How do I connect a Sonoma 14.5 Mac Studio to a Windows 10 PC?

[TNGEO]

I have long accessed my wife's Lenovo PC from my MacBook Pro, but can't get there from my new Mac Studio. Any help? Thanks.

 

[EugenDoga]

Hey TNGEO,

To connect your Mac Studio running macOS Sonoma 14.5 to a Windows 10 PC, you can use several methods depending on what type of connection you need. Here are the common methods to achieve this:

Method 1: File Sharing via SMB​

1. Enable File Sharing on Windows 10:
   • Open Control Panel.
   • Go to Network and Sharing Center.
   • Click on Change advanced sharing settings.
   • Ensure Turn on file and printer sharing is selected.
   • Select Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can read and write files in the Public folders.
   • Save changes.
2. Share a Folder on Windows 10:
   • Right-click the folder you want to share.
   • Select Properties.
   • Go to the Sharing tab and click Advanced Sharing.
   • Check Share this folder and then click Permissions to set the desired permissions.
   • Click Apply and then OK.
3. Connect to Windows Share from Mac Studio:
   • Open Finder.
   • Press Command + K to open the Connect to Server dialog.
   • Enter the server address in the format: smb://<Windows-PC-IP-Address>/<Shared-Folder-Name>.
   • Click Connect and enter the Windows username and password when prompted.

Method 2: Remote Desktop Connection​

1. Enable Remote Desktop on Windows 10:
   • Open Settings.
   • Go to System > Remote Desktop.
   • Toggle Enable Remote Desktop to On.
2. Install Microsoft Remote Desktop on Mac Studio:
   • Open the App Store on your Mac Studio.
   • Search for Microsoft Remote Desktop and install it.
3. Set Up Remote Desktop Connection:
   • Open Microsoft Remote Desktop on your Mac.
   • Click the + button to add a new connection.
   • Enter the Windows PC name or IP address, and your Windows credentials.
   • Click Add, then double-click the entry to connect.

Method 3: Using Third-Party Apps​

1. TeamViewer:
   • Install TeamViewer on both the Windows 10 PC and Mac Studio.
   • Create an account and set up unattended access on the Windows PC.
   • Use the same account to access the Windows PC from your Mac Studio.
2. AnyDesk:
   • Install AnyDesk on both devices.
   • Follow the setup instructions to get the AnyDesk address of the Windows PC.
   • Enter this address on the AnyDesk app on your Mac Studio to connect.

Method 4: Using Network Drives​

1. Map a Network Drive on Windows 10:
   • Right-click This PC and select Map network drive.
   • Choose a drive letter and enter the folder path, e.g., \\<Mac-Studio-IP-Address>\SharedFolder.
   • Click Finish.
2. Share a Folder on Mac Studio:
   • Open System Preferences.
   • Go to Sharing.
   • Check File Sharing.
   • Click the + button under Shared Folders to add the folder you want to share.
   • Click Options and ensure Share files and folders using SMB is checked.
   • Ensure your user account is selected and click Done.
3. Access Mac Share from Windows 10:
   • Open File Explorer on the Windows PC.
   • Enter the path \\<Mac-Studio-IP-Address>\<SharedFolder> in the address bar and press Enter.
   • Enter your Mac username and password if prompted.

Summary​

• For file sharing, use SMB protocol.
• For remote access, use Microsoft Remote Desktop.
• For third-party solutions, consider TeamViewer or AnyDesk.
• Ensure network settings and sharing permissions are correctly configured.

By following these steps, you should be able to connect your Mac Studio to your Windows 10 PC seamlessly. If you encounter any issues, make sure both devices are on the same network and check for any firewall settings that might be blocking the connection.