How to Network Ubuntu and Windows 10?

Network Ubuntu and Windows 10 at your home and use them side by side. Both can comply with the standard user’s needs. I like to work with Linux and Windows at the same time and maybe you are.  The popularity of Windows is more than Linux among home users operating systems. But nowadays the Linux desktops are also get popularized for end users. Especially my favourite Linux Ubuntu Desktop.

In this article, I’m going to simply create and network Ubuntu and Windows 10. However, we wrote about how to share files between Ubuntu and Windows 10. So get ready to create a network using Windows 10 and Ubuntu desktop.

For Linux users, who don’t know the Windows 10 installation, read the bellow article, as well as Windows users that have problem with Ubuntu installation on their system.

To dual boot two operating systems, read the install dual boot Linux and Windows article.

Network Ubuntu and Windows 10

Before sharing files and printer between Windows and Ubuntu, you must configure the IP address and permission on Windows and Ubuntu.

Ubuntu Network Configuration

Let’s configure Ubuntu IP address and hostname to connect and reachable through Windows 10.

1. Login to your Ubuntu system. On the desktop click the Gear button to open System Settings.

Ubuntu System Settings

2. On the System Settings page select Network under Hardware.

Get IP address from DHCP

The network card has assigned an IP address by DHCP server from Wireless router. If there is not any DHCP server on the network, click Options to assign an IP address manually.

Note: To assign an IP address manually, click Options on network page to open Editing Wired connection window. Now select IPv4 Settings tab and select Manual under Method then click Add button then type the IP address, Netmask and Gateway and click Save to apply the changes.

Assign Manual IP Address for Ubuntu To Network Ubuntu and Windows 10

3. Close the pages and run the Terminal to check the IP configuration and hostname. On the Terminal type “hostname” to display system name and type “ifconfig” to display network configuration.

Ubuntu IP address and Hostname

Everything is good. Now try to configure Windows 10 network.

Windows 10 Network Configuration

Do the same settings for Windows 10 also. Set IP address, check hostname and enable network discovery.

1. On Windows 10 press Windows+R to open run. Now type “ncpa.cpl” to open Network Connections. On the network connections right-click the Ethernet and select Properties.

Configure Windows 10 Network

2. On the Ethernet Properties page, set the IP address manually like the below screenshot if you don’t have a DHCP server. So the Wireless router assigns an IP address for my systems.

Windows 10 Network Configuration

3. Open a command prompt to check the Windows 10 IP address and hostname. On the CMD type “hostname” and “ipconfig” to display the IP address and computer name.

Windows 10 IP Configuration

4. Open Network and Sharing Center from Control Panel. Select Change Advanced sharing settings from the left side of the network and sharing centre.

5. On Advanced sharing settings, expand All Networks and turn on public file sharing and disable password protection option then click Save Changes.

Windows 10 Change Advanced Sharing Settings

6. Finally, close the window and test the connectivity by pinging to the Ubuntu system.

Ping Command

Yes, then ping reply successfully. Now the Ubuntu and Windows 10 are connected on the same network. You can share files and printer between these two systems.


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Comments (11)
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  • Bill Maxwell

    Am attempting to network Windows 10 with Zorin.
    Have installed SAMBA on Zorin and set it up to share the \home\documents folder.
    I can Ping between the two systems ok but when I select network on windows 10 File Manager the other PC is not listed. When I RUN \\192.168.20.3\documents I get an error notice. Network not found.
    I have the latest version of Windows 10 – Creators Update 1703 – build 15063.447.
    I have viewed and followed several different instructions I have found on your web site to no avail.

  • Vladimir

    Why did you manually setup one ip for windows and linux machine? This configuration will never works.

    • Shams

      Manual IP configuration is when you connect per-to-per. But when you have DHCP that clients gets IP address automatically, you don’t need to set IP addresses manually.

  • Rocket

    DId this as described, all is well and can ping both computers, (using automatic DHCP) however the windows machine does not list the linux machine in the network. However the windows machine does show the printer, scanner, chromecast, router, and itself, just no linux machine.

    • Shais

      To list the Linux machine name on Windows network, just change the workgroup name of Samba to Windows workgroup name. When the Linux locate on the same workgroup, then Windows can display the Linux name on the network.

      Just let us know if you can’t solve the issue.

      Regards,

  • Vlad Frolov

    Any other suggestions? I see the win10 machine in “other locations” however on the 2click Ubuntu system says “unable to connect”

    • Shais

      This is the simplest way to network Linux with Windows system.

  • Rick

    I don’t have a gear icon on my ubuntu. What now?

  • Ted

    I have never had much success in neworking either Linux Mint or Ubuntu to a Windows 10 Enterprise network. Got it running once at the country house, but then a few days later it would not work anymore. And when I had it running it would take 20 seconds to open a folder on the Windows machine. I am starting to wonder who in his right mind would ever want to use Linux to network to a Windows LAN and waste hours trying.

  • Scott

    well I tried! I followed your steps to the letter. My windows 10 PC will list the Ubuntu 18.04 PC and the Ubuntu 18.04 lists the windows 10 PC. Neither will allow the other to connect. All are on the same workgroup. I can ping the Ubuntu PC with zero packet lose. When I run ping from the Ubuntu PC it just keeps pinging over and over again until I close the terminal. I am not sure if that is normal for Ubuntu or not.

    • Shais

      Make sure you have NTFS permission of Windows shared folders.