How to Share Files between Two Computers Using LAN Cable

Renee BianaJanuary 7, 2021

0 584 3 minutes read

WiFi has helped us in numerous ways in terms of convenience and comfortability working online. However, if you are sharing, sending or receiving huge files, WiFi could be less efficient and could become more frustrating. Hence, it is highly recommended to connect online through LAN. How to do this? Read further and learn more about how to transfer huge files between PCs through the use of an Ethernet cable.

When to Use LAN Cable

Using an Ethernet cable is simple to use and provides faster data speed. In fact, the cheapest CAST5e cable has a speed up to 1000Mbps while in comparison to USB 2.0, it supports speeds up to 480 Mbps. Thus, transferring data through Ethernet cable is a wiser and better choice.

Advantage of LAN cable over others

As mentioned above, one of the main advantages in using an Ethernet cable is it could transfer files faster than a regular flash drive and WiFi connection. Thus, if you are transferring huge file or data, Ethernet cable is the best choice.

Things you need

Two Windows computers
LAN cable, CAT 5 is good
Time and patience

Step 1 – Connect both PCs with LAN cable

In this step, you could use any LAN cable – crossover or Ethernet cable is fine even on modern computers.

Once you have physically connected both of your PCs with a LAN cable, you will need to turn on your Network Sharing on both of your computers. To do this, you will need to follow the steps provided below:

Go to Start menu
Search and click on Control and Panel
Open Control and Panel
Click Network and Internet
Type Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network and Sharing Center on the search box and click on it
Click on Change advanced sharing settings found on the left portion
You will find three networks – Public, private and all network
We recommend you choose All Networks
Click drop down icon of All Networks
Turn off password protected sharing

Take note that this will enable other computers to access your shared data without having to provide you any credentials. Hence, this could be unsafe but making one-time exception is okay. Ensure that once you have completed your file sharing, turn the password protected sharing on and do not forget to click save changes for both PCs.

Step 3 – Setup Static IP

Since the network sharing is already enabled on both PCs, we will need to put both computers on the same network. This could be done by setting a static IP address of the same class. Again, you will need to do this on both PCs.

Open control panel
Go to Network and Internet
Click Network Sharing Center
Right click on the start menu
Select network connections
Once you see the active connections, click Ethernet link
Click properties button
Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4
Click Properties
Configure two PCs with different PC IP settings by selecting the option, use the following IP address on Computer 1
Encode the following values:

IP Address: 192.168.1.1
Subnet mask: 225.225.225.0
Default gateway: 192.168.1.2

You do not need to use these IP address and instead, you could use Class A or B IP address.
On the second computer, do the same steps but with the following values:

IP Address: 192.168.1.2
Subnet mask: 225.225.225.0
Default gateway: 192.168.1.1

Open your File Explorer
Click on Network tab found on the left side
You will find two PCs icons and you will be able to browse files in it

Once the cables are connected properly, sharing options are enabled and IP addresses are configured, you could now share and share files from one PC to another. We recommend that you create a new folder on your desktop and copy paste all the files you wish to move to another computer.

Select folder you would like to share
Right click on it
On the context menu, go to Give access to
Select option Specific People
On the file sharing window, choose Everyone
Click Add button
Click Share button
You will see network location of the folder
Go back to the other PC
Open networks panel
Click on the other computer’s name
You will find the folder that you have shared, open the folder and transfer the files and folders by copying and paste