How to Share Files Between Two Laptops in Windows 10 or Windows 11, with or without WiFi

"Hey, I just bought a new laptop and before I part with my old one, I need to transfer all my files to the new one. Is there any way to quickly connect two laptops together? Can I transfer some data wirelessly?"

Indeed, things can get complicated when you need to transfer large files between two laptops or other devices. To simplify the process, we bring you 8 solutions to transfer files between two laptops in Windows 11/10/8/7. Read on to learn how to share files between two laptops with or without WiFi.

To save time, we recommend that you choose the first data transfer option. The choice is up to you.

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Solution 1: Transfer files between two laptops using a file transfer software (for Windows 11)

Get help from this smart file transfer software to effectively migrate files between two devices. It's the easiest and fastest way to share files between laptops. Here, we recommend you try the Todo PCTrans tool.

This software lets you easily transfer pretty much anything, like personal files, important programs, apps, and games, from one computer to another in just a few steps. Just download it and follow these simple instructions for a quick and effortless move.

Get the free download for fast file transfers:

Step 1: Install and run Todo PCTrans on both laptops. On the source laptop, select “PC to PC” to proceed.

Step 2: Choose the transfer direction (from the new or old computer).

"New" - Transferring files from an old laptop to the current new one.

The “old way” – transferring files from the current laptop to the new one remotely.

Step three: Select the option to connect to your laptop.

One is by entering the other person's notebook password; the other is by entering an authentication number (click and view this, above the main “Computer to Computer” screen on the receiving notebook, after connecting).

Step 4: Click “Files” to select the files you want to transfer.

Select all the files you need to transfer to the other laptop. You can click the “Edit” icon to redirect the selected files to a different location on the target PC by changing the destination path.

5. Once you've selected the files, click “Transfer” to start moving them from one laptop to the other.

In addition to transferring data between laptops, Todo PCTrans can also copy software to another computer, or move everything to a new laptop.

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Solution 2: Transfer Data Between Laptops Using a Shared Folder

This method is more difficult than Solution 1. If you're not comfortable with your computer, skip this. Sharing folders is very important for enterprise users on a LAN (Local Area Network). On a LAN, users can share data through shared folders. Let's see how to set up LAN folder sharing.

Step 1: Find the file you want to share.

Right-click it or press Alt+Enter, and then choose "Grant Access To" > "Specific People."

Step 2: Select the user or group that you want to add, and then click Add.

Type in the username you want to share with. If you want it open to all users, add “Everyone” to this user. Adjust the permission level as needed.

Click “Add”.

Step 3: Click the “Turn on network discovery and file sharing” button in the Sharing dialog.

Step 4. Press “Win+R,” type “\\IP address,” and you'll see everything that's shared on that IP address.

If you don't know your IP address, hit "Win+R," type in cmd, and then type in "ipconfig." Hit "Enter," and you'll see your IP address. You can share multiple files at once by selecting them all before right-clicking, as well as entire folders.

You can also map a shared folder or network drive in the Windows File Explorer so you don't have to look for or type its network address every time.

Step 1. Open File Explorer from the taskbar or the Start menu.

Step 2: In the left pane, select This PC. Then, on the Computer tab, click Map network drive.

Step 3: In the Drive list, select a drive letter. Type the path of the folder or computer, or click Browse to locate the folder or computer, and then click Finish.

Solution 3: Transfer Files with "Nearby Sharing" on Windows 10/11

Windows 10 version 1803 introduced the "Nearby Sharing" feature. This is a new feature that lets you wirelessly send files and links quickly to nearby devices via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. If you have version 1803 or higher of Windows 10, try using this solution.

Step 1: Turn on Nearby Sharing (on both laptops).

Go to Settings > System > Shared experiences > Nearby sharing, and turn it on.

Step 2. Under Nearby Sharing, select Anyone nearby.

Your device can share and receive content with all nearby devices, including those that aren't yours.

Just my devices – Your PC will share and receive content only with devices that use your Microsoft account.

Send via Nearby Sharing

By default, files will save to the “Downloads” folder, but you can easily specify another folder or drive. Under “Nearby Sharing,” use the “Save files I receive to” option and click “Change.” Select a location to save transfers.

