How to connect your PC to your computer

1. Choosing the way

The best way to connect computers - via a router. You can collect all your devices on the same network to share files between them and the joint use of the printer.

If you do not have a router, you can connect a few computers directly via LAN-cable. Stuck this inexpensive, and can be purchased at any store of the computer technology.

2. connects computers

Using a router

It is possible that the router has got you by the provider. Or you can buy it for yourself.

To the router can be connected both via cables or wirelessly. For example, connect your laptop on Wi-Fi, a desk top computer - via a cable.

through cables

You will need the LAN cables, they are also called Ethernet-cable or network cable. they look like this:

To connect the device to a router, take LAN-cable and connect one end to the power connector on the computer. It looks like this:

The other end of the cable into the router in the same connector.

Repeat this process with the second computer.

LAN cable has a special latch that does not give him a chance to fall out of the port. When you connect a click is heard. If you need to remove the cable from the connector, click first on the latch, and then gently pull out the connector, otherwise he would not give in.

It is important not to confuse LAN-connector on your router to the WAN-port. The latter can either be located in a different color on the side of LAN-connectors. To it is connected to your cable ISP.

Via Wi-Fi

If you do not want to pull the cables and computers are equipped with Wi-Fi-modules, you can connect them to a router and wirelessly. All you need is a network name and password from it.

Have no idea what the name of your Wi-Fi network, which she password and that generally makes this flashing lights box? Read our instructions.

Windows

Left-click on the network icon in the lower right corner. A list of available Wi-Fi networks. Select your account. Tick ​​the item "Connect automatically" and click "Connect". Enter the password for the network and click "Next".

macOS

Click on the Wi-Fi icon in the upper right corner. Select your network from the list and click on its name. A window will appear asking you to enter your password. Do so and click "Connect".

Linux

Click on the Wi-Fi icon in the system tray. Depending on the shell Linux it can be placed on top or bottom of the screen, in the right corner.

Select your network from the list. A window will appear asking you to enter your password. Do so and click "Connect".

Via cable directly

Take the LAN-cable and connect one end to the power socket of the first computer, and the other - to the second connector.

3. Make a public folder

Now that computers are connected, it is small. It is necessary to specify which folders should be available for general use.

Windows

Make sure that the share is included in the system. To do this, click "Start» → «Settings» → «Network and Internet» → «Sharing Settings."

Check in "Private", which points "Turn on network discovery", "Enable automatic configuration on network devices" and "Enable File Sharing and printers" are active.

Click "All online" and activate the option "Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can read and write files in the shared folders".

Note: To gain access to shared files and folders by default, you need an account on the computer where they are stored. When trying to connect the system prompts you to enter your user name and password. If you do not want to bother it, select "Disable sharing with password protection." Your files will still be safe: access them will be able to only those devices that are on your local network.

Click "Save Changes."

Now right-click on the folder you want to share. Select "Provide access to» → «Individuals».

In the window that opens, click on the arrow next to the blank field and select "All." Click "Add".

In the column "Level Permissions" select the options "Read" to allow only browse the contents of a folder on another computer, or "Reading and Writing", so it can be more and change.

Click "Share", then - "Finish".

Finally, you need to know the name by which your computer is listed on the network. Click "Start» → «Settings» → «System» → «On the system." You will see the item "Device Name". So you can easily find the desired computer in the list of devices on the local network, the name can be changed. To do this, click "Rename PC".

macOS

Open the "System Settings» → «Total Access». Turn sideways option "File Sharing."

Click on the plus icon below the "Shared Folders". Choose the one you want to share.

On the right is another field. There whether it can be to change the contents of your folder from another computer. Click on the drop-down menu next to "All Users" and select the appropriate level of access "Read and Write", "Read Only" or "Recording only".

Click "Options" and tick the box "Share files and folders using SMB». Then mark your macOS account in the box below.

If you want to connect to a shared folder on a Mac without a password, Go to the "System Settings» → «Users and Groups". Click the lock and enter your user password, if needed. Then, select the account "Guest" and activate the option "Allow guests to connect to shared folders".

Learn the name of Mac on the local network by looking at the top part of the window in the settings of "Sharing". To change it, click "Edit" and enter a different name, and then click OK.

Now you can close the window.

Linux

Select the desired folder and click the right mouse button. Click "public folders LAN."

Turn on the check box "Share this folder". The first time the system will prompt you to download the necessary applications to work with the local network. Click the "Install Service", then confirm "Install" and enter your password. Wait a couple of minutes until the service is established.

Now click "Allow other users to change the contents of a folder" and "Guest Access" (once again not to enter any passwords). Click "Apply" and "Set permissions automatically." All are now folder is open for common use.

Click on "Show application» → «Settings» → «Sharing" and make sure the switch is activated in the header of the window.

Here you can learn about and change the name under which the computer is displayed in the local network.

4. Browse the files on another computer

Windows

Open the "Explorer", and then click in the sidebar on the left section of the "Network". You will see all of the devices with which you are connected. Select the required computer. If you are included on it guest, before you open all of its shared folders. If not, the system will first ask you to enter the name and password of the account that you use on the computer.

It happens that the desired computer is not displayed in the list, even though you did everything correctly. Then, connect to it by typing its name into the address bar "Explorer."

For example, if our second computer called iMac.local, enter in the "Explorer" double backslash and the name:

\\ iMac.local

And before we open all of the common files.

You can click on the computer name in the sidebar and choose "Pin to Quick Access Toolbar". He will remain there, and you do not have anything more to be entered manually.

macOS

Open the Finder and click "Go» → «Network».

Before you will be all the computers on the local network. Click on the one you want.

If you are included on it guest access, the connection will take place immediately. If not, the system will ask for credentials. Enter the user name and password, which are using on the computer to which you can connect.

If your Mac does not display any computer on the local network can connect to it directly. To do this, click Finder → «transition» → «Connection to the server." Enter the name of the computer which is connected, together with the prefix smb: //, for example:

smb: // desktop-sd9hje9

Select which folder you want to connect, and click OK. If necessary, enter a name and password.

Now connected computer will remain in the Finder sidebar in the "Network" section.

Linux

Open the file manager and click on the Sidebar button "Other places". You will see all the computers that are connected to the local network. At the same time computers Windows They will be submitted in a separate folder.

Click the device you want, if necessary, enter the name and password of his account, and you will see all the shared folders.

If for some reason your computer does not appear in the list, enter its name preceded by smb: // in the "Connect to Server", for example:

smb: // desktop-sd9hje9

And click "Connect".

Now you can share files between all computers on the local network.