How to Network Two Computers Together Running Windows 11

Have you ever wanted to connect two computers directly to share files or even play some old LAN games, but weren’t quite sure how to do it? Well, if you’re running Windows 11, the process is pretty straightforward, and I’m here to walk you through it step-by-step.

Why Would You Want to Network Two Computers?

Before we dive into the how, let’s touch on the why. When you network two computers, you can share files easily, access shared printers, or even collaborate on projects. If you have a small home office setup or just two PCs at home, this can be a handy skill to have. Plus, no more need for USB sticks to transfer those large files back and forth!

What You’ll Need

Let’s get the basics out of the way. Here’s what you’ll need to network two computers:

1. Two computers running Windows 11
2. A network cable (preferably an Ethernet cable)
3. A basic understanding of Windows settings (don’t worry, I’ll make this simple!)

Step 1: Connect the Two Computers

The easiest way to physically connect two computers is with an Ethernet cable. You don’t even need a special type of cable—Windows 11 will automatically configure the connection whether you use a standard Ethernet or a crossover cable.

Simply plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the Ethernet port of the first computer, and the other end into the Ethernet port of the second computer.

Step 2: Enable Network Sharing

Now that the physical connection is set, we’ll need to make sure both computers can talk to each other.

1. On both computers, open the Settings app by pressing Windows + I, then head to Network & Internet.
2. In the left menu, click on Ethernet (since we’re using an Ethernet connection).
3. Scroll down a bit, and you’ll see Advanced network settings. Click that, then choose Change advanced sharing settings.
4. Here’s where we want to turn on a couple of options. Make sure you’ve enabled:
   • Network discovery
   • File and printer sharing
   These settings allow the two computers to “see” each other and share files.

Step 3: Set Up IP Addresses (Optional)

In many cases, Windows 11 will automatically assign IP addresses to the computers, but if it doesn’t, you may need to assign them manually. Don’t worry—this sounds complicated, but it’s not!

Here’s how:

1. Go back to Settings > Network & Internet and choose Ethernet again.
2. Click on Change adapter options (you’ll find this at the bottom).
3. You’ll see a list of network adapters. Right-click on Ethernet and select Properties.
4. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
5. In the new window, choose Use the following IP address, then enter the following:
   • For the first computer:
     IP address: 192.168.1.1
     Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
   • For the second computer:
     IP address: 192.168.1.2
     Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

Click OK to save the settings.

Step 4: Share Folders or Files

Now for the fun part—actually sharing files! Here’s how to share a folder between the two computers:

1. On one of the computers, find the folder you want to share. Right-click on the folder and choose Properties.
2. Go to the Sharing tab, and click on Share.
3. From the dropdown, choose Everyone if you want anyone on the network to access it (or specific users if you’d like more control), then click Share.
4. Windows will now give you a link that you can use on the other computer to access the shared folder.

Step 5: Access Shared Files

On the second computer, you can access the shared folder like this:

1. Open File Explorer and go to Network in the left sidebar.
2. You should see the first computer listed here. Double-click it, and you’ll be able to access the shared folder.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you run into any issues, here are a couple of things to check:

• Make sure both computers are on the same workgroup. You can check this by typing “View your PC name” into the Start menu on both machines and making sure the workgroup is the same.
• Turn off any firewall temporarily to see if it’s blocking the connection.
• Re-check your IP addresses if you set them manually.

And that’s it! You’ve now successfully networked two computers running Windows 11. You can share files, play LAN games, or even share a printer. It’s a handy setup for home use, and once you get the hang of it, it’s easier than you might think.

Let me know how it works for you, or if you run into any snags—I’m happy to help!