How to Connect Two Computers: Step-by-Step Guide

This updated guide explains how to Connect Two Computers through clear steps, practical examples, and important checks that help prevent common errors.

Method 1 of 5:

Connect the two computers with an Ethernet cable. Use an Ethernet cable to connect your two computers to one another.
- You'll need an Ethernet to USB-C adapter to plug into your Mac's Thunderbolt 3 port before you can attach an Ethernet cable to a Mac.
Open Start
. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
- Make sure that you do this on the computer from which you're sharing Internet, not the one that you just connected.
Open Control Panel. Type in control panel, then click Control Panel when it appears at the top of the Start window.
Click Network and Internet. You'll find this heading on the left side of the Control Panel window.
- If your Control Panel page has "Small icons" or "Large icons" written in the top-right corner, skip this step.
Click Network and Sharing Center. It's in the middle of the page. This will open a list of your current connections.
Click Change adapter settings. You'll find this option in the upper-left side of the window.
Select both the Wi-Fi connection and the Ethernet connection. Click the computer icon that has "Wi-Fi" under it, then hold down the Ctrl key and click the computer icon that has "Ethernet" under it.
Right-click the Wi-Fi connection. Doing so prompts a drop-down menu to appear.
- If your mouse doesn't have a right-click button, click the right side of the mouse or use two fingers to click the mouse.
- If your computer uses a trackpad instead of a mouse, use two fingers to tap the trackpad or press the bottom-right side of the trackpad.
Click Bridge Connections. It's in the drop-down menu. After a moment, your computer's Wi-Fi will be shared in a "bridged" connection with the other computer.

Method 2 of 5:

Connect the two computers with an Ethernet cable. Use an Ethernet cable to connect your two Mac computers to one another.
- If connecting a Mac to another Mac, you'll need two Ethernet to USB-C adapters to plug into your Macs' Thunderbolt 3 ports before you can connect them via Ethernet.
Open the Apple menu
. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
Click System Preferences.... You'll find this option in the drop-down menu. Doing so opens the System Preferences window.
Click Sharing. It's in the System Preferences window. A new window will open.
Check the "Internet Sharing" box. This option is on the left side of the window.
Click the "Share your connection from" drop-down box. It's in the middle of the window. A drop-down menu will appear.
Click Wi-Fi. This option is in the drop-down menu.
Check the "Ethernet" box. Doing so shares your Mac's Internet connection with the computer to which it is currently connected.

Method 3 of 5:

Connect the two computers with an Ethernet cable. Use an Ethernet cable to connect your two computers to one another.
Open Start
. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
- Make sure that you do this on the computer from which you're sharing files.
Open Control Panel. Type in control panel, then click Control Panel when it appears at the top of the Start window.
Click Network and Internet. You'll find this heading on the left side of the Control Panel window.
- If your Control Panel page has "Small icons" or "Large icons" written in the top-right corner, skip this step.
Click Network and Sharing Center. It's in the middle of the page.
Click Advanced sharing settings. This link is in the upper-left corner of the window.
Turn on file sharing. Check the "Turn on file and printer sharing" box below the "File and printer sharing" heading in the middle of the page.
Share a folder. To do so:
- Go to the folder's location in File Explorer.
- Select the folder that you may need to share.
- Click the Share tab.
- Click Specific people...
- Select Everyone from the drop-down menu at the top of the window.
- Click Share
- Click Done
Open the other computer's File Explorer. Click the
File Explorer icon, or open Start and click
there.
Click your first computer's name. You'll find it below the Network heading on the left side of the File Explorer window.
- You may have to scroll down to find this option.
Copy the shared folder onto your second computer. Click the folder that you may need to copy, press Ctrl+C, go to a folder in which you may need to store it, and press Ctrl+V.

Method 4 of 5:

Connect the two computers. Use an Ethernet cable to connect your two Mac computers to one another.
- Unless one or both of the Macs are iMacs (desktop computers), you'll need two Ethernet to USB-C adapters to plug into your Macs' Thunderbolt 3 ports before you can connect them via Ethernet.
Click Go. It's a menu item at the top of the screen. Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu.
- If you don't see Go , click the desktop to force it to appear.
- Make sure that you're doing this on the Mac from which you may need to transfer files.
Click Connect to Server. You'll find this option near the bottom of the drop-down menu.
Click Browse. It's near the bottom of the Connect to Server window. A pop-up window with nearby computers will appear.
Double-click the second Mac's name. You'll find this in the pop-up window.
Enter the second computer's password when prompted. This will allow you to connect to the second computer.
- If this doesn't work, try using the current computer's password.
Click Connect. It's in the lower-right side of the pop-up window.
Open
Finder. Click the Finder app icon, which resembles a blue face in your Mac's Dock.
Move files onto the other Mac. Find a file that you may need to move onto the second Mac, copy it by clicking it and pressing ⌘ Command+C, click the other Mac's name in the lower-left side of the Finder window, open your preferred folder, and press ⌘ Command+V.

Method 5 of 5:

Connect the two computers. Use an Ethernet cable to connect your two computers to one another.
- You'll need an Ethernet to USB-C adapter to plug into your Mac's Thunderbolt 3 port before you can attach an Ethernet cable to the Mac.
- If both your Mac and your Windows computer are connected to the Internet, you can transfer the files over Wi-Fi; however, doing so will lead to much slower file transfers than if you use a cable.
Enable file sharing on the Windows computer. To do so:
- Open Control Panel by typing control panel into Start and then clicking Control Panel .
- Click Network and Sharing (skip this step if you see "Small" or "Large" in the upper-right side of the window).
- Click Network and Sharing Center
- Click Advanced sharing settings
- Check the "Turn on file and printer sharing" box.
Share a folder. Do the following:
- Open Start
- Click File Explorer
- Select the folder that you may need to share.
- Click the Share tab.
- Click Specific people...
- Select Everyone from the drop-down menu at the top of the window.
- Click Share
- Click Done
Enable file sharing on the Mac computer. To do so:
- Open the Apple menu
- Click System Preferences...
- Click Sharing
- Check the "File Sharing" box.
- Change the "Everyone" permissions from "Read Only" to "Read & Write".
Share a folder from your Mac. Click the + icon below the list of shared folders, then double-click the folder that you may need to share.
- You may have to click Add to add the folder to the list of shared folders.
Access the Mac's files from the Windows computer. You can do this from within the File Explorer:
- Open Start
- Click File Explorer
- Click the Mac's name below the Network heading on the left side of the File Explorer.
- Open the shared folder.
- Select the files that you may need to save, then press Ctrl+C
- Go to a folder on your computer and then press Ctrl+V.
Access the Windows computer's files from the Mac. You can do this from within the Finder:
- Open
  Finder.
- Click your Windows computer's name in the lower-left side of the window.
- Open the shared folder.
- Select the files that you may need to save, then press ⌘ Command+C
- Go to a folder on your Mac and then press ⌘ Command+V.

FAQ

What is the easiest way to Connect Two Computers?

Start with the requirements in this guide, then follow each step in order. Check the result after every major change so problems are easier to identify.

Can beginners follow these instructions?

Yes. The process is organized into practical steps, and you can repeat any step before moving forward.

What should I check if the method does not work?

Confirm your software or device version, permissions, settings, file format, and internet connection when the task depends on online services.

Sharing Internet from Windows

Sharing Internet from a Mac

Sharing Files from Windows to Windows

Sharing Files from Mac to Mac

Sharing Files Between Windows and Mac

FAQ

What is the easiest way to Connect Two Computers?

Can beginners follow these instructions?

What should I check if the method does not work?

Reader Comments 0

Related Articles