How to Transfer Files Between 2 PCs Using a LAN Cable

LAN Cables are very useful when it comes to transferring files between two PCs and especially if the files are too big. It is fairly easy and fast to transfer files between 2 PCs using a LAN cable, it is very fast too.

To give you some context, a very entry-level LAN cable can support transferring speeds of up to 1000Mbps and a typical USB 2.0 port only supports up to 480Mbps transferring speeds. So whenever you are having a lot of files to transfer, and want it to be done quickly, LAN cable should be your obvious choice.

In this article, we are going to show you how to transfer files between 2 PCs using a LAN cable. So follow the steps mentioned below to easily transfer your files.

Transfer Files Between 2 PCs Using a LAN Cable

Setting Up the Network

For this process, the very important thing that you will need is a LAN cable and for those who do not know what a LAN cable is can just go to any computer accessories shop and ask for one. Here is how it looks like. Now let’s jump into the process.

Step 1: Connect both of your computers via LAN cable.

Step 2: Open Control Panel from by typing in Windows Search Bar and click on ‘Network and Internet’.

Step 3: Click on ‘Network and Sharing Center’ to open it.

Step 4: In the left side, click on ‘Change advanced sharing settings.

Step 5 Click on ‘All Networks’, then click on, “Turn on sharing so anyone……Public folders” and “Turn off password protected sharing”. Click on ‘Save changes’.

Note: If you are transferring files just between your PCs, only then turn off password protected sharing otherwise keep it on.

Step 6: Repeat step 2-5 on the other computer as well.

Step 7: Now you need to set up a static IP and for that again open the Control Panel, navigate to ‘Network and Internet’, and click on ‘Network Sharing Center’.

Step 8: Now you shall see active networks and it will be Ethernet as both the computers are connected via LAN cable, click on the ‘Ethernet’ link given on the right side and you will see a new dialog box. In the box, click on ‘Properties’.

Step 9: Select “Internet Protocol Version 4(TCP/IPv4)” and click on ‘Properties’.

Step 10: Now configure the two computers with different IP settings. To do so, on the first computer, select “Use the following IP address.” And enter the following ones

IP Address: 192.168.1.1

Subnet mask: 225.225.225.0

Default gateway: 192.168.1.2

And click on OK.

Step 11: Repeat steps 7-10 on the second computer and enter the following ones in the second computer in step 10:

IP Address: 192.168.1.2

Subnet mask 225.225.225.0

Default gateway: 192.168.1.1

And click on OK.

Step 12: Open file explorer on the computer and navigate to ‘Network’ from the left side menu. If you have set up all the things right, you shall see both the computers on the network.

Sharing Files

Step 1: Create a new folder on desktop and transfer all the files here that you want to send to another PC connected on the network.

Step 2: Once you have moved everything to the folder, right-click on it and select ‘Give access to’ and navigate to ‘Specific people…’.

Step 3: From the drop-down menu, select ‘Everyone’ and click on ‘Add’. Once you did that, click on ‘Share’.

Step 4: You shall now see the network location the folder, click on ‘Done’.

That’s it, now go to the other computer and open the file explorer, click on Network. Now click on the name of another computer and you shall see the shared folder, you can now transfer all the files from the folder to your PC.

So that was all about how to transfer files between 2 PCs using a LAN cable. Do follow all the steps and make sure to connect the cable properly and let us know in the comments.