How to Transfer Files from PC to Laptop in 9 Ways

This page provides 9 methods to help you transfer files between a PC and a laptop, or vice versa. We recommend using the easiest method, which involves utilizing PC transfer software to complete the data migration in just 3 steps. Apart from third-party software, you'll find 8 other effective ways to move files to your new computer. All the suggested solutions are applicable for transferring files on all Windows PCs and laptops running Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.

View the Necessary Information to Transfer Files from PC to Laptop:

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How Can I Transfer Files Between a Laptop and a PC Wirelessly

Question 1: How do you connect a laptop to a desktop computer? What is the fastest file transfer method?

Question 2: Is there a way to connect my laptop to a PC wirelessly and share files between the two devices?

Question 3: Is there any special software that would make it easier to share files from a PC to a laptop?

When it comes to transferring files between a computer and a laptop, many individuals find themselves with queries on this topic. If you're one of them and have any of the following questions, continue reading to find solutions on this page.

Part 1. Transfer Files from PC to Laptop Using Software - [Free & Fast]

Pros: Suitable for users of all levels, easy and practical, 100% secure.

Cons: Payment required, costs a few dollars (Additional fees for advanced features: data rescue, find product key, etc.)

Difficulty: ☆

There are numerous file transfer software and tools available online for you to experiment with. To save your time, we'll recommend a standout software that excels in efficient file transfer.

Translate the following text into English, focusing only on translation work: Transfer Files from PC to Laptop using Free PC Transfer Software

If you need to transfer files from your desktop to your laptop just once via Wi-Fi, you can use professional PC transfer software like Todo PCTrans Free. Even if you're a beginner, you can easily and quickly move files to your laptop. Download this transfer tool for free:

It allows you to freely transfer folders, files (including music, documents, videos, photos, etc.), and programs along with their settings from one PC to another running Windows 11/10/8/7, either over the internet or by creating an image file with just a few clicks.

Step 1. Install and open Todo PCTrans on both your computer and laptop. Select "PC to PC" and choose the transfer direction (New PC or Old PC) to directly transfer files, applications, and user accounts from your computer to the laptop.

Step 2. Connect the PC to the laptop by entering either the laptop's account password or its verification code. You can go to the "PC to PC" mainscreen and turn on the button behind "Connection Verification."

Step 3. Next, select "Files" to choose the files you want to transfer. By default, PCTrans will transfer and save the data to the same location on the target computer. However, you can click the "Edit" icon to customize the storage path as needed.

Step 4. Now, click "Transfer" to start transferring files from PC to laptop at high speed.

For offline file transfer between PCs using Todo PCTrans, refer to this video for assistance:

If you need to transfer programs and apps to a new drive on the same PC, please refer to Transfer installed programs, apps to a new hard drive.

[One-for-All Guide] Transfer Files from PC to PC in 2022

Part 2. Sharing Files between PC and Laptop using Built-in Windows Tools [4 Methods]

Pros: Free

Cons: Complex for new or inexperienced computer users

Difficulty: ☆☆☆☆☆

Microsoft has included a file sharing feature in all Windows systems, allowing users to transfer files between their PCs using methods such as Network Shared Drive, Network Shared Link, Home Group, and Nearby Sharing.

Here are the detailed steps to share files between PCs and laptops using Windows' built-in sharing tools: 1. **Enable File Sharing:** - On both the sender and receiver computers, ensure that file sharing is enabled. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Advanced network settings > Sharing options. Turn on "Network discovery" and "File and printer sharing." 2. **Set Up HomeGroup (Windows 7 and 8) or Private Network (Windows 10):** - If you're using Windows 7 or 8, create or join a HomeGroup. In Windows 10, ensure both computers are on the same private network. 3. **Share a File or Folder:** - Right-click the file or folder you want to share, then select "Properties." - Go to the "Sharing" tab and click "Advanced Sharing." - Check the "Share this folder" box, and then click "Permissions" to set user access levels. - Add the usernames of the people you want to share with, and assign them appropriate permissions (Read, Write, or Read & Write). - Click "Apply" and "OK." 4. **Access Shared Files:** - On the receiving computer, open File Explorer and navigate to "Network" in the left pane. - You should see the name of the sharing computer. Double-click it to access shared folders. - If prompted, enter the username and password of the account that is sharing the files. 5. **Map a Network Drive (Optional):** - To easily access the shared folder in the future, you can map it as a network drive. In File Explorer, go to "This PC" and click "Map network drive." - Choose a drive letter, enter the path in the format "\\\ComputerName\SharedFolder", and click "Finish." Remember that for security reasons, it's recommended to use strong passwords and enable network encryption (WPA2 or later). Also, be cautious about sharing sensitive information over a network.

