How do Share Files Between Two Win 11 Computers -Same Network?

PvtJohnTowle · Mar 19, 2023

I want to share files i.e copy and move files between two computers on the same network (SSID) both are Win 11 , desktop is 21H2 and Laptop is 22H2

I haven't been able to successfully do this. I think there might be something I am doing wrong.

Is there some tutorial or method to follow to succesully do this?

My Laptop (Dell XPS 13 EVO ) cannot see my PC in the network icon ((MY FIRST NAME-PC)

However my Desktop PC can see my Laptop as Laptop-XPS13-93 but when I click on it in the Network it says "Enter Nework Credentials - a username and password. I don't know what this is or where to find it.

Archigos · Mar 19, 2023

I can help a little with this... The systems not seeing each other properly can be handled by someone else, but the User Credentials that it is asking for is the user/pass of the Laptop's main account.

In your current situation, you should be able to do all the copy/pasting/moving/etc. from the Desktop by either pushing or pulling files across the network, but one thing you have to do is verify that the network shares are set up properly. I had this issue at first when sharing between a Win11 laptop and a Mac. Right-click on a folder you want to share and click Properties. Click Sharing tab and click "Share" at the top of that window. Make sure your correct username is available and selected. Now, from the Sharing tab, click "Advanced Sharing..." Make sure the "Share this folder" is checked and there is a Share Name provided. Next click
"Permissions" and set up to how you want... for me, this is where I messed up and had Read-Only access to the folder and couldn't copy to the folder from the other system. If you're the only one with access to the systems, you can set up the permissions for "Everyone" to be "Full Control" or you can click "Add" and make sure your username gets Full Control.

Brink · Mar 19, 2023

Hello,

In addition:

Share Files and Folders Over a Network in Windows 10

How to Share Files and Folders Over a Network in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

Bree · Apr 5, 2023

PvtJohnTowle said:
when I click on it in the Network it says "Enter Nework Credentials - a username and password. I don't know what this is or where to find it.

The network credentials you require are the name and password of an account that exists on the PC you are connecting to.

When you try to connect to another computer Windows first tries to connect with the name and password of the account you are signed in with on this PC. If an account of the same name and with the same password exists on the PC you are connecting to then you should get straight in. If it doesn't then you'll need to provide the name and password of another account on that PC. If you tick the box for 'Remember my credentials' then Windows will use the saved credentials next time you try to connect to that PC.

Try3 · Apr 5, 2023

PvtJohnTowle said:
I want to share files i.e copy and move files between two computers on the same network (SSID) both are Win 11 , desktop is 21H2 and Laptop is 22H2

Is there some tutorial or method to follow to succesully do this?

I use this:
A consolidated network setup checklist for Windows 10 and 11 - my post #4 - TenForums
It includes all stages of network setup and has never let me down.

Best of luck,
Denis

barman58 · Apr 5, 2023

What I suggest to users at home, wanting to share files between two devices eg Desktop and Laptop, is to create the identical user name with the same password on both systems this will then automatically accept the remote user and give the same access rights to both systems as long as the both system are connected to the same network

Winuser · Apr 22, 2023

Brink said:
Hello,

In addition:

Share Files and Folders Over a Network in Windows 10

How to Share Files and Folders Over a Network in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

What option would be best to share just one folder on my mini pc with just one of my computers on my home network? I'm using my mini pc as a media server and my old desktop to transcode my content to the .mp4 format. The way I'm doing it now I have to physically move my USB drive from one computer to the other. This limits me when I can do it because my mini pc uses my tv as the monitor. My wife gets upset if I try to do it when she is watching her shows

Brink · Apr 22, 2023

Winuser said:
What option would be best to share just one folder on my mini pc with just one of my computers on my home network? I'm using my mini pc as a media server and my old desktop to transcode my content to the .mp4 format. The way I'm doing it now I have to physically move my USB drive from one computer to the other. This limits me when I can do it because my mini pc uses my tv as the monitor. My wife gets upset if I try to do it when she is watching her shows

Any available option will do the job. It's really a matter of what's easiest for you.

Personally, I find using a NAS drive connected to the same network works the best to share from.

Winuser · Apr 23, 2023

Brink said:
Any available option will do the job. It's really a matter of what's easiest for you.

Personally, I find using a NAS drive connected to the same network works the best to share from.

I'll go over all of the options and try to decide my best option. What I want to do is be able to copy my files from the USB drive on my desktop to the USB drive on my mini pc using my wireless network without sharing to the other computers.

britgeezer · Apr 23, 2023

barman58 said:
eg Desktop and Laptop, is to create the identical user name with the same password on both systems

I tried that, but then OneDrive wants to replicate desktops (despite me clicking not to) My LT has a small 13" screen and my main PC much, much bigger, and it creates a real mess since deleting icons from the LT then delates from main PC. Sigh....

barman58 · Apr 24, 2023

Once you have the two systems with the same user credentials you simply share only the part of the of the drive tree that contains the data you want to share, and ensure that the user has the required access rights to the whole of the data [there is no need to share any part of the windows system, I keep my data on a seperate partition to the OS but as long as you only share the data area, let the rights cascade down the tree to include all the data it will work on systems that only have a single partition ] then on the second system open the network navigate to the correct location on the first system and you should have access to the data.

