Moving files between two Windows PCs comes up regularly — transferring work between your office desktop and home laptop, sharing files with a colleague on the same network, or migrating data to a new machine. Here are the best methods depending on your situation.
Method 1: Nearby Sharing (Wireless, Same Room)
Nearby Sharing uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to send files wirelessly between nearby Windows PCs without needing them to be on the same network or any shared drive:
On both PCs, enable Nearby Sharing:
- Press Windows + I > System > Nearby sharing
- Set it to Everyone nearby or My devices only
To send a file:
- Right-click the file you want to send in File Explorer
- Select Share
- Choose the target PC from the list of nearby devices
- The recipient sees a notification and clicks Save & open to accept
Files are received in the Downloads folder. This works well for occasional one-off transfers. For large files or regular transfers, a network share is faster.
Method 2: Shared Network Folder
For regular file sharing between PCs on the same home or office network, setting up a shared folder is the most efficient solution:
On the PC sharing the folder:
- Right-click the folder you want to share in File Explorer
- Select Properties > Sharing > Share
- Add the users you want to share with (or Everyone for a home network)
- Set the permission level (Read or Read/Write)
- Click Share
On the other PC, accessing the share:
- Open File Explorer
- Click Network in the left panel
- Find the sharing PC and double-click it
- Open the shared folder — you can access its contents as if it were a local drive
For quick access in future, right-click the shared folder and select Map network drive to give it a drive letter (e.g. Z:).
Method 3: USB Drive
The simplest method with no network configuration required. Copy files to a USB drive on one machine and plug it into the other. Effective for large file transfers where you are moving between physical locations.
For very large transfers (tens of gigabytes), a USB 3.0 drive and USB 3.0 port is significantly faster than USB 2.0 — the difference can be from hours down to minutes.
Method 4: OneDrive or Cloud Storage
For sharing files between a home and work machine, cloud storage is the most flexible approach. Save files to your OneDrive folder on one machine — they sync automatically and appear on any other machine where you are signed in. No direct network connection needed. See our guide on Using OneDrive in Windows 11.
Method 5: Windows Easy Transfer / Migration Assistant
If you are migrating all your data to a new PC, use a direct Ethernet cable connection or an external drive to transfer your entire user profile. Connect both PCs via Ethernet, share the old PC’s drive, and copy across what you need.
Which Method Should You Use?
- Quick one-off transfer, same room: Nearby Sharing
- Regular sharing on a home or office network: Shared network folder
- Large transfer, no network: USB drive
- Home and work machine sync: OneDrive
- Full PC migration: External drive or direct Ethernet
