How can I share files between two laptops?

How to share files between laptops on Windows 10/11 [3 parts]

It is not difficult to share files between laptops nowadays with the development of technology. In this part, we will show you how to share files between laptops using WiFi, how to share files between laptops across the network, and how to share files between laptops without the internet. 

Part 1. Share files between laptops using wifi

If the two laptops are on WiFi, you're able to use the built-in Windows feature Nearby Sharing to share files between laptops wirelessly. You should be informed before you begin that:

This method is only applicable to Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Both laptops need to be linked to the same network.

Step 1. Navigate to: Settings> System> Shared Experiences, and then turn on the Nearby sharing button.

Step 2. Select the sharing pattern based on your own need from the drop-down menu.

Step 3. You can click Change to choose the folder location where you prefer to store the files being transferred to your laptop.

Step 4. Go to the file explorer, right-click the desired file you want to transfer, and then select Share in the context menu.

Step 5. Select the laptop you want to transfer files to from the pop-up window.

Step 6. Then the laptop receiving files will receive a notification. Click Save & Open to start the file transfer.

Part 2. Share files between laptops over the network

If the two laptops are not on WiFi or on LAN, then you're able to use the following three ways to share files between laptops over the network. 

Way 1. Remotely share files between laptops via free file transfer software

The easiest and fastest way to transfer files from laptop to laptop over the network is to use the free remote file transfer software AnyViewer.

★Benefits:

Wide compatibility. It works with several Windows versions, including the newest Windows 11.

Unattended remote transfer. You are allowed to share files with an unattended computer.

Fast speed. It transfers files at a really fast speed, even if transferring large files over the internet. But if the two laptops are on LAN or WiFi, the transfer speed will be faster. For example, it only costs about 20 seconds to transfer a 2 GB zip file.  

Improved security. The file transfer process is secured by Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) encryption, protecting your data from leakage.

Multiple features. As a remote desktop tool as well, it also allows you to completely control and manage another computer remotely. Besides, it is also a screen share tool.

Step 1. Download, install, and launch AnyViewer 3.0 or above on both Windows laptops. If your version is lower, please upgrade first. 

Step 2. On one laptop, go to Log in, and then click Sign up (if you already have signed up on its official website, you can log in directly).

Step 3. Fill in the signup information.

Step 4. Then you can see you successfully logged in to AnyViewer. Your device will automatically be assigned to the account you’ve logged in to. After this, log in to the same account on the other laptop.

Step 5. Choose your target laptop, and then click File Transfer.

Step 6. Then a File Transfer dialog box will appear. You’re able to transfer files between devices freely by clicking the arrows after choosing the target files. You can also double-click the target file to achieve transfer.

Notes:✎...

To transfer files freely, it is highly recommended to upgrade your account to a professional or enterprise plan. Here are what a professional or enterprise plan can bring to you:

Faster file transfer speed. Transfer speed for a free account is 500 KB/s, and for a paid account is up to 10 MB/s.

Increasing numbers of files are being transferred at once. For a free account, 100 files can be transferred at a time; for a paid account, this number is unlimited.

Larger size of a single file that can be transferred. The maximum size of a single file that can be transferred for the free account is 100 MB, and for a paid account is 1 TB.

Way 2. Laptop to Laptop file sharing via cloud storage services

You are also able to share files from laptop to laptop using cloud storage services, for example, Google Drive and OneDrive. Here we'll take Google Drive as an example.

Step 1. Open the main interface of Google Drive, find and click My Drive in the left sidebar, click My Drive again, and select Upload files or Upload folder in the expanded menu.

Step 2. For example, click Upload files, and a window will pop up automatically. Select the files you want to upload and click Open in the lower-right corner.

Step 3. You can see the file upload progress in the lower right corner. After the upload is completed, you can find the file in the main interface.

Step 4. Open Google Drive on the other computer and log in to the same Google account. Find the file you’ve transferred, right-click the file, and select Download in the expanded menu to realize remote file transfer between different computers.

Way 3. Send files from laptop to laptop using email

The final way is to send files from laptop to laptop wirelessly using email. However, you should be aware that there are some restrictions on the size of attachments that can be sent via email. Gmail, for example, allows messages of up to 25 MB in size. Here we’ll take Gmail as an example. 

Step 1. Open Gmail official site on the laptop having files you need to transfer and create and sign in to your email account. On the main page, click Compose.

Step 2. Then type in the email addresses that have been logged in to the other laptop behind To. Click the attachment icon below to choose the files you want to transfer. Click Send to start sending files to the laptop.

Step 3. On the laptop receiving files, open and sign in to your email application to check and download the files.

Part 3. Share files between laptops without internet

If you want to share files between laptops without the internet, using a USB drive would be your best choice.

Step 1. Locate a storage device that is compatible and connect it to the laptop that is sharing files. After that, include the files you wish to share in it.

Step 2. The USB drive should be removed from the laptop that is sharing files and inserted into the laptop that is receiving files. Drag and drop the files to the laptop from the USB drive.

Closing words

This post primarily introduces how to share files between laptops on Windows 10/11. Here we give solutions to 3 different situations, sharing files between laptops using WiFi, sharing files between laptops over the network, and sharing files between laptops without the internet. Choose the way that suits you the most.