How to Set up a Computer Network

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 you can use a wired connection if you're adding a large number of computers to a network.

This article is based off an interview with our network engineer & desktop support specialist, Spike Baron. Check out the full interview here.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Using a Wireless Network on Windows

  1. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 1
    1
    Click the Wi-Fi symbol
    Windows Wifi
    .     It's in the lower-right corner of the screen. A pop-up window will appear.
    • If Wi-Fi is currently disabled, click the Wi-Fi button in the lower-left side of the pop-up window before proceeding.
    • In some cases, you'll need to click the ^ icon in the lower-right side of the screen to see the Wi-Fi icon.
  2. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 2
    2
    Select a network. Click the network to which you want to connect each of your network computers.
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  3. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 3
    3
    Click Connect. It's in the lower-right side of the network's name box.
  4. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 4
    4
    Enter the network's password. Type in the network's password when prompted.
  5. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 5
    5
    Click Next. It's below the network. As long as the password is correct, doing so will connect you to the network.
  6. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 6
    6
    Connect other computers in the network to the Internet. For each computer that you want to use in your network, repeat the Wi-Fi connection process. Once each computer is connected to the Wi-Fi network, you can proceed with setting up file sharing.[1]
  7. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 7
    7
    Open Start
    Windows Start
    .     Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  8. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 8
    8
    Type in control panel. Doing so will search your computer for the Control Panel app.
  9. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 9
    9
    Click Control Panel. It's a blue rectangle icon at the top of the Start menu.
  10. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 10
    10
    Click Network and Sharing Center. This option resembles a set of blue monitors.
    • If you see "Category" in the upper-right side of the page, first click the Network and Internet heading on the main Control Panel page.
  11. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 11
    11
    Click Change advanced sharing settings. It's a link in the upper-left side of the page.
  12. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 12
    12
    Check the "Turn on network discovery" box. This will ensure that your computer can interact with other computers that are plugged into the Internet source.[2]
    • You can also enable the "Turn on file and printer sharing" option and the "Allow Windows to manage homegroup connections" option if they aren't automatically selected.
  13. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 13
    13
    Click Save changes. It's at the bottom of the page.
  14. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 14
    14
    Enable network discovery on the other network computers. Once each computer in the networked group has network discovery enabled in Control Panel, your wired network will be ready to use.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Using a Wireless Network on Mac

  1. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 15
    1
    Click the Wi-Fi symbol
    Mac Wifi
    .     It's in the top-right side of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
  2. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 16
    2
    Select a network. Click the Wi-Fi network to which you want to connect each computer in your network.
  3. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 17
    3
    Enter the network's password. Type the password for the network into the "Password" field.
  4. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 18
    4
    Click Join. It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so will connect your computer to the Internet.
  5. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 19
    5
    Connect other network computers to the Internet. For each computer that you want to use in your network, repeat the Wi-Fi connection process. Once each computer is connected to the Wi-Fi network, you can proceed with setting up file sharing.[3]
  6. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 20
    6
    Open the Apple menu
    Mac Apple
    .     Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
  7. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 21
    7
    Click System Preferences…. It's near the top of the drop-down menu.
  8. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 22
    8
    Click Sharing. You'll find this blue folder-shaped icon in the middle of the System Preferences window.
  9. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 23
    9
    Check the "File Sharing" box. It's on the left side of the page. This will ensure that you can share files from your computer to other computers on the network.[4]
    • You can check any other file sharing options that you want to use for your network here as well.
  10. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 24
    10
    Close the System Preferences window. Your changes will be saved; the current computer is now set up for network sharing.
  11. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 25
    11
    Enable file sharing on the other network computers. Each computer that's connected to your Internet source will need file sharing to be enabled. Once you've completed this process, your wireless network will be ready to use.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Using a Wired Network on Windows

  1. Image titled Choose a Wireless Router Step 3
    1
    Make sure that you have the necessary hardware. You'll need an Internet source (e.g., a router) into which you can plug each individual computer, as well as Ethernet cables to connect the computers to the Internet source.
    • Most standard routers only come with a few Ethernet ports, but you can buy network hubs that support upward of 10 connections.
    • Make sure that you know the approximate distance from each computer to the Internet source. You'll need Ethernet cables that can span this distance.
  2. Image titled Connect Two Routers Step 5
    2
    Set up 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'll also need to plug in the Internet source's power cable before proceeding.
  3. Image titled Create a Local Area Network (LAN) Step 10
    3
    Plug each computer into the Internet source. Attach one end of an Ethernet cable to the square Ethernet port on your computer, then attach the other end of the cable to the Internet source.
    • Typically speaking, you'll use desktop computers for a network, which means the Ethernet ports will be on the back of each CPU box.
  4. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 29
    4
    Open Start
    Windows Start
    .     Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  5. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 30
    5
    Type in control panel. Doing so will search your computer for the Control Panel app.
  6. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 31
    6
    Click Control Panel. It's a blue rectangle icon at the top of the Start menu.
  7. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 32
    7
    Click Network and Sharing Center. This option resembles a set of blue monitors.
    • If you see "Category" in the upper-right side of the page, first click the Network and Internet heading on the main Control Panel page.
  8. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 33
    8
    Click Change advanced sharing settings. It's a link in the upper-left side of the page.
  9. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 34
    9
    Check the "Turn on network discovery" box. This will ensure that your computer can interact with other computers that are plugged into the Internet source.
    • You can also enable the "Turn on file and printer sharing" option and the "Allow Windows to manage homegroup connections" option if they aren't automatically selected.
  10. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 35
    10
    Click Save changes. It's at the bottom of the page.
  11. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 36
    11
    Enable network discovery on the other network computers. Once each computer in the networked group has network discovery enabled in Control Panel, your wired network will be ready to use.[5]
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Using a Wired Network on Mac