Step 3: Start sharing files between the two laptops.

Open File Explorer. Right-click the file you want to share. Click Share. Select a device from the list.

Tap “Share” to start the transfer process.

After you complete these steps, if the target device is within the Bluetooth range and running Windows 10 version 1803 or later, the user will receive a notification to either accept or decline the transfer. The files will be stored in the Downloads folder, or in the location that's configured on the Shared Experiences settings page.

Solution 4: Transfer data via HomeGroup

Microsoft removed the “HomeGroup” feature from Windows 10 in their April 2018 update. If you're using Windows 7 or 8, you can still use HomeGroups, but computers running Windows 10 won't be able to access them. This method is for Windows 7 or 8 users. The steps are the same for both operating systems.

On your Windows 7 computer, type “Homegroup” in the search box, open it, and then choose “Create a homegroup” > “Next,” and follow the instructions.

Share files wirelessly via Homegroup

Step 2: Choose what you want to share, and tap “Next.”

Step 3: Remember the password. Then, go to another Windows 7 or 8 computer that is connected to the same WiFi or network. Open "Homegroup" on that computer and click "Join now." Enter the password you wrote down earlier, then click "Next" to join.

When it's done, open File Explorer, click the HomeGroup icon in the navigation pane, and browse any shared content on other computers in the homegroup.

Solution 5: Transfer data between laptops through the cloud

Another way to transfer files between Windows 10/11 laptops is through a cloud drive. You can do this by sharing files through any Windows app that supports services like OneDrive or Google Drive. This method has no limitations based on the Windows version and can be used by anyone. However, it's limited by storage space, upload times, and possible costs. If you need to move smaller files frequently, this can be a good solution. Let's use OneDrive as an example.

Step 1: Upload your file to OneDrive.

Open OneDrive. Once it opens, you can click “Add” to add files to your OneDrive cloud account. Your files will upload to your OneDrive account.

Step 2: Download the necessary files.

On another computer, open the OneDrive app, right-click the file, and select Download.

This will complete the transfer of your file to another laptop or computer on the network.

Solution 6: Transfer the file via email

One quick and easy way to transfer small files between laptops is to email them to yourself. Just send the file as an attachment from one laptop, then log into your email account on the other laptop to download it.

Step 1: Set the recipient of the email to your own email address.

< strong > Step 2 : Attach the file to the email. Different email clients (like Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo) have limits on attachment sizes, so this method is good for small files.

Step 3: Log in to your email account from another laptop and download the files.

Solution 7: Transfer data via USB cable

This method does not work on Windows 10. A USB data transfer cable is a great way to transfer data from one computer to another. The Plugable Windows transfer cable costs around $40. It allows you to connect two computers together simply through their USB ports, rather than using traditional wireless, Ethernet, or Internet-based connections.

Step 1: Turn on both computers. Make sure that each computer/laptop is running an operating system that is functioning properly.

Step 2: Connect the USB cable to a USB port on the first laptop. The operating system should recognize the type of cable you connected. Connect the USB data transfer cable to the other laptop.

Step 3: Click the “Start” button, type “Windows Easy Transfer” in the search box, and hit “Enter.” Follow the prompts of the Easy Transfer Wizard to share your files.

Solution 8: Try an External Hard Drive

If you don't want to be limited by your Internet connection speed, Windows version, or transfer quota, using an external drive is a good option.

Step 1: Connect the external hard drive to a laptop.

Step 2: Copy the files you need onto the device.

Step 3: Eject the drive and connect it to the other laptop, then copy the files over.

How to Transfer Files from PC to PC Using a USB Cable

In this article, we will discuss how to transfer files from one computer to another using a USB cable. Apart from transferring via USB, we will also guide you through three other ways to send files from computer to computer, including Nearby Sharing, cloud storage, and PC transfer software.

In short

With these eight methods, you can easily transfer data from one laptop to another. Choose the most suitable option depending on your circumstances.

Of course, if you have any questions or better solutions, please feel free to let us know, and we will respond as soon as possible.