Article7 Ways to Transfer Files Between PCs and Windows Computers

7 Ways to Transfer Files Between PCs and Windows Computers

Quick Links

  • Transfer Data to a Shared Folder
  • Use Windows Nearby Sharing
  • Examine a US BD ata Transfer Cable
  • Make use of an External Storage Drive
  • Leverage Cloud Storage Services
  • Create an online File Sharing application
  • Share Small Files With Quick Options

If you’re looking to transfer data from your Windows device to a new one, do You have any suggestions for making it work?

7. Transfer Data to a Shared Folder

Using a common folder to transfer files between two computers is one of the easiest ways. Rather, you can create a single folder on the device with your data and all computers connected to the same network can access that folder. It enables the sharing of files with multiple devices simultaneously. To exchange data at a later time, all you need to do is place the new files in the folder

Switching the private network profile of both devices you want to share files with can enable them to be seen by other devices on the same network. The process can be accomplished by going to Settings> Network & Internet> To access Wi-Fi, navigate to your connection’s settings and choose “Private Network” for all devices

Selecting private network profile in network settings on Windows.

Select the private Network category and then click on Network & Internet> Advanced Network Settings> Advanced Sharing Settings. Switch on the options for “Network Discovery” and “File and Printer Sharing”. Moreover, in the All Networks section, you can turn off the option for “Password-Protected Sharing” to allow easy file sharing

Tweaking the advanced sharing settings for a network in Windows.

Afterward, establish and distribute a file system. Select the folder you wish to share, right-click it, and select “Show More Options” then click on “Give Access To” followed by “Specific People.”. ”

Changing the access settings of a folder for speific people.

From the dropdown menu, select “Everyone, ” click “Add, ” and change the Permission Level to “Read/Write. ” Finally, click the “Share” button. Then, move the files you want to share into this shared folder

Sharing a particular file to everyone on the same network.

If you prefer to share the folder only with specific people, you can manually add their device names instead of selecting Everyone

For others to access your shared files, they must Have Network Discovery enabled They can then open File Explorer, go to the “Network” section, and select your device from the list of available options. From there, they can open the shared folder, copy the files, and paste them onto their device

Selecting the device among networks to access shared files in File Explorer.

6. Use Windows Nearby Sharing

Nearby Sharing Is a built-in Windows feature that allows instant file sharing between devices. To use it, both devices must be on the same network, and Nearby Sharing must be enabled on each. To activate it, go to Settings> System> Nearby Sharing and select the “Everyone Nearby” option

Giving Access to everyone via Nearby Sharing.

To share files using Nearby Sharing, open File Explorer and select the files you want to share. Right-click and choose the “Share” option. A pop-up window will appear, displaying the recipient’s device under Nearby Sharing. Click on the recipient’s device, and they will receive a file-sharing request. Once they click “Save” the files will be transferred

5. Try a US BD ata Transfer Cable

If the devices you want to share files between aren’t using the same network connection, a USB data transfer cable is a convenient alternative. This cable directly connects your Windows laptops via a USB connection and lets you transfer data between them. It eliminates the need to depend on a built-in feature or an intermediary storage device

In most cases, you’ll need to download the corresponding software from the cable manufacturer’s website for both devices. Simply download the software and follow the provided setup instructions. Once installed, connect the cable to both devices, launch the software, and transfer your data

Most companion software allows you to transfer entire sets of data and settings to a new computer or selectively drag and drop specific files between the two devices

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4. Use an External Storage Drive

If both devices aren’t on the same network connection but you have an external storage drive, such as a Thumb drive , HDD, or SSD, you can use it to transfer data between them. To do that, you first have to connect the external storage drive to your main computer and then copy the files you want to share onto it

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Once the data is copied, disconnect the drive from the source device and plug it into the destination device. Then, simply copy the files from the external drive and paste them onto the second computer’s local storage. You should use an SSD For the fastest data transfer due to its High read/write speeds

3. Leverage Cloud Storage Services

If your devices are not connected to the same network and you don’t have a USB data transfer cable or external drive, or if one of the devices is located elsewhere, you can use a Cloud storage service To share data between them. To use this method, you have to first create an account with a cloud storage provider like OneDrive, Google Drive, or others

Next, upload the files you want to share. You must have a fast internet connection for quicker uploads. Once the files are uploaded, you can generate a shareable link to send to the recipient. They can then download the files onto their device. I recommend using Google Drive, which offers 15 GB of free storage, compared to OneDrive’s 5 GB

2. Use a File Sharing Platform

If your devices are far apart and you don’t want to create an account with a cloud storage service, you can use a file-sharing platform. These platforms allow you to upload data, create a shareable link, and send it to the recipient directly. This is one of the quickest ways to share files remotely, as it doesn’t require creating an account unless you opt for premium features

Although you don’t have to create an account, you’ll have to give your email address and the recipient’s email when sharing the data. I recommend using TransferNow, which allows you to share up to 5GB per transfer—3GB more than WeTransfer allows. Visit TransferNow’s website , upload your files, select “Create a Link” add your email, and click “Get a Link.”

Uploading a file to Transfernow and creating a link.

After creating the link, you can copy and send it to the recipient. The data can be downloaded without creating an account for them

1. Share Small Files With Quick Options

If you are only interested in transferring small files between personal computers, the methods mentioned earlier are not necessary. Rather than other options, you can use apps like Slack, WhatsApp, or email clients that are already in your phone’s app store for regular communication. The only problem is that many apps restrict the amount of data that can be transferred

The method can be used to send data to oneself, as with email clients or Slack, or to someone else’s account if the app doesn’t allow you to message yourself. Afterward, you can access the same account on a different device and retrieve the downloaded files

That’s it! These are some usual ways to transfer files from one Windows computer to another. The advantages and disadvantages of each approach vary, making it a suitable solution for different situations. Although it is often the case that the built-in options are superior, one should carefully consider all the options, decide which one suits them best, and use it to transfer larger data volumes

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