Connecting two laptops via a local area network (LAN) is a great method for quickly moving data between the two computers. You can transfer data from one laptop to another via LAN using an ethernet cable or wireless connection, on both Windows and Mac computers. This wikiHow teaches you how to share and access files and folders over a local area network on Mac and Windows computers.
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Method 1 of 7: Sharing Files and Folders Over LAN on a Windows 10 Computer
Step 1. Connect both laptops to the network
You can connect the two laptops to each other via a wireless connection, or use the LAN port on your modem or router with an ethernet cable.
Step 2. Open Control Panel
Use the laptop that has the file or folder you want to share (source laptop). Follow these steps to open Control Panel:
- Click the Windows “Start” button in the lower-left corner of the screen.
- Type in "Control Panel".
- Click " Control Panel ”.
Step 3. Type Network in the search bar
It's in the upper-right corner of the Control Panel window. Various network setting options will be displayed.
Step 4. Click Network and Sharing Center
It's a green title at the top of the network settings page.
Step 5. Click Change advanced sharing settings
This link is in the sidebar on the left of the screen.
Step 6. Make sure the “Network Discovery” and “Printer and File Sharing” options are enabled
To enable both, click the radio buttons next to "Turn on network discovery" and "Turn on printer and file sharing". These two options are under the "Private" and "Guest or Public (current profile)" sections.
Step 7. Click Save Changes
This button is at the bottom of the Control Panel window. Changes to the settings will be saved.
Step 8. Open File Explorer
The program is indicated by a folder icon with a blue clip. You can find it in the taskbar at the bottom of the screen.
If you don't see the File Explorer icon on the taskbar, click the Windows “Start” button and type “File Explorer” to display File Explorer on the “Start” menu
Step 9. Go to the file or folder you want to share
You can share files and folders with other computers connected to the same network. Use File Explorer to locate the file or folder that you want to share. You can click the “Quick Access” folder in the menu on the left of the window, or click the appropriate folder in the main File Explorer window.
Step 10. Right-click the file or folder that you want to share
A new menu will appear on its right side.
Step 11. Click Give access to
This option is in the menu that appears after you right-click a file or folder. A submenu will be displayed on its right side.
Step 12. Click Specific people
It's at the bottom of the submenu, next to the "Give access to" option. After that, the “Network Access” menu will be displayed.
Step 13. Click Share
This option is at the bottom of the “Network Access” menu. After that, the file or folder will be shared among all computers on the network. The network address for the data source folder/computer will also be displayed.
Method 2 of 7: Accessing Shared Files and Folders on a Windows 10 Computer
Step 1. Connect both laptops to the network
You can connect the two laptops to each other via a wireless connection, or use the LAN port on your modem or router with an ethernet cable.
Step 2. Open File Explorer
on the second laptop.
Use the laptop you want to connect to the data source laptop. The File Explorer icon looks like a folder with blue clips. You can see the icon on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen or on the Windows “Start” menu.
Step 3. Click Network
It's at the bottom of the File Explorer window, in the menu bar on the left. Files and folders shared over the network will be displayed.
Step 4. Enter the network address of the computer you want to access (source computer)
The network address of the computer is \[computer name]. Replace "[computer name]" with the name of the source computer you want to access. This computer can be a Mac or Windows computer.
The computer you want to access must be on and connected to the network. Make sure you are also logged into the account on the source computer
Step 5. Enter the username and password, and press Enter key
You will need to enter the username and password of the computer you want to access. After that, you'll see all the files and folders that were shared from that computer.
Method 3 of 7: Sharing Files and Folders Over LAN on Mac Computer
Step 1. Connect both laptops to the network
You can connect the two laptops to each other via a wireless connection, or use the LAN port on your modem or router with an ethernet cable.
Step 2. Click the “Apple” icon
It's the Apple logo in the upper-left corner of your computer's menu bar. The Apple menu will appear after that.
Step 3. Click on System Preferences…
It's in the second options section of the Apple menu. The “System Preferences” window will appear after that.
Step 4. Click Sharing
This option is indicated by a blue folder icon with a zebra crossing in front of it.
Step 5. Click the checkbox
next to "File Sharing".
