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Mac or PC? Well, you can’t really avoid any of them in today’s world, and you probably own both, or a person close to you uses the other. However, the two are known for their distinct functionalities and often lack compatibility, which can be quite a challenge if you want to share files.
There are different methods you can use to share files between Mac and PC, but they all vary in ease of use or the amount of data you can share. Today, we’ll look at four of the best.
Transfer via External Drive
The most preferred way of transferring files between two computers has always been the use of external storage devices. These can be USB sticks or external hard disks. With one of them, you only need to copy the files you need to transfer, then insert the storage device on the other computer. From there, you can copy the files.
One of the best things about this method is that the procedure is the same when transferring from PC to Mac or vice versa. However, it may also require you to learn how to write NTFS on Mac. This is because macOS doesn’t support writing on the file system, even though most storage devices are formatted in NTFS by default.
Use Shared Folders
If the two devices are connected to the same network, and you share files between them a lot, you can use Shared Folders. Both macOS and Windows provide options for sharing folders so you can access them on another device connected to the same network. For Mac, the Sharing option can be found under Apple menu > System Settings > General. Below Content & Media, you can turn on File Sharing and set the permissions you want and the files to share. You can then access the files on your PC by going to File Explorer and selecting Network, then the Mac device.
If you want to share a particular file from a PC, you can right-click on it and then go to Properties > Sharing > Network File and Folder Sharing > Share. To access the folder on Mac, open Finder app, then click Go > Connect to Server and enter smb://PC_IP_Address in the server address field, replacing “PC_IP_Address” with the actual IP address of your PC (you can check it by typing “ipconfig” on CMD). From there, click “Connect.” Note that throughout the sharing process, you will need to have the username and password of the device you are accessing.
Cloud Storage Services
If you want a more seamless way of sharing files, you can opt for a cloud service like iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive. These services allow you to store your files without using the valuable space on your hard drive, and all you need is an internet connection.
If you’ve already backed up the files, you only need to install the app on the other device and sign in to your cloud account. You can first upload the files to the cloud if you haven’t. This method eliminates the need for physical storage or a secure local network.
Transfer via Email or Messaging Apps
If you only need to share a small file, you can use your email or a messaging service such as WhatsApp or Telegram. Since we often use these services, chances are that you already have the PC or Mac version of your messaging service installed, although there are also web versions.
All messaging services today allow you to share a file with yourself, so you don’t have to send it to somebody else. If you’d like to use your email, you can upload the file and leave it as a draft or send it to the other email you are signed in on. This will allow you to seamlessly share the files you need from one computer to the other.
