How to Share Files Between Windows PCs on the Same Network

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Ankit Kumar
Windows 11NetworkWi-Fi

The Problem

Two PCs on the same home network, and you need to move folders without emailing yourself or hunting for a USB stick. Windows 11 buries the switches—network profile, discovery, and share permissions—so Network in File Explorer stays stubbornly empty even when both machines are online.

Before You Start

  • Both PCs on the same network—same Wi-Fi SSID, or the same wired LAN. A guest network will not work.
  • Note each device name: Settings → System → About → Device name, for example DESKTOP-KITCHEN.
  • Decide how you will authenticate. Either use the same account credentials on both PCs, or create a dedicated local user for sharing. Leaving password-protected sharing on is the safer choice.

Step 1: Set the Network Profile to Private

Windows blocks discovery entirely on Public networks, which is the single most common reason nothing appears.

  1. Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) → click your connection.
  2. Set Network profile type to Private.
  3. Do this on both PCs.

Step 2: Turn On Discovery and File Sharing

  1. Settings → Network & internet → Advanced network settings → Advanced sharing settings.
  2. Under Private networks, turn on Network discovery and File and printer sharing.
  3. Under All networks, leave Password protected sharing on unless you fully trust every device on the network.
  4. Repeat on both PCs.

If discovery still fails, confirm these services are running (services.msc), set to Automatic (Delayed Start):

  • Function Discovery Provider Host
  • Function Discovery Resource Publication
  • SSDP Discovery
  • UPnP Device Host

Function Discovery Resource Publication in particular is frequently stopped, and it is what makes your PC visible to others.

Step 3: Share the Folder

  1. Right-click the folder → Properties → Sharing tab.
  2. Click Share, choose the user account that will connect from the other PC, set Read or Read/Write, and click Share.
  3. Note the network path it displays, such as \\DESKTOP-KITCHEN\Photos.

For finer control, use Advanced Sharing → tick Share this folder → set the share name → Permissions.

Understand that there are two permission layers, and this trips up nearly everyone: the Share permissions and the Security (NTFS) permissions on the Security tab. The effective access is the more restrictive of the two. If a share looks correct but access is denied, the Security tab is usually the reason.

Step 4: Connect From the Other PC

  1. Open File Explorer → Network in the left pane.
  2. Double-click the other PC's name and enter credentials when prompted. Tick Remember my credentials.
  3. If the PC does not appear, type the path directly into the address bar—this works even when discovery is broken:
\\DESKTOP-KITCHEN

Or by IP address, which is more reliable still:

\\192.168.1.42

Find the IP with ipconfig on the source PC. Browsing by name relies on discovery; connecting by address does not, which makes this an excellent diagnostic.

Step 5: Map a Drive Letter (Optional)

  1. File Explorer → ⋯ → Map network drive.
  2. Enter the folder path, for example \\DESKTOP-KITCHEN\Photos.
  3. Tick Reconnect at sign-in, and Connect using different credentials if the accounts differ.

When It Still Does Not Work

Work through these in order:

  1. Ping test. ping DESKTOP-KITCHEN and then ping 192.168.1.42. If the IP responds and the name does not, it is a name-resolution problem, and using the IP address is a perfectly good workaround.
  2. Firewall. Windows Security → Firewall & network protection → Allow an app through firewall → tick File and Printer Sharing for Private.
  3. VPN. Disconnect it on both PCs. VPN clients routinely isolate you from the local network.
  4. Router client isolation. Many routers enable AP isolation on guest networks, and some on the main one. Check the wireless settings.
  5. Different subnets. One PC on 192.168.1.x and the other on 192.168.0.x cannot see each other—this happens when a second router or a mesh extender is running in router mode rather than bridge mode.
  6. Credentials cached wrongly. Open Credential Manager → Windows Credentials and remove stale entries for that PC, then reconnect.

A Note on SMBv1

Old NAS boxes and Windows 7 machines may only speak SMBv1, which Windows 11 disables for good reason—it is the protocol WannaCry spread through. Do not re-enable it to reach an old device. Update the device's firmware, or move files with a USB drive instead.

Faster Alternatives

  • For very large transfers, wired gigabit Ethernet on both ends beats Wi-Fi comfortably. See fix slow file transfer speeds.
  • For occasional files between devices in the same room, turn on Nearby sharing: Settings → System → Nearby sharing.
  • For a full migration to a new machine, follow the complete checklist: transfer files from an old PC to a new PC.

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