How do I Connect PC & Mac Computers With Wiring?

You can network a PC and a Mac using just a simple Ethernet cable.

Apple introduced a new protocol with the introduction of the OS X operating system that made it easier than ever to network with a Windows-based PC. The operation requires only a standard Ethernet cable connecting the two computers and a few simple keystrokes. No additional software is necessary. The Mac connects to the PC via its IP address and proceeds to access whatever files and folders you may need.

Things You'll Need

• Ethernet cable

Instructions

PC Configuration

1. Plug one side of the Ethernet cable into the PC and the other end into the Mac.

2. Click the "Windows key + R" on the PC to open the "Run" dialogue box.

3. Type "cmd" without the quotes and press "Enter" to open the "Command Prompt."

4. Type "ipconfig /all" without the quotes and press "Enter."

5. Locate the IP address after the line that reads "IPv4 address." The IP address will be something similar to 192.168.1.134.

6. Write down the IP address for later.

7. Double-Click on the "Computer" icon on the desktop or click "Computer" from the "Start" menu.

8. Double-Click on the "C:" drive, or the letter of the drive where you store your files.

9. Right-Click on each of the folders you wish to share with the Mac and select "Properties."

10. Click on the "Sharing" tab and click "Share."

11. Click the "Share" button to begin sharing.

12. Click on "Advanced Sharing," check the box next to "Share this folder," enter a name for the shared folder. Write down the name of the shared folder.

13. Press "Apply," then "OK."

14. Open the "Start" menu, right-click on "Computer" and select "Properties."

15. Take note of all of the information under the "Computer name, domain and workgroup settings" section. The "Workgroup" and "Computer Name" are necessary to complete the connection.

Mac Configuration

1. Click "Finder" and open the "Go" menu.

2. Select "Connect to Server" to open a new window.

3. Type in the IP address and the shared folder's name noted in the previous section in the "Server Address" field. Write the IP address preceded by "smb://." For example, "smb://192.168.1.134/FolderName" without the quotes.

4. Click "Connect."

5. Enter the PC "Workgroup" name, user name and password, if applicable.

6. The shared folder will appear on the Mac's desktop. Open the folder and use regular drag-and-drop operations to access the data.

References

• Apple Support: Switch 101
• My First Mac: Connect Your PC to Your Mac Via Ethernet