Creating a local network between laptops via WiFi in Windows

Creating a local area network (LAN) between two laptops without using wires is a task that may seem difficult only at first glance. In modern operating systems of the Windows This process is significantly simplified, but requires precise adherence to the steps for a successful connection. A local network via WiFi allows not only for exchanging files and documents, but also for sharing printers, playing online games, or streaming media to other devices.

The basis for building such a network is technology Ad-hoc Or use a standard wireless router to which both devices are connected. In most cases, users prefer the latter option, as it provides a more stable connection and internet access for all network members. However, even without a router, one laptop can act as an access point, creating a virtual network for the second device, which is especially useful in field settings or offices with limited infrastructure.

Before you begin setting up, you need to make sure that both laptops have the latest drivers installed for WiFi adaptersUnstable driver performance often leads to connection interruptions or the inability to see another device in the list of available devices. It's also worth checking that both computers are operating within the same physical signal coverage area, as walls and household appliances can significantly weaken radio waves.

Checking network settings and access profile

The first critical step is defining your network profile. Windows automatically assigns the "Public Network" profile the first time you connect to a new WiFi network, which prevents other devices from seeing your computer for security reasons. You need to change this status to "Private Network" to allow discovery.

To do this, go to the menu Settings → Network and Internet → Wi-Fi and click on the name of your current network. In the properties window that opens, select "Private." This will remove basic firewall restrictions and open ports for local data exchange.

Please note that the settings must be changed on both laptops. If even one device remains in the "Public" profile, it will be hidden from the rest of the network, and a direct connection will not be established. This is a common error that confuses users when everything appears to be set up, but the computers "don't see" each other.

⚠️ Note: Changing your network profile to "Private" makes your computer visible to other devices on the network. Make sure you're connected to a trusted home or office WiFi network, not an open hotspot at a cafe.

After changing the profile, the system will apply the new rules firewallThis means Windows will automatically allow incoming connections for standard services, such as network discovery and file sharing. Without this step, any further settings will be useless.

Setting up sharing and discovery

The next step is to enable discovery services within the operating system. Even with the correct network profile, data sharing functions may be disabled manually or by system policies. To do this, open the Control Panel, go to the Network and Internet section, and select Network and Sharing Center.

On the left side of the window, find the "Change advanced sharing settings" link. This will open a list of profiles (Private, Guest, All Networks). In the "Private (current profile)" section, enable the following options:

• 🔘 Enable network discovery
• 🔘 Enable automatic configuration of connected network devices
• 🔘 Enable file and printer sharing

Next, scroll down to the "All Networks" section. Here, we recommend enabling the "Turn off password-protected sharing" option if you're in a secure home environment. This will simplify access, as you won't be required to enter your account login and password every time you connect to shared folders.

Be sure to click "Save Changes" at the bottom of the page. Windows may then prompt you for administrator confirmation. The system will apply the new settings, and network services will restart. Your laptops are now ready to exchange data at the software level.

Setting up IP addresses for direct connection

In some cases, especially when creating a computer-to-computer network without a router, manual IP address configuration is required. This ensures a stable address for each device, eliminating conflicts and packet loss. If you have a router with DHCP enabled, you can skip this step, as addresses will be assigned automatically.

For manual settings, click Win + R, enter the command ncpa.cpl and press Enter. In the window that opens, find your wireless connection, right-click on it, and select "Properties." In the list of components, find the line Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4), select it and click "Properties".

Select the "Use the following IP address" option. For the first laptop, enter the address 192.168.1.10, and for the second one - 192.168.1.11The system will automatically enter the subnet mask (255.255.255.0). The default gateway can be left blank or the address of the first laptop can be specified if it is distributing the Internet.

After entering the data, click "OK" and close all windows. Now test the connection by launching the command line (cmd) and entering the command ping 192.168.1.11 (or the address of the second computer). If you see the response "Reply from...", then the physical and logical connection has been established successfully.

Creating a shared folder

Once the network is configured, you need to create the resource you'll be sharing. This can be any folder on your hard drive. Select the desired directory, right-click it, and go to "Properties." The "Access" tab is the one you're looking for.

Click the "Advanced Settings" button and check "Share this folder." Below, in the "Permissions" section, ensure that the "Everyone" group has read and write permissions (or read-only permissions if you don't want anyone to edit the files). This will allow any device on the local network to see and access the folder's contents.

There's also a quicker way: use the "Share a specific folder" option in the "Give access to" menu. However, the advanced settings offer more flexible control over user permissions and allow you to configure file caching for offline use, which can be useful on unstable WiFi.

Once the settings are applied, the folder will be accessible over the network. To access it from the second laptop, open File Explorer, go to the Network section, and find the name of the first computer. If the computer isn't visible, you can enter its IP address directly into File Explorer's address bar using the following format: \\192.168.1.10.

⚠️ Note: Granting "Edit" permissions will allow network users to delete files from your shared folder. For important data, create a separate folder with "Read"-only permissions.

Troubleshooting common visibility issues

Despite proper configuration, users often encounter a situation where computers don't see each other in the "Network" section. This may be due to a disabled discovery service. Click Win + R, enter services.msc and find the "Function Discovery Resource Publishing" service. Make sure it's running and the startup type is set to "Automatic."

Another common cause is different network types. If one laptop considers the network "Private" and the other "Public," they won't be able to communicate. Also, make sure the computer names (Computer Name) were different. Two devices with the same name on the same network will cause a conflict.

Sometimes resetting network settings helps. In Windows 10 and 11, this can be done via Settings → Network & Internet → Advanced network settings → Network resetAfter rebooting the system, all network components will be reinstalled, and you will have to re-enter the WiFi password, but this often resolves deep system errors.

Setting up a homegroup and media server

Although classic HomeGroups were discontinued in recent versions of Windows, media sharing functionality remains. If you want to stream movies or music from your laptop to a TV or another PC, use the built-in media server. You can enable file transfer in "Media Streaming Settings."

For more advanced use, you can deploy an FTP server or use specialized software, but for basic needs, built-in Windows tools are sufficient. A local network via WiFi allows for high-definition video streaming without buffering, as long as the signal is stable.

To transfer large amounts of data (tens of gigabytes), it is better to use a cable or wait until the process is complete without loading the network with other tasks.

How to disable password when connecting to a shared folder?

To disable the password, go to "Advanced sharing settings" in the "All networks" section and select "Turn off password-protected sharing." Also, make sure both computers are using the same username and password if disabling password protection completely is not possible.

Why is file transfer speed very slow?

Slow speeds can be caused by using the 802.11g/n WiFi standard instead of ac/ax, or by interference from neighboring networks or microwave ovens. Antivirus software may also scan every transferred file in real time, slowing down the process.

Is it possible to create a local network if one laptop is running Windows 10 and the other is running Windows 7?

Yes, this is possible. However, in Windows 7, you may need to enable SMB 1.0 support (not recommended for security reasons) or configure general encryption settings. It's best to use IP addresses for access, as discovery mechanisms vary across Windows versions.