This option is in the box next to the “Sharing” menu. The “File Sharing” feature will be activated.
Step 6. Click File Sharing
This option is the same option in the box you just checked on the left of the screen. After that, several options for the “File Sharing” feature will be displayed.
Step 7. Click the + under the “Shared Folders” box
This box displays all the folders that you have shared over the network. Click the plus sign (+) icon below to add a new folder.
Step 8. Select a folder
You can click on your favorite folders (" Favorites ") on the left sidebar, or any folder in the Finder window.
Step 9. Click Add
It's in the lower-right corner of the window. The selected folder will be added to the list of shared folders and can be accessed via LAN.
Method 4 of 7: Accessing Shared Folders on Mac Computer
Step 1. Connect both laptops to the network
You can connect the two laptops to each other via a wireless connection, or use the LAN port on your modem or router with an ethernet cable.
Step 2. Open a new Finder window
The Finder icon looks like a blue and white smiley face. You can find it in the Dock at the bottom of the screen. Click the icon on the second Mac computer (the computer you want to use to access the shared files).
Step 3. Click Go
This option is in the menu bar at the top of the screen when the Finder window is open.
Step 4. Click Connect to Server…
It's at the bottom of the drop-down menu, under "Go".
Step 5. Enter the network address of the computer you want to access
The network address of the data source computer is usually smb://[computer name]. Replace "[computer name]" with the name of the computer you want to access. The computer can be a Mac or Windows computer.
Step 6. Click Connect
It's in the lower-left corner of the "Connect to Server" window.
Step 7. Enter the username and password of the computer you want to access
When the Mac computer successfully establishes a connection with the data source computer, enter the username and password used to log in to the computer. After that, you can access the shared files and folders through the Finder in the " Shared " section of the menu bar, on the left side of the screen.
- If you want to access a Windows computer, enter the computer user's Microsoft account email address and password.
- Make sure the computer you are trying to access is turned on and the computer account is active (the computer is not in a “sleep” state).
Method 5 of 7: Sharing Files and Folders Over LAN on Windows 8 (and Earlier Versions) Computers
Step 1. Connect both laptops to the network
You can connect the two laptops to each other via a wireless connection, or use the LAN port on your modem or router with an ethernet cable.
Step 2. Open Control Panel
Follow these steps to open the Control Panel.
- Click the Windows “Start” menu button in the lower-left corner of the screen.
- Type in "Control Panel".
- Click " Control Panel ”.
Step 3. Type Homegroup into the search bar
It's in the upper-right corner of the Control Panel window.
Step 4. Click the HomeGroup title
This green title is next to the blue and green molecular icon.
The HomeGroup feature is no longer available in Windows 10
Step 5. Click Create a homegroup
It's in the lower-right corner of the window.
Note that the button is available or clickable if you are not currently a member of a Homegroup or HomeGroup. If you are still in the group, leave the currently active group
Step 6. Click Next on the first page in the window that appears
The first page tells you the functionality of the HomeGroup feature.
Step 7. Determine the type of file you want to share with other computers
Use the drop-down menus to select " Shared " next to the file types you want to share. You can select from the following options: “Pictures” (photos), “Documents” (documents), “Music” (songs), “Printers” (printers), and “Videos” (videos). Select or delete file types according to your needs.
Step 8. Click Next
It's in the lower-right corner of the screen.
Step 9. Write down the password
The password field is at the top of the screen. This password will later need to be used on other devices in order to connect to the home group or HomeGroup you created. After that, click “Finish”.
Method 6 of 7: Accessing Shared Files and Folders on Windows 8 (and Earlier Versions) Computers
Step 1. Connect both laptops to the network
You can connect the two laptops to each other via a wireless connection, or use the LAN port on your modem or router with an ethernet cable.
Step 2. Open Control Panel
Use the laptop with the files or folders you want to share on the second laptop. Follow these steps to open the Control Panel:
- Click the Windows “Start” menu button in the lower-left corner of the screen.
- Type in "Control Panel".
- Click " Control Panel ”.
Step 3. Type Homegroup into the search bar
It's in the upper-right corner of the Control Panel window.
