Wirelessly sharing files between two Macs?

[idyll]

What is the best way to wirelessly share files between two Macs?

One of the Macs will not be connected to the internet.

Ad-Hoc WiFi network is an option, but it does not appear to have password protection. AirDrop is OK, but would prefer a way to be able to see the contents of each computer at all times.

 

[Slartibart]

• Open System Preferences on your Mac.
• Click Sharing.
  
• Click the checkbox next to File Sharing.
• Click Options…
  
• Click on the checkbox for the user account you'd like to share with another device. You might be asked to enter a password.
• Click Done.

 

[BrianBaughn]

Are you saying you don't want the one Mac to be connected to your router?

 

[idyll]

Are you saying you don't want the one Mac to be connected to your router?

Yes - I would like for one Mac to be completely offline.

 

[Slartibart]

You can easily create a local network between between machines by connecting them by cable or wirelessly. Turn file sharing on, require user identification, connect to “the-other-computer-with-my-user.local”.

 

[BrianBaughn]

A separate network would mean having to change what network to which the normally-online computer is connected. You could do this with a separate router if you have one laying around.

Perhaps the question should be: Is there a way to create a subnet on my current network and have it so that the subnet connected devices are shielded from the internet and yet reachable from the internet-connected devices.

This would perhaps require a new network appliance. I dunno!

 

[Slartibart]

computer A is connected to the internet by WLAN. Computer B connects to A by LAN. No network sharing on computer A. File sharing is active on computer A.
connect from B to A with one of the user credentials on computer A.
Rinse and repeat... by changing LAN with WLAN ?

 

[BrianBaughn]

You could actually put the computer that you DON'T want connected to the internet on the same router and just block it from internet access via the router firmware…if the firmware supports it.

 

[MacBH928]

I think there is a way in the settings to make the computer join the router but not access the internet. I just don't know how. I think an app like Little Snitch can do it.

It might be possible if you set the network DNS to 0.0.0.0 in network preferences, but I am not sure if that completely blocks the internet.

 

[MacBH928]

• Open System Preferences on your Mac.
• Click Sharing.
  
• Click the checkbox next to File Sharing.
• Click Options…
  
• Click on the checkbox for the user account you'd like to share with another device. You might be asked to enter a password.
• Click Done.

can you do this with iOS devices? Where do I see the computer being shared? I mean in the finder where will it be located

 

[Slartibart]

can you do this with iOS devices? Where do I see the computer being shared? I mean in the finder where will it be located

If you Share on user level you can connect to you Mac - let’s say it is called Magrathea using the name given in the sharing preferences : Magrathea.local

You can now connect from iOS/iPadOS (or Android, Windows, Linux, whatever else is out there and speaks the required protocol) with -if nothing else is available use Apple’s Files app - by using the “connect to server”-command.

For everything else there is Airdrop, Snapdrop.net, AirDisk & Co.