When you need to quickly transfer gigabytes of data between devices and don't have external drives or an Ethernet cable handy, the question of a wireless connection arises. Modern operating systems provide built-in tools for creating a direct connection between computers, allowing for a fully functional local network Without a router. This method is especially useful in the field, in an office with limited network ports, or when setting up a game server for a group of friends.
There are several proven methods for implementing this task, each with its own characteristics and use cases. You can create a direct computer-to-computer (Ad-hoc) connection, use the Mobile Hotspot feature in Windows 10/11, or set up a classic network via an existing router with the correct sharing settings. The choice of a specific method depends on the availability of an active internet connection on one of the devices and the version of the operating system installed.
In this article, we'll take a detailed look at the technical nuances of setting up a network profile, managing the firewall, and port forwarding to ensure stable data transfer. Understanding the operating principles IP addressing and discovery protocols will help avoid typical mistakes when devices physically see each other, but block file exchange for security reasons.
Preparing hardware and software environment
Before you begin configuring network settings, you must ensure that the hardware is working properly. Wireless adapters Both laptops must be enabled and have up-to-date drivers that support both infrastructure and ad-hoc network modes. Outdated Wi-Fi module software often causes unstable connections or the complete inability to create a new access point.
The operating systems of both devices must be in the same domain or workgroup, which is a basic requirement for the computers to be visible correctly in the network environment. By default, Windows sets the network profile to "Public," which severely limits the device's visibility to other network members. You will need to manually change this setting to "Private" or "Home" to enable discovery.
⚠️ Note: Switching your network profile to "Private" makes your laptop visible to other devices within range. Make sure you're in a trusted environment and not connected to open networks at airports or cafes.
It's also worth deciding in advance on the type of data being transferred, as this determines the choice of access protocol. For exchanging documents and photos, the standard SMB protocol is sufficient, while streaming media or gaming may require configuring specific ports and exceptions. firewall.
Creating a computer-to-computer (Ad-hoc) network
Ad-hoc technology enables direct communication between two or more devices without a central hub like a router. In Windows 10 and 11, this feature is implemented through the "Mobile Hotspot" interface, which transforms your laptop into a Wi-Fi access point. This is the fastest way to connect devices if one of the laptops has internet access and can share it or simply create a local network.
To start the process, open the system settings from the Start menu and go to "Network & Internet." Select "Mobile Hotspot" from the list on the left. Here, you'll need to select a connection source (e.g., Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and set a network name, along with a strong password to protect against unauthorized access. Once the switch is enabled, the second laptop will be able to find the newly created network in the list of available wireless connections.
If your operating system doesn't support native hotspots or requires a specific ad-hoc configuration, you can use the command line with administrator privileges. This gives you more flexible control over the parameters of the network being created, including channel frequency and encryption type.
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=MyNetwork key=MyPassword123
netsh wlan start hostednetwork
Once the command is executed, the virtual adapter will be launched and you will be able to connect the second device by entering the specified security key.
☑️ Pre-launch Ad-hoc Check
Setting up file and printer sharing
After successfully physically connecting the devices, you need to configure a logical access level so that computers can "see" the shared resources. Without properly configured network profiles, you'll encounter a situation where ping works, but folders are inaccessible. The key element here is the Network and Sharing Center.
Go to Advanced Sharing Settings and ensure that network discovery and file and printer sharing are enabled. It's also recommended to disable password-protected access if you're on a fully trusted home network, although for security reasons, it's best to create identical accounts with the same passwords on both laptops.
| Setting parameter | Recommended value | Impact on the network |
|---|---|---|
| Network discovery | Turn on | The computer becomes visible in the network list. |
| File sharing | Turn on | Allows reading/writing to shared folders |
| Password-protected access | Disable (for home) | Simplifies login but reduces security |
| Allowing connections | All networks | Expands resource availability zones |
To grant access to a specific folder, right-click it, select "Properties," and go to the "Sharing" tab. Click "Advanced" and check "Share this folder." Here you can also configure permission levels for different users, restricting them to read-only access or allowing full modification of data.
If you plan to transfer large amounts of data regularly, it makes sense to reserve static IP addresses for each device within the local network. This will eliminate the need to re-search for a changed computer address in the network environment each time.
What to do if the folder won't open?
If you receive an error when trying to access the service, check the "Discovery Provider Host" service in Services Manager (services.msc). It should be started and running in automatic mode. Also, try entering the remote computer's IP address directly into the File Explorer address bar in the format \\\\192.168.1.5.
Remote control and desktop
Connecting two laptops is often required not only for file transfer, but also for remote control of one of them. Protocol RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) is the de facto standard in the Windows environment, allowing you to view a remote computer's screen and interact with it as if it were your local computer. However, it requires Windows Pro or higher on the target computer.
To enable Remote Desktop, open "System" in Control Panel and find the "Remote Desktop Settings" link. Enable Allow connections to this computer. On the client device (the second laptop), use the built-in Remote Desktop Connection app, entering the IP address or hostname of the target device.
An alternative to the native tool is third-party solutions such as TeamViewer or AnyDesk, which are often easier to penetrate complex firewalls but require additional software installation. For a local network over Wi-Fi, native RDP is preferable due to its lower latency and the elimination of the need for an internet connection after setup.
⚠️ Note: The Remote Desktop Protocol uses port 3389 by default. Make sure your antivirus software isn't blocking incoming connections to this port, otherwise the connection will be dropped during the handshake.
When working via a remote desktop, consider the Wi-Fi channel's bandwidth. For comfortable work with graphics or video, it is recommended to use a range 5 GHz, which provides higher data speeds and lower latency compared to the congested 2.4 GHz band.
Solving common connection problems
Even with proper configuration, users often encounter a situation where computers cannot see each other in the network environment. Most often, the problem lies in the network profile, which Windows sets to "Public" by default. In this mode, the system hides the device from detection by other network members for security reasons.
Another common cause is a disabled Network Discovery service. Check the status of DNS, SSDP, and device discovery services in Services (services.msc). If they are stopped, start them and set the startup type to Automatic.
It's also worth paying attention to third-party antivirus packages. They may have their own built-in firewalls that override Windows Firewall settings and block local traffic. Temporarily disable network protection in your antivirus to diagnose the problem.
If computer names contain Cyrillic or special characters, name resolution conflicts may occur. In such cases, it is safer to use a digital key. IP address to directly connect to resources, bypassing the network environment.
Questions and Answers (FAQ)
Is it possible to link laptops running different operating systems, such as Windows and macOS?
Yes, this is possible. To do this on a Mac, you need to enable "File Sharing" in System Preferences and select the SMB protocol. When connecting from Windows, you need to enter the Mac's IP address in the File Explorer address bar. However, functionality may be limited compared to a Windows-to-Windows connection.
What is the maximum Wi-Fi data transfer speed on a local network?
Speed depends on the Wi-Fi standard (802.11n, ac, ax) and the distance between devices. In the 5 GHz band, AC speeds can reach 300-500 Mbps, which is significantly faster than USB 2.0 but slower than Gigabit Ethernet.
Is internet required for a local network to work between two laptops?
No, internet access is not required. A local area network (LAN) operates independently of the global network. You only need internet access for the initial driver installation or if you use cloud services for synchronization, but not for a direct Wi-Fi connection.
Why can't the second laptop see the first one's folders, even though there's a network?
Most likely, a specific folder isn't shared or network discovery is disabled in the network profile. Also, make sure both computers are in the same workgroup (usually WORKGROUP).