Step 4. Click the HomeGroup title
This green title is next to the blue and green molecular icon.
The HomeGroup feature is no longer available in Windows 10
Step 5. Click Join now
The new HomeGroup will appear in the “HomeGroup” window. Click on the new HomeGroup and select “ Join Homegroup ” in the lower right corner of the screen.
Step 6. Enter the password when prompted
Use the password displayed on the first computer.
You can now use the drop-down menu to select the type of file you want to share with your HomeGroup or HomeGroup network
Step 7. Open File Explorer
The program is indicated by a folder icon with a blue clip. Click the icon on the Windows taskbar or “Start” menu.
Step 8. Click HomeGroup
This option is in the File Explorer window. After that, the accounts of users who joined the HomeGroup will be displayed.
Step 9. Click the username
This name is the Windows username for the computer you want to access over the network. Files and folders shared by that computer/user to the network will be displayed afterward.
Step 10. Double-click the file or folder that you want to access
After that, you can access the files that are shared in the local area network.
Method 7 of 7: Connecting Two Interconnected Laptops to the Same Network
Step 1. Purchase or prepare a crossover network cable
This type of ethernet cable is used to connect two computers to each other. If you have an older computer, you will need to use a crossover cable. Regular ethernet cables cannot be used on older models of computers. In appearance, there is no difference between the two types of cable (crossover and plain ethernet). Therefore, ask the store staff to find you a crossover cable so you don't make the wrong choice.
Step 2. Connect each end of the cable to the network port of each laptop
The network port is the hole through which an Ethernet cable is usually attached. The cable will fit snugly and a clicking sound will be heard when you have successfully connected the other end of the cable to the network port.
Keep in mind that some newer laptop models don't have a network port. Some laptop manufacturers intentionally do not equip laptops with network ports to make the device thinner and lighter. For a laptop like this, you need to connect the two laptops via a wireless network
Step 3. Open Control Panel on both computers
Follow these steps to open the Control Panel:
- Click the Windows “Start” menu button in the lower-left corner of the screen.
- Type in "Control Panel".
- Click " Control Panel ”.
Step 4. Type System into the search bar on both computers
The search bar is in the upper-right corner of the Control Panel window.
Step 5. Click the System title
It's a green title next to the computer screen icon. You can view information about your computer, such as the manufacturer, model, and so on.
Step 6. Scroll down and click Change Settings
It's on the right side of the screen, under the "Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings" section. A new window titled "System Properties" will be displayed after that.
Step 7. Click Change
This button is at the bottom of the "System Properties" window. The computer name and workgroup name will be displayed after that.
Step 8. Enter the same workgroup name on both computers
You can type any name as long as both computers use the same workgroup name.
Step 9. Type Network into the Control Panel search bar on both laptops
It's in the upper-right corner of the Control Panel window.
For Windows 7, Vista, and XP users: Open "Network Settings" directly from Control Panel. Search for the option via the search bar in the upper-right corner of the window
Step 10. Click View Network Connections
This option is under the " Network and Sharing Center " heading in the Control Panel window.
Step 11. Right-click Ethernet
This option is displayed in the "Network Connections" window. There may be several "Ethernet" options available. Right-click an option that isn't marked by a red “x” in the icon in its top-left corner.
Step 12. Click Properties
This button is at the bottom of the menu that appears after you right-click the "Ethernet" option.
Step 13. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
You can find the option " Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) " in the list of options. Click an option to select it, then click the “ Properties ” below the list of options.
Step 14. Click the “Use the following IP address” option
With this option, you can enter the address manually.
Step 15. Enter the following values on each laptop
Use the field under " Use the following IP address " to type the following entries on both computers. It is important to remember that the last digit in the IP address must be different for each computer.
-
Computer 1
- “IP Address:” 192.168.0.1
- “Subnet Mask:” 255.255.255.0
- “Default Gateway:” Leave this field blank.
-
Computer 2
- “IP Address:” 192.168.0.2
- “Subnet Mask:” 255.255.255.0
- “Default Gateway:” Leave this field blank.
Step 16. Click "OK" to apply the settings
You can now share files between the two computers via the installed LAN cable. You may also need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect immediately.
