Sharing Files Between Computers: Every Method That Works

Knowing how to share files between computers saves the frustration of emailing yourself documents, carrying USB drives between rooms, and losing track of which machine has the latest version of a file. There are more ways to share files between computers than most people realise — from the built-in Windows and Mac file sharing over a local network, through cloud sync, direct wireless transfer, and physical media — and the best method depends on the file size, how frequently you share, whether the computers are on the same network, and whether speed or convenience matters more. This guide covers every practical method for how to share files between computers in 2026, with step-by-step instructions for each approach. If you want the full context, see our Best Software and Apps.

How to Share Files Between Computers: Method 1 — Windows Network Sharing

Windows’ built-in network file sharing allows any computer on the same local network (home Wi-Fi, office network) to access shared folders on another Windows PC — without any additional software. This is the fastest method to share files between computers at home or in a small office once configured.

Setting up the shared folder (on the PC sharing files):

1. Right-click the folder you want to share in File Explorer and select Properties
2. Click the Sharing tab, then click Share
3. In the dropdown, type Everyone and click Add — this allows any device on the network to access the folder without a password. For password-protected sharing, add specific user accounts instead
4. Set permission level: Read (can view and copy files, not modify) or Read/Write (can also edit and delete files)
5. Click Share, then Done

Accessing the shared folder (from another Windows PC):

1. Open File Explorer and click Network in the left sidebar
2. Find the name of the computer sharing the folder and double-click it
3. The shared folder should appear — double-click to open and access the files
4. If prompted for credentials, use the Windows account username and password of the computer sharing the folder
5. For quick future access: right-click the shared folder and select Map network drive — it appears as a persistent drive letter in File Explorer

If the Network section of File Explorer shows no computers, ensure that Network Discovery is enabled: go to Settings → Network and internet → Advanced network settings → Advanced sharing settings → Private networks → Network discovery → On.

How to Share Files Between Computers: Method 2 — Mac File Sharing

macOS has similar network file sharing built in. To share files between computers from a Mac:

1. Go to System Settings → General → Sharing
2. Enable File Sharing
3. Click the Info button next to File Sharing to add folders and configure who can access them
4. Click the + button under Shared Folders to add the folder you want to share
5. Set user permissions — Everyone can be set to Read Only or Read and Write

To access a Mac’s shared folder from a Windows PC: open File Explorer, click Network, find the Mac (it may take a moment to appear), and enter the Mac user account credentials when prompted. To access from another Mac: open Finder, click Network in the sidebar, find the Mac, and connect using the Mac account credentials.

How to Share Files Between Computers: Method 3 — Cloud Storage Sync

The simplest and most reliable method to share files between computers for many users is cloud storage — placing files in a synced folder (OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox) on one computer and accessing them from any other computer signed into the same account. This method:

• Works regardless of whether the computers are on the same network
• Requires no configuration beyond installing the sync client on each computer
• Provides version history and recovery for shared files
• Works across Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android simultaneously

The limitation of cloud sync to share files between computers is upload and download speed — large files (video, large archives, raw photos) take significant time to sync through the cloud even on fast connections. For large files on the same network, method 1 (direct network sharing) or method 4 (LocalSend) is considerably faster. Our guides on Google Drive not syncing, OneDrive not syncing, and Dropbox not syncing cover fixes for when cloud sync fails.

How to Share Files Between Computers: Method 4 — LocalSend (Direct Wireless Transfer)

LocalSend is the fastest and simplest way to share files between computers on the same Wi-Fi network without configuring Windows network sharing or using cloud storage. It is free, open source, works across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, and transfers files directly between devices at Wi-Fi speeds without internet access required. To share files between computers using LocalSend:

1. Install LocalSend on both computers from the LocalSend website or the Microsoft Store / App Store
2. Open LocalSend on both devices — they automatically detect each other on the same network within a few seconds
3. On the sending device: click the destination device’s name, select the files to send, and click Send
4. On the receiving device: accept the incoming transfer when prompted

Transfer speed over a local network with LocalSend is typically 50–200 MB/s — significantly faster than USB 2.0 and comparable to USB 3.0 for most file sizes, and exponentially faster than cloud upload/download for large files. For frequent large-file transfers between computers on the same network, LocalSend is the best method to share files between computers on speed and simplicity combined.

How to Share Files Between Computers: Method 5 — USB Drive

For computers that are not on the same network, a USB flash drive remains one of the most reliable methods to share files between computers. Modern USB 3.0 and USB-C drives provide 100–400 MB/s transfer speeds — fast enough to transfer most file sets in under a minute. For large video files or large archives, a USB 3.0 drive is faster than cloud transfer on most home broadband connections. The limitation is the physical logistics — both computers must be accessible, and the USB drive must be physically carried between them.

How to Share Files Between Computers: Method 6 — Nearby Share (Windows)

Nearby Share is Windows’ AirDrop equivalent — wireless file transfer between nearby Windows PCs using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi without a shared network. To use Nearby Share to share files between computers:

1. Enable Nearby Share on both PCs: Settings → System → Nearby Share → On. Set Sharing to Everyone nearby or My devices only
2. Right-click the file you want to share in File Explorer and select Share
3. The receiving PC appears as an option — click it to send
4. Accept the transfer on the receiving PC when prompted

Nearby Share works between Windows PCs on different networks — they only need to be physically near each other with Bluetooth enabled. Transfer speed is slower than LocalSend for large files but is convenient for quick small file transfers without network configuration. For sharing files between a Windows PC and an Android phone, Nearby Share also works with Android (Phone Link integration). Our guide on the best file transfer software covers the full range of tools for both local and remote file sharing in more detail, and our article on the best file sync software covers the tools for keeping files continuously synchronised between computers rather than transferring them one at a time.