


How to share files between mac os and windows on the same network
Jul 30, 2025 am 04:12 AMEnable File Sharing on macOS by turning on SMB and setting folder permissions. 2. Find your Mac’s IP address via Network settings. 3. From Windows, open File Explorer and connect using \[Mac's IP Address], entering Mac username and password. 4. Optionally, share Windows folders to macOS by enabling sharing and connecting via smb://[Windows_IP] in Finder. Ensure both devices are on the same network, use strong passwords, and disable SMB1 for best performance; once configured, cross-platform file sharing works seamlessly.
Sharing files between macOS and Windows on the same network is straightforward if both systems are set up correctly. The most reliable method is using SMB (Server Message Block), a file-sharing protocol supported by both operating systems. Here’s how to do it step by step.

1. Enable File Sharing on macOS
First, set up your Mac to share files with Windows:
- Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions).
- Go to General > Sharing.
- Turn on File Sharing.
- Click the button under "Shared Folders" to add the folders you want to share (e.g., Documents, Downloads).
- Under "Users", set the access level for each user (Read Only, Read & Write, etc.).
- Click the … button next to "Users" and make sure SMB sharing is enabled.
- If prompted, enable SMB for your user account and set a password if needed.
? Make sure your Mac user account has a password — Windows often can’t connect to SMB shares if the account is passwordless.
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2. Find Your Mac’s IP Address
You’ll need this so Windows can connect to it:
- Open System Settings > Network.
- Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
- Look for the IP Address (e.g., 192.168.1.10).
Write this down — you’ll use it from Windows.

3. Connect from Windows to macOS
Now go to your Windows PC and access the Mac’s shared folders:
- Open File Explorer.
- In the address bar, type:
\\[Mac's IP Address]
For example:
\\192.168.1.10
- Press Enter.
- When prompted, enter:
- Username: Your Mac’s username (the one you use to log in).
- Password: Your Mac account password.
- Optionally check “Remember my credentials” to avoid re-entering.
If successful, you’ll see the shared folders from your Mac.
? Tip: You can right-click a shared folder and choose “Map network drive” to assign it a drive letter for easier access.
4. Optional: Access Windows Files from macOS
You can also share files the other way — from Windows to Mac:
On Windows:
- Right-click a folder > Properties > Sharing > Share.
- Add “Everyone” and give Read/Write permissions.
- Make sure Network Discovery and File Sharing are enabled in: Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings.
On macOS:
- Open Finder.
- Press Cmd K to open “Connect to Server”.
- Enter:
smb://[Windows_IP_Address]
Example:
smb://192.168.1.15
- Click Connect, then enter the Windows username and password.
The shared Windows folder will appear on your Mac desktop or in Finder.
Troubleshooting Tips
- ? Authentication issues? Make sure both accounts have passwords and you’re using the correct username format (sometimes use
.\Username
on Windows orMacName\Username
). - ? Can’t find the device? Ensure both computers are on the same network (e.g., same Wi-Fi).
- ? Firewall blocking? Temporarily disable firewalls to test, then adjust settings to allow file sharing.
- ? Slow transfers? Avoid using SMB1. On Windows, disable SMB1 and ensure SMB2/SMB3 is used (via “Turn Windows features on or off”).
Basically, just enable SMB sharing on the host (Mac or Windows), know the IP address, and connect using the \\IP
or smb://IP
syntax. Once set up, accessing files back and forth feels almost seamless.
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