Also read: Transfer Data from Laptop to Laptop

# 1. Share Files between PC and Laptop via Network Connection

Step 1. Map a network drive on the source computer:

1. Right-click on "This PC/Computer" and choose "Map network drive."

2. In the Drive box, click the drive letter that you want to use.

Note: The drive should be large enough to store the files and folders that you want to share.

3. In the Folder box, type \\server\share, where you can replace "server" with the IP address of the drive you want to map. Click "Finish" to continue.

For example, if the IP address is 192.168.6.xxx, you can type \\192.168.6.xxx.

Step 2. Save files and folders to the mapped drive.

Step 3. On the target PC, open File Explorer and type the IP address of the mapped network drive, for example: 192.168.6.xxx

Step 4. Press Enter to access the shared files. You can copy and save the files to your local PC.

# 2. Create a Network Share Link and Share Files Between Two PCs

Step 1. Open the Network and Sharing Center and modify the advanced sharing settings on the source computer.

1. Right-click the Windows icon, click on Search, type "Network and Sharing Center," and then click to open it.

2. Click "Change advanced sharing settings," check the boxes below, and save the changes.

• Enable network discovery
• Enable file and printer sharing
• Allow sharing so that anyone with network access can read and write files in the public folders
• Turn off password-protected sharing

Translate the following text into English:

Step 2. Create a shared link for the files that you want to share.

1. On the source computer, open File Explorer and navigate to the drives or folders containing the files you want to share.

2. In Windows File Explorer, go to the "Share" tab in the top pane, click "Share" and then choose "Specific people...".

3. Click the expand button and select "Everyone" as the sharing mode, then click "Add" to confirm.

4. Click "Everyone" and set the access privilege as "Read/Write" under Permission Level. Then click "Share" to confirm.

5. Right-click on the path of the shared folder and choose "Copy Link," as shown below:

6. Send the shared link to the target PC via email or other methods.

Step 3. Share and copy files to the target PC via the network drive

1. On the target computer, open File Explorer and click "Network."

2. Locate the source computer name and double-click to open it. Access the shared files. From there, you can view, copy, and save these files to a local drive on your target PC.

# 3. Transfer Files to New PC Using Home Group

注意：此功能仅适用于Windows 11/10用户（1803版本之前）以及Windows 8/7等用户。

Step 1. On the source computer, type "homegroup" in the Search box and press Enter to open it.

Step 2. Select "Create a homegroup" > "Next", and then follow the on-screen instructions.

Step 3. Select the files and folders you want to share, and switch the Permissions buttons to "Shared". Click "Next".

Note: Remember the password displayed on the screen.

Step 4. On the target computer, open HomeGroup: Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > HomeGroup.

Step 5. Join the existing Homegroup and enter the password you previously obtained, then click "Finish".

Step 6. On the new PC, you can access the shared files and save them to a local drive.

If the simplified guide isn't clear to you, you can refer to the video tutorial on how to transfer files from one laptop to another (8 Ways) for a more detailed explanation:

# 4. Sharing Files between Windows 11/10 PC and Laptop using Nearby Sharing

Note: This method is only accessible to Windows 11/10 users with version 1803 or later.

Step 1. Enable Nearby Sharing on both computers: Go to Settings > System > Shared experiences > Nearby sharing. Turn it on.

Step 2. Under "Nearby sharing," select "Everyone nearby."

Everyone nearby – Your PC will be able to share and receive content from all nearby devices, including those you don't own.

