How to Connect a PC to a Mac

Last Updated: March 29, 2019 Tested

Although the two machines have different operating systems, you can still connect a Windows PC and Mac to each other and share files. You don’t need any expensive equipment. All you need is an Ethernet cable.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Creating a Physical Connection

1
Get an Ethernet/LAN Cable.
2
Plug the cable to the Ethernet port on both of the machines.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Configuring the Windows PC

1
Open a window on your PC.
2
Go to Homegroup. On the directory panel at the left side of the window, click on “Homegroup.”
3
Click on “Create a Homegroup” button.
4
Check all the type of files you want to share (documents, images, etc.) and click on “Next.”
5
Remember the password. On the following page, you’ll be given a password. Take note of the password. You’ll be using that later once you try to connect your Mac to your PC.
6
Click on “Finish” once you’re done.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Configuring the Mac

1
Click on “Go” on the menu bar at the upper left of the desktop.
2
Select “Connect to Server.”
3
Type in your PC’s network address on the Server Address field. Use the following format:
- smb://username@computername/sharename – i.e.: smb://johnny@mypc/users.
- If the above format won’t work, you can use the Windows PC’s IP address: smb://IPaddress/sharename.
4
Click on the Plus (+) button to add it to the server list.
5
Click on the Server Address you’ve just added, and click on “Connect.”
6
Type in the password that you got from the Windows PC. Click on “Connect.”
7
Open your Mac’s Finder. The Windows PC’s name should now appear on the left panel under the Shared section.