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How to Set up a Computer Network

This wikiHow teaches you how to set up a computer network for a group of Windows or Mac computers. You can set up a wireless network for a few computers, or you can use a wired connection if you're adding a large number of computers to a...
Method 1 of 4:

Using a Wireless Network on Windows

  1. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 1How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 1
    Click the Wi-Fi symbol
    How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 2How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 2
    . It's in the lower-right corner of the screen. A pop-up window will appear.
    1. If Wi-Fi is currently disabled, click the Wi-Fi button in the lower-left side of the pop-up window before proceeding.
    2. In some cases, you'll need to click the ^ icon in the lower-right side of the screen to see the Wi-Fi icon.
  2. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 3How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 3
    Select a network. Click the network to which you want to connect each of your network computers.
  3. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 4How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 4
    Click Connect. It's in the lower-right side of the network's name box.
  4. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 5How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 5
    Enter the network's password. Type in the network's password when prompted.
  5. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 6How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 6
    Click Next. It's below the network. As long as the password is correct, doing so will connect you to the network.
  6. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 7How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 7
    Connect other computers in the network to the Internet. For each computer that you want to use in your network, repeat the Wi-Fi connection process. Once each computer is connected to the Wi-Fi network, you can proceed with setting up file sharing.
  7. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 8How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 8
    Open Start
    How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 9How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 9
    . Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  8. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 10How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 10
    Type in control panel. Doing so will search your computer for the Control Panel app.
  9. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 11How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 11
    Click Control Panel. It's a blue rectangle icon at the top of the Start menu.
  10. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 12How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 12
    Click Network and Sharing Center. This option resembles a set of blue monitors.
    1. If you see "Category" in the upper-right side of the page, first click the Network and Internet heading on the main Control Panel page.
  11. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 13How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 13
    Click Change advanced sharing settings. It's a link in the upper-left side of the page.
  12. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 14How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 14
    Check the "Turn on network discovery" box. This will ensure that your computer can interact with other computers that are plugged into the Internet source.
    1. You can also enable the "Turn on file and printer sharing" option and the "Allow Windows to manage homegroup connections" option if they aren't automatically selected.
  13. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 15How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 15
    Click Save changes. It's at the bottom of the page.
  14. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 16How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 16
    Enable network discovery on the other network computers. Once each computer in the networked group has network discovery enabled in Control Panel, your wired network will be ready to use.
Method 2 of 4:

Using a Wireless Network on Mac

  1. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 17How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 17
    Click the Wi-Fi symbol
    How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 18How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 18
    . It's in the top-right side of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
    1. If your Wi-Fi isn't enabled, click
      How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 19How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 19
      and then click Turn Wi-Fi On near the top of the menu instead.
  2. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 20How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 20
    Select a network. Click the Wi-Fi network to which you want to connect each computer in your network.
  3. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 21How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 21
    Enter the network's password. Type the password for the network into the "Password" field.
  4. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 22How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 22
    Click Join. It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so will connect your computer to the Internet.
  5. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 23How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 23
    Connect other network computers to the Internet. For each computer that you want to use in your network, repeat the Wi-Fi connection process. Once each computer is connected to the Wi-Fi network, you can proceed with setting up file sharing.
  6. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 24How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 24
    Open the Apple menu
    How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 25How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 25
    . Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
  7. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 26How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 26
    Click System Preferences…. It's near the top of the drop-down menu.
  8. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 27How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 27
    Click Sharing. You'll find this blue folder-shaped icon in the middle of the System Preferences window.
  9. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 28How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 28
    Check the "File Sharing" box. It's on the left side of the page. This will ensure that you can share files from your computer to other computers on the network.
    1. You can check any other file sharing options that you want to use for your network here as well.
  10. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 29How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 29
    Close the System Preferences window. Your changes will be saved; the current computer is now set up for network sharing.
  11. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 30How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 30
    Enable file sharing on the other network computers. Each computer that's connected to your Internet source will need file sharing to be enabled. Once you've completed this process, your wireless network will be ready to use.
Method 3 of 4:

