How to transfer files via local wifi-network?

Dear community,

At home I typically transfer files between Pcs using an USB-stick. The two computers in question are usually a Windows 10 desktop PC and a Windows 11 laptop. Both Windows installations are in Dutch. So in this text I use translations, e.g. ‘Network detection’ is my translation from ‘Netwerkdetectie’.

Since there must be a better way I looked on the internet and tried to follow the first way described this article: www.wikihow.com/Connect-Two-Computers

I was mostly able to follow the instructions for the desktop PC, not on the laptop However, on the laptop ‘Network detection’ and ‘File and printer sharing’ are on (and I think they already were).

A first problem is that clicking the Netwerk icon on the left in Explorer on the desktop made Windows complain that network detection wasn’t on in ‘Network centre’ (while according to the guide, that setting is in ‘Ethernet’). Eventually a soft-yellow message bar appeared that I could click to turn on network detection, which resolved the issue.

Next, when I trie to access the laptop, Windows complains that the user name of password is not correct.



I asked two chatbots for advice and created a shared folder on each computer.
On the deskop I shared the folder ‘Gedeelde folder’ with everyone, because I don’t know how to share it with only the laptop. Now from the laptop, with the proper login information, I have access to the whole ‘Users’ folder of the desktop. I suspect that sharing my users folder with everyone is bad for my privacy. If I turn off sharing the users folder, then I don’t have access to anything from the laptop.

So, does anyone know how to share files between two Pcs using a local wifi-network or know a better way of sharing files?

Sorry for the late response. I haven’t received a notification that someone has responded.

Xrobwx71:
“Does the computer that rejects your user/password have a local or Microsoft account? If Microsoft, that's the user login that you'll need to use.“
It has a local account.


Bruce:
“I used to use a shared folder back in the day - a much better solution now is cloud storage.

Most of us get an allowance of OneDrive space when we purchase the Microsoft Office suite. For example, I have 1TB since I subscribe to the monthly licensing of Office365.
But there are free options, like Dropbox that gives you 2GB for free. And OneDrive offers 5GB for free.
Whatever online storage service you go for, install their software on both PC's and use that Documents folder (for example) to save your work, then it auto syncs across all your devices - simple!3”

I don’t see the advantages of adding a system in the middle. I do see disadvantages though:
1) It adds dependence on a service.
2) It slows down transfer as there are two transfers to be made in stead of one and the system in the middle is non-local.
3) It adds a privacy and security risk.

PeterOz:
“If you go from pc to laptop you get access denied.
If you go from laptop to pc what happens?“
Like I said in the OP: from the laptop I can access the desktop by gving the proper user name and password, but what I get to see depends on my sharing settings.

PeterOz:
“By what I read both computers login with a local account.
One computer has the username Frank.
So on the other computer go into control panel>credential manager and click on windows credentials.
Click on add a windows credential.
Put the username and the password of the computer you are trying to connect to.
Test
If it works, then repeat on the other computer.“
Neither of my accounts has username Frank.
In Control panel I don’t see a credential manager on either computer. However, there is something called ‘Referentiebeheer’ which seems to match the instructions you give.
I try it on the desktop. However, the OK-button is greyed out.


Bruce:
“1) As does turning on folder sharing. You have to turn on file and printer sharing, network discovery, and who knows whatever other system services Microsoft requires. “
Those are not third party or external services. The free services seem to be quite limited in available space. I currently have Office 365, but maybe not for ever.

“2) True, but if you can notice the difference, you must have a slow internet connection. These days, once a file goes into your local cloud folder, it only takes seconds to show up on any other sync'd device.
I would even argue it is faster, as it eliminates the USB stick, which is also a 'man in the middle'. You have to find the stick, plug it in (always the wrong way initially), copy to the stick, safely eject the stick, take stick to other PC (again flipping it over as you tried the wrong way), wait for the system to detect it, and locate the file and copy it. “
The USB-stick has higher transfer rates, but requires more manual work. So, I am trying an alternative.
I don’t have a slow internet connection, but I still expect my local wireless network to be faster than my internet connection.

“3) If you use web banking, or emails, or surf the web at all - it adds no more risk than any online access does.
These companies want you to use their product, so make it as secure as possible, with passwords and encryption. I doubt your files are currently encrypted on your PC's.
Plus, a huge advantage is the inbuilt redundancy (stored in more than one location) and backups (file versions are kept). “
I already have redudancy, as the files I am transferring are stored on two computers.

I may try to get this Onedrive to work one day, but I want to try this first.

Yes, I have a username and password setup for the laptop.

So I filled in “\\FRANKS_LAPTOP” in the ‘internet- of netwerkadres’-field and then I could click OK.

However, it didn’t help: if I try to login remotely I am told the username or password is incorrect.

Yes, on the desktop I filled in the username and password for the laptop.

So I try to create a new account on the laptop. Apparently one needs an e-mail address and internet access to create an account to log into windows. In addition, the instructions are misleading, as they claim the procedure creates a Microsoft account. It also claims that I agree with some privacy agreement and a Microsoft service agreement, neither of which I have even read.

The test failed. Trying to login with the new account from the desktop fails as before. Trying to log in with the now account on the laptop directly fails as well. My account or password is allegedly incorrect. I have two codes sent to my the e-mail address of the account allows me to log in.

However, now the laptop is still not accessible from the desktop.


I check and find that network detection and file and printer sharing on the laptop are on. They are even greyed out so that I can’t turn them off.


@PeterOz:
“Can you try turning off password sharing.“
Probably I could, if I knew how. The instructions I found on https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/49827-turn-off-password-protected-sharing-windows-10-a.html don’t work. Presumably I would have to try in my administrator account.

Which I do. I log into the laptop with the administrator account. The laptop is still inaccessible from the desktop. Somehow ‘Map openbaar delen’ (share folder publicly) got turned off. I turn it back on. (Password sharing remains on). I test again. Now I have access to the laptop from the desktop without having to log in, but only to ‘users\Openbaar’ (public).

So I turn off password sharing on the laptop and I no longer have access to it from the desktop. After waiting with a blue spinning ring I got a message that I have no access. I pressed a button for the troubleshooter, which gives:



PeterOz:
“Is there a specific folder on the desktop you want to share?”
Yes: the folder I made specifically to put the stuff in I want to transfer.

PeterOz:
“As for the login rejection the only thing I can suggest is you create a new user for testing.
I have tried to recreate our error.
I have a laptop Widows 11 - Auto login and a desktop Windows 10. (same as your setup)
I reproduced the error you have.
I created a new local user account on the windows 11 laptop Called Test with a password Test.
I turned on Public file sharing and I can log on to the Widows 11 laptop.“
Mine required a password of at least 8 characters.