You can, if you wish, create a shortcut on the second system pointing to the area on the first that will save time, [navigate to the root of the data area and right click & select create shortcut], - just use the shortcut to access the data from any app that can read a file manager

It is of course also possible to simply navigate to the required location on the network and, when you are prompted for access rights by the system, simply enter the credentials of a user that has sufficient access rights

I have been using these methods since the first windows version that had networking built in [Windows 3.1?], and I regularly use it to access my laptop data on my desktop, I even have shortcuts in place to access the many data areas on the desktop that I do not have room to store on the smaller laptop drive

Microsoft's data sharing instructions ...

File sharing over a network in Windows - Microsoft Support

Learn about file sharing over a network in Windows.

support.microsoft.com

Winuser · May 9, 2023

All I want to do is access one folder on my old mini pc from my old desktop. I used option one to setup sharing. I setup the mini pc following the guide. Then I started setting up my old desktop and halfway through realized I was still using my new mini pc. The mini pc is on top of my old pc and using the keyboard, mouse and monitor. I figured what the heck I'll go ahead and finish. When everything was done I tried accessing the old mini pc. Even though I chose to not use a user name or password I got the box to enter. I don't remember if I restarted the new mini pc or just closed and reopened file explore but the next try was successful. Then I followed the same guide to setup my old desktop. The old mini pc can not find the user on the old desktop and when I try accessing it from the old computer I can't. This was yesterday and after thinking about it I decided to create a new user on my old desktop and give it the same user name as I used on the new mini pc. Now when I try to connect I keep getting the box to enter the username and password and when I enter it I get a error that they are wrong. Right now all three computers are using the same user name and password. I'm afraid to try the new mini pc because if I do and it doesn't work I'm going to flip out. I'm open to any suggestions on what I need to do. I just want to access one folder with read/write permission.

Winuser · May 9, 2023

I was correct. The new mini pc is having the same problem now as my old desktop. I can't say it but I think anyone reading this can use their imagination to think of where I would like the team responsible for programming the networking in Windows to go and what to do when they get there. I have no clue of what to do except to stop sharing the folder. Thank you MS for making me go back to using sneaker net. May your winters be hard and the blue bird of paradises build their nest in your chimneys.

jimbo45 · May 10, 2023

@Winuser

Windows ever since its inception has always had dodgy networking -- I think Gandalf the Wizard in The Lord of the Rings would be more reliable. It's always seemed a bit random- however the latest versions of Insider Windows seem to at least on my systems to be more reliable,

Can't really say any more as you've probably done all the obvious things. - Possibly one final thing to try is turn every device that uses wifi or Lan off and disconnect the router for at least 5 mins (including any mobile phones, smart TV's, tablets etc). Then restart the router and then the two computers ONLY and see if they connect. If they do then start other devices.

If it still doesn't work then - that's it I haven't got any more ideas.

Cheers
jimbo.

Fabler2 · May 10, 2023

Winuser said:
I was correct. The new mini pc is having the same problem now as my old desktop. I can't say it but I think anyone reading this can use their imagination to think of where I would like the team responsible for programming the networking in Windows to go and what to do when they get there. I have no clue of what to do except to stop sharing the folder. Thank you MS for making me go back to using sneaker net. May your winters be hard and the blue bird of paradises build their nest in your chimneys.

Have you thought of using USB sharing in your router? I've connected a USB SSD drive to my TP-LINK router and can share files between my laptops. I've usually only have one laptop on the go.

Try3 · May 10, 2023

Winuser said:
All I want to do is access one folder on my old mini pc from my old desktop.

Try3 said:
I use this:
A consolidated network setup checklist for Windows 10 and 11 - my post #4 - TenForums
It includes all stages of network setup and has never let me down.

Denis

Winuser · May 10, 2023

Thanks for the replies. @jimbo45, I really don't understand why MS has to make networking a headache. I don't remember having any problems back in the days of Windows 7. @Fabler2, I have the modem, router and voice from Comcast and it doesn't have any USB ports. Looking back, I'm not sure it was worth upgrading to Wi-Fi 6. @Try3, I'm off today so I have all day to work on it. I'm going to use your list and go over every setting. Then I'll do the same with the Old desktop. the computers do show up in File Explorer so I know they do see each other. If that doesn't work I'll try jimbo45's suggestion.

Winuser · May 10, 2023

@Try3, I followed your guide and my old desktop can now access the folder. With your guide I did turn on the option to enter a user name and password. In File Explorer I used the sharing option instead of the give access to option. I restarted both computers and it's still working. As a test on my desktop I logged in to my main user account then on the mini pc I tried the give access to option and typed in the user name I wanted and it still can't be found. I don't know why but the main thing is that I can now access the folder on the mini pc.

Try3 · May 10, 2023

"old desktop can now access the folder" - the shared folder on which computer, the mini pc? You've mentioned desktop, old desktop, mini pc. You have three or just two - desktop, mini pc?
"In File Explorer I used the sharing option instead of the give access to option." - you used my Step 6?

You did run though the whole procedure on every computer?
And every computer has an Admin account with the same username & the same password? That's what cannot be found in Step 9?

Denis

Winuser · May 10, 2023

Try3 said:
You did run though the whole procedure on every computer?
And every computer has an Admin account with the same username & the same password? That's what cannot be found in Step 9?

Using your guide and and selecting share instead of give access to worked. On my first attempt I did get give access to to work on my new mini pc but it stopped working when I tried to give access to on my desktop. I'm copying files to the old mini pc as I type.