How can I transfer files from pc to mac on same network?

For better user experience such as fast transfer speed, you'd better using a dedicated file transfer app for doing this. The bluetooth and wifi transfer is slow for across device file transfer.

NitroShare is a free, open-source tool designed to transfer files from PC to Mac on same network simple and quick. NitroShare works by automatically discovering devices on your local network. Once your Windows PC and Mac are both running NitroShare, they can see each other, and you can easily send files back and forth through a user-friendly interface. It uses standard network protocols, so it doesn't require setup of port forwarding or manual IP configuration.

How to Use NitroShare for PC-to-Mac File Transfer

1. Download and Install:

2. Launch the Application:

   Open NitroShare on both devices.

   Ensure both are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

3. Automatic Discovery:

   NitroShare automatically detects other NitroShare-enabled devices on the network.

   You should see your Mac appear on your PC’s NitroShare interface, and vice versa.

4. Send Files:

   Drag and drop files onto the device's icon or select files through the interface.

   Confirm the transfer if prompted.

5. Receive Files:

   Accept incoming and transfer files from PC to Mac on same network.

   Files are saved in your default downloads or specified folder.

Using an FTP server is a reliable way to transfer files from PC to Mac on same network. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) allows you to set up a server on your PC, which your Mac can then connect to and transfer files easily. Here's a general overview of how it works and how you can set it up:

What is FTP?

FTP is a standard network protocol used to transfer files between computers over a network. You set up an FTP server on your Windows PC, and then your Mac acts as an FTP client to connect and transfer files.

How to Set Up an FTP Server on Windows 10

1. Enable FTP Server Feature:

• Open Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on or off.
• Find Internet Information Services (IIS).
• Expand it, then check FTP Server and FTP Service.
• Also, ensure Web Management Tools is checked.
• Click OK and wait for Windows to install the components.

2. Configure FTP Site:

Open IIS Manager:

• Press Windows + R, type inetmgr, and press Enter.
• In IIS Manager, under the Connections pane, right-click Sites and choose Add FTP Site.
• Name your FTP site and specify the physical folder you want to share.

Set up the Binding:

• Use your PC’s IP address.
• Leave SSL as No SSL for local network (not recommended for internet).

Configure Authentication:

Choose Basic.

• Specify user accounts that will access the FTP.

Set Authorization:

• Allow Read and/or Write permissions for users or groups.

3. Adjust Firewall Settings:

Windows Firewall might block FTP:

• Open Windows Defender Firewall.
• Allow FTP Server through the firewall.
• Or, open ports 21 (default FTP port) and passive ports if configured.

How to transfer files from PC to Mac on same network:

1. Use Finder or an FTP Client:

   In Finder, select Go > Connect to Server (Command + K).

2. Enter the FTP address:

   Type: ftp://<Windows_IP_Address> (e.g., ftp://192.168.1.100)

3. Login:

   Enter the username and password you configured on the FTP server.

4. Transfer Files:

   Once connected, you can drag and drop files between your Mac and the FTP server folder.

Using an ad-hoc Wi-Fi network is a great way to transfer files between your PC and Mac without relying on your existing Wi-Fi router, especially if you want a quick, direct connection. It creates a private, peer-to-peer network between the two devices, which can be faster and more secure for large file transfers.

How to transfer files from PC to Mac on same network

1. Create an Ad-hoc Network on Windows (PC)

On Windows 10/11:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

Press Windows + X, then select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).

2. Create the network:

Type the following command:

netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=MyTransferNetwork key=YourPassword123

Replace MyTransferNetwork with your preferred network name.

Replace YourPassword123 with a strong password.

3. Start the hosted network:

Type:

netsh wlan start hostednetwork

4. Connect your Mac to this new Wi-Fi network:

On your Mac, go to Wi-Fi and select MyTransferNetwork.

Enter the password you set.

2. Configure File Sharing

Follow the same steps as in the SMB sharing method:

Enable File and Printer Sharing on Windows.

Share the folder(s) you want to transfer.

3. Connect from Mac

After connecting to the ad-hoc network:

Open Finder.

Use Go > Connect to Server (Command + K).

Enter smb://<Windows_IP_Address> (you can find your Windows IP with ipconfig).

Access the shared folder, authenticate if needed, and transfer files from PC to Mac on same network.

Transferring files from a PC to Mac on same network can indeed be slow and tedious if using Bluetooth. Using built-in SMB (Server Message Block) file sharing is an excellent and straightforward way to transfer large files from a Windows PC to a Mac on the same network. It's fast, secure, and doesn't require any additional software beyond what Windows and macOS already include.