Save files I receive to – Your PC will save content received to the target path on your drive.

By default, transfers will be saved in the Downloads folder, but you can easily指定另一个文件夹或另一驱动器. Under "Nearby Sharing," use the "Save files I receive to" option, and click the "Change" button. Select a location to save your transfers.

Step 3. Begin file sharing between the two laptops.

Open "File Explorer". Right-click the file you wish to share. Click on the "Share" option. Select the device from the provided list.

Click "Share" to start the process.

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Part 3. Transfer Files from PC to Laptop via Transfer Cable or External Storage Device

Pros: Simple & easy, usable by all users

Cons: Requires purchasing a new external hard drive or transfer cable, which can cost a few to上百 dollars.

Difficulty: ☆☆

Many users prefer a manual method to transfer files between computers. For this purpose, you have two options to move files between a PC and a laptop: using a USB transfer cable or an external hard drive.

# 1. Transfer Files between PC and Laptop using USB 3.0 Transfer Cable

Note: Transferring files from PC to PC via USB transfer cable also requires software to assist in completing the process.

• For Windows 8.1/8/7 users, you can utilize Windows Easy Transfer with a USB transfer cable to perform this task.
• For Windows 10 users, you may need to use a third-party transfer cable with built-in software to accomplish the job.

Here are the steps in English:

Step 1. Start both the PC and laptop, and connect the two computers using the Transfer USB cable.

Step 2. Run the transfer software, like Windows Easy Transfer, on both computers.

Step 3. On the source computer, in the transfer software, choose the transfer method and select the files you want to move to the target computer.

Confirm the action and wait for the process to finish.

# 2. Use an External Hard Drive to Copy and Transfer Files

To accomplish this, you first need to prepare an empty external hard drive. Then, follow these steps to copy and transfer files from your old computer to the new laptop:

Step 1. Connect your external hard drive to the source computer.

Connect an external hard drive to your PC and transfer files.

Step 2. Select the files you want to transfer and copy them to the external hard drive.

Step 3. Unplug the external hard drive and connect it to the target laptop. Open the drive and copy the files to the new laptop.

Part 4. Transfer Data from Laptop to PC via Cloud and Email In this part, we will discuss how to transfer data from your laptop to your PC using cloud storage services and email. These methods allow you to send files over the internet without physical mediums. ### 4.1 Transfer via Cloud Storage #### 4.1.1 Google Drive 1. **Sign up or log in**: If you don't have a Google account, create one at . Then, access Google Drive at . 2. **Upload files**: On your laptop, go to Google Drive, click the "New" button, and select "File upload" or "Folder upload" to transfer your files to the cloud. 3. **Download on PC**: On your PC, sign in to the same Google account, and download the files from Google Drive by right-clicking and selecting "Download." #### 4.1.2 Dropbox 1. **Sign up or log in**: Register for a Dropbox account at or log in if you already have one. 2. **Upload files**: On your laptop, install the Dropbox app, sign in, and drag and drop your files into the Dropbox folder. The files will sync to the cloud automatically. 3. **Sync on PC**: Install Dropbox on your PC, sign in with the same account, and the files will be downloaded and synced automatically. ### 4.2 Transfer via Email #### 4.2.1 Using Gmail 1. **Compose an email**: On your laptop, log in to Gmail () and compose a new email. 2. **Attach files**: Click the paperclip icon to attach the files you want to transfer, and enter your own email address as the recipient. 3. **Send and download**: Send the email. On your PC, log in to the same Gmail account, open the email, and download the attached files. #### 4.2.2 Using Outlook 1. **Sign in**: On your laptop, access Outlook () and sign in. 2. **Send email**: Compose a new email, attach the files, and send it to your own email address. 3. **Receive and download**: On your PC, sign in to Outlook, open the email, and download the attachments. Remember that email services may have size limits for attachments. For larger files, consider using a cloud service or splitting the files into smaller parts before sending.

Pros: Available and easy

Cons: Payment required, costs a few dollars

Difficulty: ☆

# 1. File Transfer between PC and Laptop using Cloud Storage

Cloud services such as OneDrive, Dropbox, and Google Drive all support file sharing between two different devices. All you need to do is install the respective cloud service application on the target new computer, sign in with your cloud account, and re-download the files.

