F5F Stay Refreshed Power Users Networks How do I create a safe way to send files from my computer to my Mac?

How do I create a safe way to send files from my computer to my Mac?

How do I create a safe way to send files from my computer to my Mac?

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DSG_Recorder
Junior Member
4
07-12-2026, 01:52 AM
#1
I want to share files from a Windows 10 PC with other computers in my house. Someone said I should go to Network & Internet > Advanced sharing settings, then turn on "Turn on network discovery" and "Turn on file and printer sharing." Is that the right way? If I do this, can people outside the house find my PC and use it?
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DSG_Recorder
07-12-2026, 01:52 AM #1

I want to share files from a Windows 10 PC with other computers in my house. Someone said I should go to Network & Internet > Advanced sharing settings, then turn on "Turn on network discovery" and "Turn on file and printer sharing." Is that the right way? If I do this, can people outside the house find my PC and use it?

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Womis
Member
56
07-19-2026, 05:55 PM
#2
Start here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...-w...f9994725bf First, make a single shared folder on one computer. Then give permission to another network computer to see it. Just use test files in the folders for now. It's easier to remove folders or settings if you have to fix things later. Make sure all your real data is backed up before starting. Once you've successfully shared the folder between the main computer and the chosen one, repeat these steps with other network computers. Very rarely will anyone from outside your network get in there. That means giving them permission specifically. You can also create blocks using the router or individual computers. Note: some existing vulnerabilities exist. For example, an open wireless network makes it easier for people to try breaking things in.
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Womis
07-19-2026, 05:55 PM #2

Start here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...-w...f9994725bf First, make a single shared folder on one computer. Then give permission to another network computer to see it. Just use test files in the folders for now. It's easier to remove folders or settings if you have to fix things later. Make sure all your real data is backed up before starting. Once you've successfully shared the folder between the main computer and the chosen one, repeat these steps with other network computers. Very rarely will anyone from outside your network get in there. That means giving them permission specifically. You can also create blocks using the router or individual computers. Note: some existing vulnerabilities exist. For example, an open wireless network makes it easier for people to try breaking things in.

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DueZulu
Senior Member
252
07-19-2026, 07:21 PM
#3
Thanks for sharing the link. It says "Right-click or press a file, select Give access to > Specific people." I only see the username on my computer showing up. How can other devices like Macs or iPhones on the same network show up? Are these steps secure enough to stop someone outside my local area from getting in? Can I share files between a Mac and PC easily in just five easy steps - YouTube
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DueZulu
07-19-2026, 07:21 PM #3

Thanks for sharing the link. It says "Right-click or press a file, select Give access to > Specific people." I only see the username on my computer showing up. How can other devices like Macs or iPhones on the same network show up? Are these steps secure enough to stop someone outside my local area from getting in? Can I share files between a Mac and PC easily in just five easy steps - YouTube

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carraboy31
Member
117
07-25-2026, 07:07 AM
#4
I plugged a computer (PC) into another computer (Mac) using an ethernet cable. I turned off Wi-Fi on the PC and turned on the ethernet adapter instead. But from my Mac, I can't connect to the PC through SMB. Do I need to change some settings in Windows and macOS? Please tell me what exactly to do. Thanks so much.
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carraboy31
07-25-2026, 07:07 AM #4

I plugged a computer (PC) into another computer (Mac) using an ethernet cable. I turned off Wi-Fi on the PC and turned on the ethernet adapter instead. But from my Mac, I can't connect to the PC through SMB. Do I need to change some settings in Windows and macOS? Please tell me what exactly to do. Thanks so much.

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Kiwibuscus96
Member
59
07-26-2026, 06:35 AM
#5
I don't own a Mac so I can't tell if these links work right. A direct link between two computers is usually called an ad hoc network. Did you see any error codes, messages, or pop-up windows when the computer tried to connect? Maybe Finder or Migration Assistant showed something wrong? Here are some Apple support links on how to connect from a Mac to a Windows PC: https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help...lp1660/mac and https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204087 Make sure you have the right cables and ports. Check if they are turned on and use a working cable for the physical connection. You might need to change some settings most likely you will need your username and passwords to make those changes happen.
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Kiwibuscus96
07-26-2026, 06:35 AM #5

I don't own a Mac so I can't tell if these links work right. A direct link between two computers is usually called an ad hoc network. Did you see any error codes, messages, or pop-up windows when the computer tried to connect? Maybe Finder or Migration Assistant showed something wrong? Here are some Apple support links on how to connect from a Mac to a Windows PC: https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help...lp1660/mac and https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204087 Make sure you have the right cables and ports. Check if they are turned on and use a working cable for the physical connection. You might need to change some settings most likely you will need your username and passwords to make those changes happen.

