Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Set up a wireless network in Windows
• Method 2 of 4: Set up a wireless network on a Mac
• Method 3 of 4: Set up a wired network in Windows
• Method 4 of 4: Set up a wired network on a Mac
• Tips
• Warnings

This wikiHow teaches you how to set up a computer network for a group of Windows or Mac computers. You can set up a wireless network for a few computers, or a wired network if you are adding a large number of computers to a network.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Set up a wireless network in Windows

1. Click on the WiFi symbol Select a network. Click on the network to which you want to connect each of your network computers.
2. click on To connect. It's in the bottom right of the network box.
3. Enter the network password. Enter the network password when prompted.
4. click on Next one. This is under the network. As long as the password is correct, you will be connected to the network.
5. Connect other computers on the network to the Internet. For each computer you want to include in your network, repeat the Wi-Fi connection process. Once each computer is connected to the Wi-Fi network, you can proceed to set up file sharing.
6. Open Start Type control panel. The Control Panel opens.
7. click on Control panel. This is a blue rectangle icon at the top of the Start menu.
8. click on Network Center. This option resembles a set of blue monitors.
   • If you see "Category" at the top right of the page, first click on the "Network and Internet" heading in the main Control Panel window.
9. click on Change advanced sharing settings. This is a link in the top left corner of the page.
10. Check the "Enable network discovery" box. This ensures that your computer can communicate with other computers connected to the internet resource.
    • You can also enable the "Enable file and printer sharing" and "Let Windows manage connections to the homegroup" options, if they are not selected automatically.
11. click on Saving Changes. It's at the bottom of the page.
12. Enable network discovery on the other network computers. Once each computer in the network group is enabled in the Control Panel, your wired network is ready to use.

Method 2 of 4: Set up a wireless network on a Mac

1. Click on the WiFi symbol Select a network. Click on the WiFi network you want to connect each computer on your network to.
2. Enter the network password. Enter the password for the network in the "Password" field.
3. click on Connect. This is at the bottom of the window. This allows your computer to connect to the internet.
4. Connect other network computers to the internet. For each computer you want to use on your network, repeat the Wi-Fi connection process. Once each computer is connected to the Wi-Fi network, you can proceed to set up file sharing.
5. Open the Apple menu click on System Preferences .... This is at the top of the drop-down menu.
6. click on Share. You'll find this blue folder-shaped icon in the center of the System Preferences window.
7. Check the "File Sharing" box. This is on the left side of the page. This ensures that you can share files from your computer with other computers on the network.
   • You can also check any other file sharing options you want to use for your network here.
8. Close the System Preferences window. Your changes are saved. The current computer is now set to share over the network.
9. Also enable file sharing on the other network computers. Any computer connected to your internet resource must be turned on for file sharing. Once you have completed this process, your wireless network is ready to use.

Method 3 of 4: Set up a wired network in Windows

1. Make sure you have the necessary hardware. You need an internet source (e.g. a modem) to which you can connect each computer individually, as well as ethernet cables to connect the computers to the internet source.
   • Most modems only have a few Ethernet ports, but you can buy network hubs that support more than 10 connections.
   • Know the approximate distance from each computer to the Internet source. you need ethernet cables that can bridge this distance.
2. Set the internet source. Plug one end of an Ethernet cable into the "Internet" port on the back of the modem, then connect the other end of the cable to the "Internet" or "Ethernet" port on your internet source.
   • You must also connect the power cable from the internet source before proceeding.
3. Connect each computer to the internet source. Connect one end of an Ethernet cable to the square Ethernet port on your computer, then connect the other end of the cable to the Internet source.
   • You usually use desktop computers on a wired network, which means that the Ethernet ports are on the back of each computer case.
4. Open Start Type control panel. This will search your computer for Control Panel.
5. click on Control panel. This is a blue rectangle at the top of the Start menu.
6. click on Network Center. This option resembles two blue screens.
   • If you see "Category" at the top right of the page, click on the heading first Network and internet in the main Control Panel window.
7. click on Change advanced sharing settings. This is a link in the top left corner of the page.
8. Check the "Enable network discovery" box. This ensures that your computer can communicate with other computers connected to the internet resource.
   • You can also enable the "Enable File and Printer Sharing" and "Have Windows Manage Connections to Homegroup" options, if they are not selected automatically.
9. click on Saving Changes . This button is at the bottom of the page.
10. Enable network discovery on the other network computers. Once each computer in the network group is enabled in the Control Panel, your wired network is ready to use.

Method 4 of 4: Set up a wired network on a Mac

1. Make sure you have the required hardware. You need an internet source (e.g. a modem) to which you can connect each computer individually, as well as ethernet cables to connect the computers to the internet source.
   • Most modems only have a few Ethernet ports, but you can buy network hubs that support more than 10 connections.
   • Know the approximate distance from each computer to the Internet source. you need ethernet cables that can bridge this distance.
2. Set the internet source. Plug one end of an Ethernet cable into the "Internet" port on the back of the modem, then connect the other end of the cable to the "Internet" or "Ethernet" port on your internet source.
   • You must also connect the power cable from the internet source before proceeding.
3. Connect each computer to the internet source. Connect one end of an Ethernet cable to the square Ethernet port on your computer, then connect the other end of the cable to the Internet source.
   • You usually use iMac computers for a wired network. This means that the ethernet port is on the back of the iMac's monitor.
   • If you use Mac laptops for this network, you will need to buy a USB-C network adapter for your computer and then connect it to one of the USB-C slots on the side of your Mac, as Mac laptops no longer have Ethernet ports .
4. Open the Apple menu click on System Preferences .... It's at the top of the drop-down menu.
5. click on Share. You'll find this blue folder-shaped icon in the center of the System Preferences window.
6. Check the "File Sharing" box. It's on the left side of the page. This ensures that you can share files from your computer with other computers on the network.
   • You can also check any other file sharing options you want to use for your network here.
7. Close the System Preferences window. Your changes are saved; the current computer is now set up for network sharing.
8. Enable file sharing on the other network computers. File sharing must be enabled on any computer connected to your internet resource. Once you have done this, your wired network is ready to use.

Tips

• When purchasing Ethernet cables for a wired network, you must ensure that these cables are shielded. Shielded cables have a protective layer on the inside of the jacket around the cable, so that the cable itself is less likely to be damaged.
• After you enable file sharing on your computer, you can create a shared folder to act as a shared repository for files.
• To use more advanced features of your network, you can learn more about computer networks.

Warnings

• You may need to purchase a faster internet plan to use multiple computers, especially if you connect via Wi-Fi.