Here, we will use OneDrive as an example for you to follow:

< strong >Step 1. < /strong >Upload files from the source computer to OneDrive.

Open OneDrive > Sign in with your OneDrive account > Click "Add" or "Upload" to add the file to your OneDrive cloud account.

Upload files from the source PC to OneDrive.

Step 2. Download the desired files to the target PC.

On the other laptop, open the "OneDrive" application, sign in with your account, and right-click on the uploaded files. Select "Download".

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# 2. Transfer Files to New PC via Email

Almost all email service applications support file sharing through attachments. Users can easily transfer files to different users on two computers using Outlook, Windows Mail, Gmail, Mozilla Thunderbird, Hotmail, and many others.

Step 1. Open your email application on the source computer and sign in with your email accounts.

Step 2. Go to the 'Index' tab and enter the email addresses - 'From' as your email address from the source PC, and 'To' as the email address on the target PC.

Step 3. Click the Attachment icon, select the files you wish to share from your current computer. Click "Send" to start transmitting the files to the target PC.

Step 4. On the target computer, open any email application and log in. Proceed to the Inbox, check for, and download the received attachment files.

Conclusion

This page provides 9 methods to help you transfer files from a PC to a laptop or vice versa.

Here are the translations for the given text:
• For an effortless and efficient solution, software like Todo PCTrans is your best option.
• If you're looking for a free method, using a network shared drive or link is recommended.
• When it comes to a manual approach, using an external hard drive to copy and move files to the new computer is suitable for you.
• For Cloud and Email users, utilize these services to transfer files from your PC to your laptop.

If you have more questions about file transfer, migrating installed programs, or moving games to another drive, use the Search option on the tools website or go to the PC-Transfer page to find more answers.

How to Transfer Files from PC to Laptop - Frequently Asked Questions

Do you know how to transfer files from a PC to a laptop? The guide provides 9 methods. If you still have other related questions, continue reading.

**1. What is the fastest way to transfer files to another PC?**

There are several methods to transfer files from one laptop to another. This article encompasses all possible approaches, including using software, built-in Windows tools, transfer cables, and email. One of the quickest and most convenient methods is by utilizing software like Todo PCTrans. It offers powerful transfer algorithms that make the process effortless.

2. How to transfer files from PC to PC using a USB cable?

Here's a straightforward method for transferring files using a USB data transfer cable: boot both computers into their respective operating systems, then connect the USB cable through the appropriate ports. Next, utilize the cable's built-in software to facilitate the file transfer. You can find a comprehensive guide in this text.

3. How can I transfer files to a laptop wirelessly? To transfer files to a laptop wirelessly, you can use one of the following methods: 1. **Wi-Fi Direct:** If both your laptop and the device you're transferring from support Wi-Fi Direct, you can establish a direct connection between them without needing a network. Check your device's manual for instructions on how to enable Wi-Fi Direct. 2. **Cloud Services:** Upload the files to a cloud storage service like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. Then, sign in to the same account on your laptop and download the files. 3. **Email:** Send the files as attachments to an email address, and access the email on your laptop to download them. 4. **Bluetooth:** If both devices have Bluetooth, pair them and use the file transfer feature to send the files. 5. **FTP Server:** Set up an FTP server on the device with the files and connect to it from your laptop using an FTP client. 6. **QR Code Sharing:** Some apps allow you to generate a QR code containing a download link to your files. Scan the code with a QR reader app on your laptop to download the files. 7. **NAS (Network Attached Storage):** Connect a NAS device to your local network, upload the files, and access them from your laptop. Remember that transfer speeds may vary depending on the method and the strength of your wireless connection.

You can transfer files wirelessly to your computer through network sharing in Windows. To do this, follow these steps: 1. Open Windows Settings. 2. Select Network & Internet. 3. Click on the Sharing option. 4. Under the Private network category, turn on Network Discovery and File Sharing. This article offers a detailed guide on this process; please expand for more information.