⚠️ Caution: Never select the "Private Network" profile if you're connected to public WiFi at a cafe or airport. This will make your files accessible to strangers on the same network.

After changing the profile, you need to enable network discovery. Open Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing CenterOn the left, select "Change advanced sharing settings." Under "Private (current profile)," make sure "Turn on network discovery" and "Turn on file and printer sharing" are enabled.

It's also worth paying attention to the "All Networks" section. It's recommended to enable sharing here so that users can read and write files to shared folders. Don't forget to save your changes by clicking the corresponding button at the bottom of the page.

Workgroup and computer name configuration

For the local network to work correctly, all devices must be in the same working group and have unique names. The computer name is used to identify it on the network, and the workgroup name groups devices into a logical cluster.

To check and change these settings, right-click on the This PC icon and select Properties. In the window that opens, look for the Change settings link (or go through Control Panel → System). In the "Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings" section, click the "Change" button.

Here you will see two fields. The "Computer Name" field should contain a unique name for each device (e.g., Laptop1, Laptop2). The "Workgroup" field should be the same on all machines. By default, Windows 10 uses the name WORKGROUPIf you change the workgroup name, a reboot will be required after applying the settings.

Using Cyrillic characters in a computer name can sometimes cause compatibility issues when connecting older devices or specific network equipment. It is recommended to use Latin letters and numbers.

Setting up shared access to folders and files

Once the network infrastructure is configured, you need to determine which resources will be available to other users. You can share any folder on your hard drive, making it visible on the local network.

Select the desired folder, right-click it, and select "Properties." Go to the "Sharing" tab and click "Advanced." Check the "Share this folder" box. Below, click "Permissions" to configure access rights.

In the Permissions window, you can add the "Everyone" group and assign permissions to it. If you want other users to only read files, leave the "Read" checkbox selected. For full control over files (writing, editing, and deleting), you must allow "Full Control."

There's also a simplified method via the "Sharing" tab in the folder properties, where you can select a user from the list and click "Add." However, the advanced settings provide more flexible control over file system access rights. NTFS.

⚠️ Caution: Granting "Full Control" permissions to the "Everyone" group means anyone who connects to your WiFi network will be able to delete or modify files in this folder. Be careful with important data.

Troubleshooting passwords and services

A common problem when creating a local network is the requirement to enter a password when attempting to access resources on another computer. Windows 10 requires authentication by default. If you're on a trusted home network and want easier access, you can disable the password prompt.

Return to "Network and Sharing Center" → "Change advanced sharing settings." At the very bottom, under "All Networks," find "Password-protected sharing." Select "Turn off password-protected sharing" and save your changes.

However, if disabling the password doesn't help or you prefer a more secure method, make sure both computers have identical user accounts (the same login and password). It's also crucial to check the status of system services. Click Win + R, enter services.msc and find the following services:

• 🔍 Publication Resources of Function Discovery
• 🔍 Function Discovery Provider Host
• 🔍 SSDP Discovery
• 🔍 Device Host

Each of these services should be set to the "Automatic" startup type and started if stopped. Failure to run these services is often the reason why computers don't see each other in the "Network" section of File Explorer, even if pinging is successful.

What to do if services do not start?

If the service fails to start and returns an error, check the dependencies in the service properties. Often, the "Network Connections" or "Microsoft Enumerator Provider" service needs to be started. Also, check the registry for blockages.

Accessing a folder by IP address and diagnostics

Sometimes automatic discovery fails, and computers don't appear in the network neighborhood. In this case, the most reliable access method is to directly enter the IP address. Each device on the local network has a unique IP address, which can be found by running the command ipconfig in the command line.

Open the command prompt (cmd) or PowerShell, enter the command, and look for the line "IPv4 address." It will look something like this: 192.168.1.55To access another computer, open File Explorer, click Win + R and enter the address in the format \\192.168.1.55.

C:\Users\User>ipconfig
Ethernet adapter Ethernet:
IPv4 address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.45
Subnet mask. . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

If you can access the shared resources using the IP address but not the computer name, the problem lies with the DNS or NetBIOS service. As a temporary solution, you can create a desktop shortcut with the IP address for quick access to shared resources.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why can't computers see each other even though WiFi is working?

Most likely, your network profile is set to "Public." Switch it to "Private" in the network settings. Also, check that "Function Discovery Resource Publishing" is enabled.

How to increase file transfer speed over a local network?

Make sure both laptops are operating on the 5 GHz band (ac/ax standards). The 2.4 GHz band is often congested and has low throughput. Also, disable folder-level encryption if it's not required.

Is it possible to create a local area network without a router, directly between laptops?

Yes, it's called Ad-Hoc mode. However, in Windows 10, this feature is hidden and requires creating a dedicated network via the command line, which is more complicated than connecting through a regular router.

Is it safe to keep sharing enabled all the time?

If you're on a home network behind a NAT router with a password-protected WiFi connection, it's relatively safe. In public areas, public access should be strictly disabled.