Transferring Files between Computers Using Windows
Transferring files from one computer to another is very simple with the use of Windows. With a few clicks and a few seconds, you can send documents, music, photos, movies, and other types of files with ease.
The process of transferring files between computers is actually quite simple and efficient, as long as you have access to both machines. Whether you’re transferring files from a desktop computer to a laptop or from a laptop to a desktop, these instructions can be used with just about any Windows-based computer.
Before starting, ensure that both computers are powered on, connected to the same network, and that the same user is logged in on both machines.
To begin transferring files, open up the File Explorer using the icon in the taskbar (the icon looks like a yellow folder). On the File Explorer window, locate the folder containing the files you intend to transfer. Select the files you want by left-clicking them. Right-click on the file or files you’ve selected and then choose ‘Send To’ > ‘Network’. From here, you’ll see a list of networked devices you can send the files to (if your target computer isn’t already visible, you may need to type in its IP address). Select the computer you’d like to send the file to and click ‘Send’.
The file is now en route to the other computer and should arrive shortly. Depending on the size of the file, the time it takes for the file to be transferred will vary.
If you don’t want to transfer over your entire file at once, you have the option of compressing it into a .zip folder before sending. To do this, select the file or files you want to compress, right-click on it, and choose ‘Send to’ > ‘Compressed (zipped) folder’. A new zipped folder will then appear in the same directory, which you can move to the other computer (as long as you’ve connected it to the same network).
You can also transfer files over the internet if both computers are connected to the web. To do this, open your web browser and type in the external IP address of the computer you want to send the files to (you can find the external IP address using sites such as WhatIsMyIPAddress.com). Once you’ve entered the IP address in the browser, type in a username and password – this will depend on the security settings of the computer. If you’re able to get through and enter the login credentials, you should now have access to the other machine’s file system. You can then transfer any files you wish from one computer to the other.
Finally, if you’re dealing with particularly large files, you might consider transferring the files via an external hard drive or USB memory stick. Both of these methods are fast and easy, as long as you’ve got the necessary hardware. Simply copy the files you want to transfer onto whichever device you’re using, plug it into the other computer, and transfer the data over to the destination machine.
With these methods, you should now be able to transfer files between two computers using Windows with ease. As always, be sure to back up all data that’s important to you before making any changes or attempting any transfers. Good luck!