Sharing files, images, and other data has never been simpler. You can transfer data from one device to another in various ways; over wireless internet or with hardware. If you need to move data from one computer to another quickly, you might be wondering if you can skip the “cloud transfer” step and just connect the two devices directly with an ethernet cable.
You can connect two computers with an ethernet cable and transfer files between them as if they were two big file folders. You have to tweak some settings for this to work, but the steps are simple and even allow you to connect Mac and Windows computers together.
Connecting two computers together with an ethernet cable sounds like a simple process. All you have to do is snap the cable into both computers, right? Well, it is a bit more complicated than that, but still not too cumbersome. You will need to configure some settings to use this connection method. Once you have all the settings ironed out, you’ll be able to share files between computers.
Connecting Two Computers with Ethernet Cable
When you’re connecting two computers with a single ethernet cable you are literally plugging one end of the cable into one computer and the other end of the cable into a second computer. If either of your computers lacks an ethernet port you’ll need to get one of the following: 1) a USB to Ethernet adapter (on Amazon), 2) a Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter (on Amazon) and 3) an Ethernet switch (like we discussed in this separate guide).
If you’re up to the challenge of connecting two computers with an ethernet cable and you have the necessary hardware, you’re ready to physically connect them together. As you push the connectors of the ethernet cable into both of your device’s ports until you hear the click indicating they’re fully seated. Now you’re ready to use this high-bandwidth, internet-free connection between the two devices.
What you Can and Can’t Do with Computers Connected Via Ethernet
So, now you have your two computers physically connected together with one ethernet cable. What can we do from here? Will they merge together into a giant computer that is twice as strong? Well, in reality, the capabilities are much less exciting, but they are still very useful.
There’s a couple of things you can do with your ethernet cable conjoined computers, including view and edit data/files saved on computer A with computer B and vice versa; move files to/from computer A from/to computer B, and make a copy of data or files to/from computer A from/to computer B.
Connecting two computers via an ethernet cable allows you to access data from both devices – as long as you have permission. Besides sharing and transferring data/files between computers, there is not much else you can accomplish through the ethernet connection.
There are a few things you can’t do with two computers connected via computer, including sharing internet between computers; streaming videos, music, video games from one computer to the other computer; mirror screens between computers, and control the mouse or keyboard of one computer with the other computer.
Connecting two computers together with an ethernet cable is one method you can use to transfer files between devices. However, it has the downside of requiring toggling of settings to get it to work correctly.
If the files you’re moving around are small, or the overall volume of data you want to transfer is small (e.g. a handful of pictures), then transferring data between the computers can be accomplished easier through the cloud or with an external hard drive/USB drive like this Seagate Backup Plus (on Amazon). So, if you have those capabilities use those methods instead.
How Can You Share Files Between Two Windows PCs via Ethernet Cable?
After you have your two computers hitched via the ethernet cable you can start viewing, editing, and moving files between devices once you have your settings tuned correctly. To get your file sharing up and running between two PCs operating on Windows 10, use the following steps. Also, feel free to reference this informative video for a step-by-step walk-through. Do these steps on both computers if you need to transfer data/files both ways.
- Connect the computers with the ethernet cable, use adapters if needed.
- Open the control panel on computer A and click on “Network and Internet”
- In the “Network and Internet” window click on the “sharing center” icon, then click into “advanced sharing settings.”
- On this next screen, you will want to check the box that states “turn on file and printer sharing” and save your settings.
Now you will be ready to start sharing files between the two computers. If you want to transfer a file from computer A to computer B, get in front of computer B and open the folder you want to share. Within the file window, select the “share” tab, click “specific people”, then toggle it to “everyone” in the dropdown menu. Lastly, click “share” and now you are sharing the folder between the two computers!
To access the shared file from computer A, open the file explorer. You will see the name of computer B on the left-hand side of the window. Click on its name and you will now be able to open up the shared folder, after entering in computer B’s password. This is a lot of work just to transfer files, but it works, and it allows you to move large files much faster than using wireless options or slow read/write USB drives.
If you run into issues, note that some users (forum) have had problems getting started with the PC–>PC connection, so, have a look at that discussion if you’re having this problem.
How Can You Share Files Between Two Mac Computers via Ethernet Cable?
The above steps are for sharing files between two Windows 10 PCs through ethernet, but there is a lot of overlap in those instructions and what you’ll need to do on a Mac system. Instead of going to the control panel, you can change your “sharing settings” through “system preferences” on the Mac.
You will need to enable “sharing” in system preferences, toggle read/write permissions, and select “everyone”. Lastly, click the “+” button in the “sharing” window to add a shared folder. To open the shared folder on the second Mac, open the Finder window and select the other Mac’s name and enter its password if needed.
And this works with mixed pairs of laptops too – using these instructions, you can connect a Windows and a Mac laptop with an ethernet cable as well!
Do You Really Need Ethernet? (Wi-Fi Direct and USB-Transfer options)
Ethernet, in the context of data transfer between two computers, offers certain unique advantages, such as high-speed data transfer, low latency, and a secure connection. However, the evolving digital landscape has brought forth various alternatives to Ethernet, each with its own set of merits and potential limitations. So, before we leave the article, let’s look at some alternatives to an direct Ethernet connection.
- Wi-Fi Direct: Wi-Fi Direct allows for a direct, wireless connection between two computers, thereby eliminating the need for an intermediary device, such as a router. In scenarios where physical connection via Ethernet is impractical due to distance or the absence of Ethernet ports, Wi-Fi Direct emerges as a viable option.
- USB Transfer: USB transfers provide an easy and convenient method for sharing data between two computers. For small to medium-sized files, a USB transfer can be both quicker and simpler than setting up an Ethernet connection. The transfer speeds will vary depending on the USB standard being used (USB 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, etc.). However, when it comes to transferring large files or folders, Ethernet usually outperforms USB in terms of speed. Also, USB drives may require a file system compatible with both computers, and they offer less security compared to a direct Ethernet connection, as they can be easily lost or stolen.
- Cloud Sharing: Cloud-based platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive offer an entirely different approach to file sharing. These services allow you to upload files from one computer and download them onto another, anywhere in the world, provided you have an internet connection. This method provides unmatched flexibility and offers additional benefits like backup and versioning. However, the speed and efficiency of cloud transfers are heavily dependent on the quality of your internet connection.
- External Hard Drives: When dealing with very large amounts of data, external hard drives can serve as a practical alternative. They provide large storage capacities and reasonably fast data transfer speeds.
So, while Ethernet connections provide speed and security advantages (especially for larger data transfers) they may not always be the most convenient choice. By understanding these nuances, users can select the most effective method for their data transfer needs.