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Llyodsk
Member
164
07-26-2026, 09:39 AM
#6
I never saw a code like that before. I'm using a CAT 6 cable to link an Ethernet port on a Mac and a PC. In the video, someone set up IP address 192.168.1.10 and Subnet mask 255.255.255.0. How did they figure those numbers out? If anyone can watch this right now, could I get hacked just by using the same settings? Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWxsQ4I1Tlk
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Llyodsk
07-26-2026, 09:39 AM #6

I never saw a code like that before. I'm using a CAT 6 cable to link an Ethernet port on a Mac and a PC. In the video, someone set up IP address 192.168.1.10 and Subnet mask 255.255.255.0. How did they figure those numbers out? If anyone can watch this right now, could I get hacked just by using the same settings? Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWxsQ4I1Tlk

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ckg63
Member
196
07-29-2026, 04:43 PM
#7
Why are you trying to do this the hard way? Have them both connected to the same router. Either WiFi or wired. Shared folders. Done. Or better yet, the NAS you've been talking about. Data that lives in my NAS is readily sharable between all systems. Android, phone, Windows PCs (I don't have a Mac).
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ckg63
07-29-2026, 04:43 PM #7

Why are you trying to do this the hard way? Have them both connected to the same router. Either WiFi or wired. Shared folders. Done. Or better yet, the NAS you've been talking about. Data that lives in my NAS is readily sharable between all systems. Android, phone, Windows PCs (I don't have a Mac).

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seriosh
Member
181
07-29-2026, 10:27 PM
#8
Things are getting messy because the router is in another room. Running wires between rooms isn't an option since my neighbors move around all the time. Connecting the PC and the Mac each through WiFi and then moving big files back and forth is slow. I thought about buying a Synology NAS, but when I checked their compatibility list, they only listed their own SSDs as compatible. Then I heard that they are pushing people to buy their parts by blocking certain features in the software if third-party stuff shows up. Since my PC isn't very stable and I need a Mac for work, I'm looking into using a Mac with a DAS (Direct Attached Storage) setup as a file server NAS instead. Are there any other good ways to handle this besides buying or building one myself?
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seriosh
07-29-2026, 10:27 PM #8

Things are getting messy because the router is in another room. Running wires between rooms isn't an option since my neighbors move around all the time. Connecting the PC and the Mac each through WiFi and then moving big files back and forth is slow. I thought about buying a Synology NAS, but when I checked their compatibility list, they only listed their own SSDs as compatible. Then I heard that they are pushing people to buy their parts by blocking certain features in the software if third-party stuff shows up. Since my PC isn't very stable and I need a Mac for work, I'm looking into using a Mac with a DAS (Direct Attached Storage) setup as a file server NAS instead. Are there any other good ways to handle this besides buying or building one myself?

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_iEmiToMC
Member
77
07-30-2026, 12:58 AM
#9
My six-year-old QNAP has some Toshiba and Seagate hard drives (HDDs) and solid state drives (SSDs). Back when we had it, we also used Western Digital drives. What model of Synology computer are you checking out? " Then I read that..." But where exactly was the reading coming from?
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_iEmiToMC
07-30-2026, 12:58 AM #9

My six-year-old QNAP has some Toshiba and Seagate hard drives (HDDs) and solid state drives (SSDs). Back when we had it, we also used Western Digital drives. What model of Synology computer are you checking out? " Then I read that..." But where exactly was the reading coming from?

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mcmack05
Member
199
08-18-2026, 03:05 PM
#10
923+ and 1522+ used to have third-party SSDs on the compatibility list way back then. For hard drives, they listed specific firmware versions. You couldn't know those versions before opening the box. There was no easy way to check them without buying, testing, and returning things over and over until you found one that matched. Their way of locking features and showing warning messages all the time scared me off.
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mcmack05
08-18-2026, 03:05 PM #10

923+ and 1522+ used to have third-party SSDs on the compatibility list way back then. For hard drives, they listed specific firmware versions. You couldn't know those versions before opening the box. There was no easy way to check them without buying, testing, and returning things over and over until you found one that matched. Their way of locking features and showing warning messages all the time scared me off.

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