Using a Wired Network on Windows

  1. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 31How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 31
    Make sure that you have the necessary hardware. You'll need an Internet source (e.g., a router) into which you can plug each individual computer, as well as Ethernet cables to connect the computers to the Internet source.
    1. Most standard routers only come with a few Ethernet ports, but you can buy network hubs that support upward of 10 connections.
    2. Make sure that you know the approximate distance from each computer to the Internet source. You'll need Ethernet cables that can span this distance.
  2. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 32How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 32
    Set up the Internet source. Plug one end of an Ethernet cable into the "Internet" port on the back of the modem, then connect the other end of the cable to the "Internet" or "Ethernet" port on your Internet source.
    1. You'll also need to plug in the Internet source's power cable before proceeding.
  3. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 33How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 33
    Plug each computer into the Internet source. Attach one end of an Ethernet cable to the square Ethernet port on your computer, then attach the other end of the cable to the Internet source.
    1. Typically speaking, you'll use desktop computers for a network, which means the Ethernet ports will be on the back of each CPU box.
  4. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 34How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 34
    Open Start
    How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 35How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 35
    . Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  5. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 36How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 36
    Type in control panel. Doing so will search your computer for the Control Panel app.
  6. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 37How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 37
    Click Control Panel. It's a blue rectangle icon at the top of the Start menu.
  7. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 38How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 38
    Click Network and Sharing Center. This option resembles a set of blue monitors.
    1. If you see "Category" in the upper-right side of the page, first click the Network and Internet heading on the main Control Panel page.
  8. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 39How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 39
    Click Change advanced sharing settings. It's a link in the upper-left side of the page.
  9. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 40How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 40
    Check the "Turn on network discovery" box. This will ensure that your computer can interact with other computers that are plugged into the Internet source.
    1. You can also enable the "Turn on file and printer sharing" option and the "Allow Windows to manage homegroup connections" option if they aren't automatically selected.
  10. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 41How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 41
    Click Save changes. It's at the bottom of the page.
  11. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 42How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 42
    Enable network discovery on the other network computers. Once each computer in the networked group has network discovery enabled in Control Panel, your wired network will be ready to use.
Method 4 of 4:

Using a Wired Network on Mac

  1. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 43How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 43
    Make sure that you have the necessary hardware. You'll need an Internet source (e.g., a router) into which you can plug each individual computer, as well as Ethernet cables to connect the computers to the Internet source.
    1. Most standard routers only come with a few Ethernet ports, but you can buy network hubs that support upward of 10 connections.
    2. Make sure that you know the approximate distance from each computer to the Internet source. You'll need Ethernet cables that can span this distance.
  2. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 44How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 44
    Set up the Internet source. Plug one end of an Ethernet cable into the "Internet" port on the back of the modem, then connect the other end of the cable to the "Internet" or "Ethernet" port on your Internet source.
    1. You'll also need to plug in the Internet source's power cable before proceeding.
  3. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 45How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 45
    Plug each computer into the Internet source. Attach one end of an Ethernet cable to the square Ethernet port on your computer, then attach the other end of the cable to the Internet source.
    1. Typically speaking, you'll use iMac computers for a network. This means that you'll find the Ethernet port on the back of the iMac's monitor.
    2. If you're using Mac laptops for your network, you'll need to buy a USB-C network adapter for your computer and then plug it into one of the USB-C slots on the side of your Mac, since Mac laptops no longer include Ethernet ports.
  4. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 46How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 46
    Open the Apple menu
    How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 47How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 47
    . Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
  5. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 48How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 48
    Click System Preferences…. It's near the top of the drop-down menu.
  6. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 49How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 49
    Click Sharing. You'll find this blue folder-shaped icon in the middle of the System Preferences window.
  7. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 50How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 50
    Check the "File Sharing" box. It's on the left side of the page. This will ensure that you can share files from your computer to other computers on the network.
    1. You can check any other file sharing options that you want to use for your network here as well.
  8. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 51How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 51
    Close the System Preferences window. Your changes will be saved; the current computer is now set up for network sharing.
  9. How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 52How to Set up a Computer Network Picture 52
    Enable file sharing on the other network computers. Each computer that's connected to your Internet source will need file sharing to be enabled. Once you've completed this process, your wired network will be ready to use.
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