  1. Image titled Create a Local Area Network (LAN) Step 6
    1
    Make sure that you have the necessary hardware. You'll need an Internet source (e.g., a router) into which you can plug each individual computer, as well as Ethernet cables to connect the computers to the Internet source.
    • Most standard routers only come with a few Ethernet ports, but you can buy network hubs that support upward of 10 connections.
    • Make sure that you know the approximate distance from each computer to the Internet source. You'll need Ethernet cables that can span this distance.
  2. Image titled Create a Local Area Network (LAN) Step 8
    2
    Set up 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'll also need to plug in the Internet source's power cable before proceeding.
  3. Image titled Create a Local Area Network (LAN) Step 15
    3
    Plug each computer into the Internet source. Attach one end of an Ethernet cable to the square Ethernet port on your computer, then attach the other end of the cable to the Internet source.
    • Typically speaking, you'll use iMac computers for a network. This means that you'll find the Ethernet port on the back of the iMac's monitor.
    • If you're using Mac laptops for your network, you'll need to buy a USB-C network adapter for your computer and then plug it into one of the USB-C slots on the side of your Mac, since Mac laptops no longer include Ethernet ports.
  4. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 40
    4
    Open the Apple menu
    Mac Apple
    .     Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
  5. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 41
    5
    Click System Preferences…. It's near the top of the drop-down menu.
  6. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 42
    6
    Click Sharing. You'll find this blue folder-shaped icon in the middle of the System Preferences window.
  7. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 43
    7
    Check the "File Sharing" box. It's on the left side of the page. This will ensure that you can share files from your computer to other computers on the network.[6]
    • You can check any other file sharing options that you want to use for your network here as well.
  8. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 44
    8
    Close the System Preferences window. Your changes will be saved; the current computer is now set up for network sharing.
  9. Image titled Set up a Computer Network Step 45
    9
    Enable file sharing on the other network computers. Each computer that's connected to your Internet source will need file sharing to be enabled. Once you've completed this process, your wired network will be ready to use.
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Expert Q&A
Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow

  • Question
    Can you connect computers to a network with the server settings?
    Spike Baron
    Spike Baron
    Network Engineer & Desktop Support
    Spike Baron is the Owner of Spike's Computer Repair based in Los Angeles, California. With over 25 years of working experience in the tech industry, Spike specializes in PC and Mac computer repair, used computer sales, virus removal, data recovery, and hardware and software upgrades. He has his CompTIA A+ certification for computer service technicians and is a Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert.
    Spike Baron
    Spike Baron
    Network Engineer & Desktop Support
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Yes, in the server settings menu, you type SMB colon, forward slash, forward slash, followed by the name of the computer you're looking to connect. That should connect the PC.
  • Question
    Why can't I connect my Mac to a network?
    Spike Baron
    Spike Baron
    Network Engineer & Desktop Support
    Spike Baron is the Owner of Spike's Computer Repair based in Los Angeles, California. With over 25 years of working experience in the tech industry, Spike specializes in PC and Mac computer repair, used computer sales, virus removal, data recovery, and hardware and software upgrades. He has his CompTIA A+ certification for computer service technicians and is a Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert.
    Spike Baron
    Spike Baron
    Network Engineer & Desktop Support
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    You may not have computer discovery or file sharing turned on. You need the computer to be "unlocked" for it to connect to a network.
  • Question
    How do I set up a computer with proper subnet masks for a local network?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Without knowing what IP addresses you are using I can only give you an estimate. I can show the default values based on the private IP addresses I assume you're using. If you see anything between 10.0.0.0 and 10.255.255.254, the default subnet mask is 255.0.0.0. If you see 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.254, the default subnet mask is 255.255.0.0. If you see 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.254, the default subnet mask is 255.255.255.0, which is the most common range on home equipment and small networks up to 254 computers, so I would guess this is the one you need.
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Warnings

  • You may need to increase your Internet plan's maximum speed to accommodate multiple computers, especially if you're connecting over Wi-Fi.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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References

  1. ↑ Spike Baron. Network Engineer & Desktop Support. Expert Interview. 9 January 2019.
  2. ↑ Spike Baron. Network Engineer & Desktop Support. Expert Interview. 9 January 2019.
  3. ↑ Spike Baron. Network Engineer & Desktop Support. Expert Interview. 9 January 2019.
  4. ↑ Spike Baron. Network Engineer & Desktop Support. Expert Interview. 9 January 2019.
  5. ↑ Spike Baron. Network Engineer & Desktop Support. Expert Interview. 9 January 2019.
  6. ↑ Spike Baron. Network Engineer & Desktop Support. Expert Interview. 9 January 2019.

About This Article

Spike Baron
Written by:
Spike Baron
Network Engineer & Desktop Support
This article was written by Spike Baron and by wikiHow staff writer, Jack Lloyd. Spike Baron is the Owner of Spike's Computer Repair based in Los Angeles, California. With over 25 years of working experience in the tech industry, Spike specializes in PC and Mac computer repair, used computer sales, virus removal, data recovery, and hardware and software upgrades. He has his CompTIA A+ certification for computer service technicians and is a Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert. This article has been viewed 216,535 times.
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Co-authors: 19
Updated: March 5, 2023
Views: 216,535
Categories: Computer Networking
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