Do you need to transfer files from Mac to Windows and vice-versa? You can have a few different approaches, but yous can easily do a Mac to Windows or PC to Mac file transfer using both operating systems' native tools.

Alternatively, in that location are a few third-party solutions worth checking out. Beneath, we'll explain how to transfer files from Mac to Windows and vice-versa.

How to Transfer Files From Mac to Windows PC

The about obvious way to transfer files from Mac to Windows is to use the built-in functions that both operating systems offer.

However, this has one meaning drawback. The process will only work if both the Mac and Windows computers are on the same local network. If they aren't, you lot tin can skip alee to the section on 3rd-party solutions beneath.

Set up Upwards File Sharing on a Mac

Yous'll need to tweak some settings to share files between a Mac and PC. First, you demand to allow your Mac to share its files. Follow these steps to exercise this:

Click on the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of the screen. Cull Organization Preferences > Sharing. Then, enable the checkbox next to File Sharing in the left panel.

file sharing pane mac

Click on the Options push and, from the window that appears, enable the checkbox next to Share files and folders using SMB. In macOS Large Sur, Apple dropped the ability to share volumes via AFP. Although Catalina retained this ability, you could not share APFS-formatted volumes over AFP.

In the Windows File Sharing section below, enable the checkbox aslope each user whose files you want to share. Enter the users' passwords and click Done.

share files and folders through SMB protocol

When you're sharing files with Windows computers, your Mac stores the users' passwords less securely. Upon completion, we recommend yous deselect the user checkboxes.

Yous'll now exist back on the Sharing window. Adjacent, y'all need to cull which folders and users you're going to share with your Windows computer. Click the Plus (+) and Minus (–) buttons below Shared Folders to adjust your preferences.

Once yous have shared a folder, review the users' permissions and groups that should have access to the data in the Shared Folders list.

Recollect that all network access is controlled by the computer with the shared resource (in this instance, information technology'south your Mac); therefore, you must empathise what Mac permissions take been applied to a folder. Finally, you need to note your Mac's IP accost. Yous will come across this below the File Sharing: On bulletin.

Access Mac Files on Windows

Now it'south fourth dimension to head to your Windows computer. Follow the instructions below to transfer files from Mac to Windows:

Open File Explorer. In the accost bar at the top of the window, blazon \\ followed by your Mac's IP address. When you're done, it should look something like this: \\192.168.1.68. A new window will pop upwardly asking for a username and password. Enter the user credentials exactly as they announced on your Mac.

access mac files on windows

File Explorer will display any folders and users you've added to your Mac's Shared Folders and Shared Users lists. You can map that folder equally a network drive to movement, edit, and copy folders like any other Windows folder.

Map Network Drive

Mapping a network folder makes information technology appear to other apps that the folder is part of your computer. Windows assigns a drive to the mapped binder, and you lot'll see it as a bulldoze in the File Explorer.

Right-click the shared folder and click Map network drive. Select a drive from the Drive listing. You tin can cull any letter that's not already in use.

map network drive file explorer

The Folder box contains all the pre-filled data. Don't forget to bank check Reconnect at sign-in if you desire Windows to connect to this shared folder at the start of each login session automatically.

assign a drive to network folder file explorer

Once you're washed, elevate-and-driblet files into one of your local folders to transfer files from your Mac to your Windows PC.

How to Transfer Files From PC to Mac

That wasn't too tough, right? At present let's look at the reverse process: how to transfer files from Windows to Mac.

Ready File Sharing on Windows

To begin, you need to make sure that Network Discovery is turned on in Windows. Fire up your Windows PC and work through the following steps:

Open the Settings app and go to Network & Internet. On the left panel, click on Ethernet or Wi-Fi and then Change avant-garde sharing options located under Related settings.

click change advanced sharing options Windows10

Aggrandize the Individual Network menu and enable the checkboxes next to Plough on network discovery and Plough on file and printer sharing. Then, click on Save changes. Follow these steps to set up network discovery-related bug in Windows ten.

turn on network discovery Windows10

We don't recommend enabling network discovery or file sharing on public networks. They are typically far less secure than individual networks.

To share folders on a instance-past-case basis, right-click on the folder'southward proper noun and become to Properties > Sharing > Network File and Folder Sharing > Share. Alternatively, you lot tin can utilise advanced sharing settings if you need to or if you prefer to have full control over sharing.

network file and folder share Windows10

You'll as well demand to note your Windows PC's IP accost. Press Win + X and cull Command Prompt or Windows Powershell. Type in ipconfig and notation downwards the IPv4 accost.

ipv4 address of Windows

Access Windows Files on Mac

Once yous're happy with your sharing options, information technology's time to transfer your files from Windows PC to Mac. Follow the steps below on your Mac to practise this:

Open the Finder app. In the menu bar at the superlative of the screen, select Go > Connect to Server. Blazon either smb://[IP accost] or smb://[computer proper noun] and press Enter. Y'all volition be prompted to enter your Windows username and password. Click on Connect.

access windows files on Mac

Your shared Windows content will exist available in the Shared department of Finder. To transfer files from your PC to your Mac, just drag and drib as needed.

The above methods work great if both Mac and Windows PC are on the same network. However, if they're non, effort these methods and choose the ones that fit all-time for you lot.

one. Apply a Cloud Storage Service

Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive take dedicated apps available for Windows and macOS. Just install them on the ii systems and upload or download your files as needed. Be aware of the space taken up past these apps, and if you lot're running low on disk space, follow our guide on how to sync only specific files in Dropbox or Google Drive.

2. Use a USB Stick

A elementary-only-constructive solution for anyone who needs to transfer files from Mac to Windows rapidly is to use a USB wink drive. Call up to cull the exFAT file format since information technology'south compatible with both operating systems and easily lets you share huge files. Here are our recommendations on the all-time USB 3.0 flash drives available online.

Resilio Sync and Syncthing are file-syncing apps that let you share files between Windows and Mac. They use an encrypted fundamental to manage the connection between devices. All you have to do is fix a sync binder and create a key. Share the key with your other motorcar and nominate a folder. Both the apps allow you to ready the read/write permissions.

There are plenty of security challenges we face up regarding cloud storage. This author has been using Resilio Sync for many years. If yous set upwardly permissions, configure sync to force LAN syncing, and use Archive for file versioning, yous ensure that the data transfers happen through your network and save coin.

resilio sync advanced preferences

Transfer Files Between Computer and Mobile

Hopefully, the various methods we've discussed will assistance y'all share files between a Mac and a PC with ease. If you lot as well demand to practise this with your telephone, check out the easiest means to transfer files betwixt computers and mobile devices.

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