How to Use Built-in SMB File Sharing for Transfering files from PC to Mac on same network

Step 1: Enable File Sharing on Windows

a) Open Settings:

• Press Windows + I to open Settings.
• Go to Network & Internet > Status > Sharing options (or search for "Sharing options" in the Start menu).

b) Turn on sharing:

• Select Private network (if your network is private).

c) Enable:

• Turn on network discovery
• Turn on file and printer sharing

(Optional) Turn on Password protected sharing for security.

d) Share the folder:

• Right-click the folder you want to transfer.
• Choose Properties > Sharing tab.

e) Click Share.

• Select your user or choose Everyone for easier access.
• Click Share and note the network path (e.g., \\YourPCName\SharedFolder).

Step 2: Find Your Windows PC Name or IP Address

• Open Command Prompt (Win + R, type cmd, Enter).
• Type: ipconfig and note the IPv4 Address.

Or, find your PC name:

• Right-click This PC > Properties > Computer Name.

Step 3: Connect from Your Mac

Open Finder on your Mac.

In the menu bar, select Go > Connect to Server (Command + K).

Enter the SMB address:

• smb://<IP_ADDRESS> (e.g., smb://192.168.1.100)
• Or use your PC name: smb://<YourPCName>
• Click Connect.
• Enter your Windows username and password if prompted.
• You’ll see the shared folder; now you can copy files directly.

When you need to transfer files from PC to Mac on the same network at high speed across Windows and macOS systems, the most dependable method for handling transfers of files over 100GB is to utilize the built-in OpenSSH server in Windows 10/11, along with macOS’s pre-installed scp or sftp commands.

On Windows:

1. Open Windows Settings → Apps → Optional Features, click Add a feature, locate OpenSSH Server in the list, select it, then click Install.

2. ress Win+R, type services.msc and press Enter. Locate OpenSSH SSH Server, right-click and select ‘Properties’. Change the ‘Startup type’ to ‘Automatic’, then click “Start”. Finally, click ‘OK’ to save the settings.

3. Open ‘Windows Security’ → ‘Firewall & Network Protection’ → ‘Advanced settings’. Click ‘Inbound rules’ on the left, locate and enable the rule named ‘OpenSSH SSH Server (sshd)’.

4. Press Win+R, type `cmd` and press Enter. At the command prompt, enter `ipconfig` and note the IPv4 address corresponding to your Ethernet adapter.

Windows is now configured as a secure SFTP server.

On macOS

1. Open Finder → Applications → Utilities → Terminal.

2. Transfer the Projects folder from Windows user john's computer to your Mac desktop using the following command:

scp -r john@192.168.1.105:“C:\Users\John\Projects” ~/Desktop/

• Upon initial connection, the terminal will prompt you to verify the server fingerprint. Enter “yes” and press Enter.

• Next, enter the Windows account password. Press Enter to initiate the transfer.

• The terminal will display the transfer progress. A 100GB file typically completes in 15-25 minutes over a wired network.

This is the most direct method for users familiar with terminal commands, eliminating the need to purchase an external hard drive.

Bluetooth transfers are slow and unreliable; SMB file sharing remains the optimal solution for cross-system large file transfers. Pairing with a wired Ethernet connection achieves the fastest transfer speeds.

How to transfer files from a PC to a Mac computer on the same network

Step 1: Physical Connection Preparation

• Connect both the Windows 10 computer and Mac computer to the same router via Ethernet cables, ensuring they are on the same local area network.

Step 2: Configure the Windows 10 Computer

• Open Control Panel → Network and Sharing Centre → Change advanced sharing settings.

• Under the Private network settings, tick Enable network discovery and Enable file and printer sharing.

• Under the All networks settings, tick Turn off password-protected sharing.

• Right-click the folder requiring transfer, select Grant access → Specific users.

• From the dropdown menu, select ‘Everyone’, click ‘Add’, and set the permission level to Read / Write.

• Click ‘Share’ and note the displayed network path.

• Press Win+R to open the Run window, type cmd and press Enter.

• At the command prompt, type ipconfig and press Enter.

• Locate the IPv4 address under the currently active Ethernet adapter and record this address.

Step 3: Access and Transfer Files from macOS Sequoia Computer

• Open Finder, click the top menu bar Go → Connect to Server.

• In the ‘Server Address’ field, enter:smb://[Windows computer's IPv4 address]

• After entering, click Connect.

• Upon successful connection, a window will appear displaying the Windows shared folder;

• Important notes:

  If password-protected sharing is disabled: select ‘Registered User’, leave username and password fields blank, then connect directly;

  If password-protected sharing is enabled: enter the Windows computer's username and password, then click Connect.

• Upon successful connection, a window displaying the Windows shared folder will appear.

• Select the target folder and click ‘OK’. This folder will appear as a network drive on your Mac desktop or in Finder's sidebar.

• Simply drag the 100GB+ file from within the folder to your local Mac path and await completion of the transfer.

I should mention that Wi-Fi transfers of large files are prone to interruption and significantly slower than wired connections. Following my method offers far greater reliability.