Windows and Mac File Sharing Not Working? Things to Check
Troubleshoot SMB network sharing errors, permission denied prompts, and invisible network computers between Windows and macOS with this step-by-step guide.
If you are trying to share folders between a Windows PC and a Mac using standard network sharing (SMB) and encountering connection timeouts, permission errors, or invisible devices, work through this troubleshooting checklist to diagnose and resolve the issue.
1. Check network profile settings on Windows
Windows assigns every Wi-Fi network a profile: Public or Private. By default, new networks are often set to Public, which turns off network discovery and blocks incoming SMB file-sharing connections:
- Open Windows Settings and navigate to Network & internet > Wi-Fi.
- Click on your active Wi-Fi network properties.
- Change the network profile type from Public network to Private network.
- Go to Advanced network settings > Advanced sharing settings and ensure Network discovery and File and printer sharing are turned on for Private networks.
2. Verify SMB file sharing permissions on macOS
If Windows cannot connect to your Mac, check your macOS sharing permissions:
- Open System Settings on your Mac and go to General > Sharing.
- Click the info icon next to File Sharing.
- Click Options and verify that Share files and folders using SMB is checked.
- Ensure your Mac user account has a checkmark next to Windows File Sharing (which creates an SMB password hash).
3. Connect via IP address instead of computer names
Local DNS resolution using computer hostnames (like smb://Desktop-PC/ or smb://MacBook.local) frequently fails due to mDNS multicast packet drops on consumer routers. Connecting via direct IP address bypasses name resolution problems:
- Find your target computer's local IP address (typically
192.168.1.Xor10.0.0.X). - On Mac: In Finder, press Command + K and type
smb://192.168.1.X. - On Windows: In File Explorer address bar, type
\\192.168.1.X.
4. The hassle-free alternative: Direct browser transfer
If SMB network shares continue to fail due to corporate group policies, firewall rules, or router settings, you can completely bypass SMB by opening iFileSender Mac to Windows in your web browser. It requires no network permissions, no user credentials, and establishes a direct peer-to-peer connection in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Windows say "Network path not found" (Error 0x80070035)?
This error occurs when the Windows PC cannot reach port 445 on the remote Mac. Common causes include Windows Defender Firewall blocking port 445, or your router having AP/Client Isolation enabled.
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