Having access to all your important media files on every device you own can make life much easier. You can use multiple methods to achieve that, but some are more complicated than others.

Home Sharing, Mac's native remote sharing method, is a simple and quick way to share files with other computers on your Wi-Fi network.

Here, we'll quickly go over what Home Sharing is and how you can use it to transfer your media files seamlessly to other Mac and Windows computers.

What Is Home Sharing?

Home Sharing is Apple's native solution for sharing media files across computers connected to the same Wi-Fi network. It was introduced in 2009 and has since undergone many changes.

It was originally a part of iTunes, but since the discontinuation of iTunes with macOS Catalina, Home Sharing was quietly tucked away in the System Preferences (now System Settings) panel.

With Home Sharing, you can easily share music, films, and TV shows to other devices you own without using AirPlay.

Here are some of the prerequisites you need to keep in mind before using the feature:

  • Your Apple devices must be updated. If you're sending files to a PC, it should have the latest version of iTunes installed.
  • All your devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
  • Your devices must be using the same Apple ID.

Sharing Media Files via Home Sharing

As mentioned above, you can use Home Sharing on your Mac to share media files with another Mac or PC. On a Mac, the process is as simple as clicking a few buttons.

On PC, you have to download iTunes for Windows and sign in with your Apple ID. Let's break down the steps required for each method:

Using Home Sharing to Share Files With Another Mac

Once you've met all the requirements, follow these steps on your Mac:

  1. Click on the Apple logo in the menu bar and go to System Settings > General > Sharing.
  2. Enable the toggle next to Media Sharing.
    Turning on Media Sharing on a MacBook Pro
  3. Click on the Info button and check the Home Sharing box.
    Turning On Home Sharing
  4. You can also share your media files with others by clicking on the box next to Share media with guests. Note that they have to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network as you are for it to work.
    Sharing Media With Guests on a MacBook Pro

You'll now be able to see your media libraries on your other Macs connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Using Home Sharing to Share Files With a PC

Once you've installed the latest version of iTunes for Windows, follow the steps below to enable Home Sharing on Windows PCs:

  1. Open iTunes for Windows and log in with the same Apple ID you use on your Mac.
  2. Click on File in the menu bar and select Home Sharing > Turn On Home Sharing.
    Enabling Home Sharing on a Windows PC

Your shared libraries will now appear on your PC.

Is Home Sharing Different From Family Sharing?

Family Sharing allows family members to sync their Apple subscriptions without using the same Apple ID or being on the same Wi-Fi network. It's a great way to share Apple Music with family.

As indicated by the name, it's meant to be used by families. Parents can create a new Apple ID for their children and take control of their purchases. You can even use Family Sharing to monitor your child's iPhone.

Home Sharing, on the other hand, is a local network feature that lets you share media files (music, movies, and TV shows) with other Macs or PCs connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Note that Home Sharing isn't the only way to share files with other Mac users. You can also share files and folders using iCloud.

Share Your Media Library With Home Sharing

Apple's native Home Sharing feature is convenient for sharing your media files with other Macs and even Windows PCs without using AirPlay or physically transferring them.

It's a bit different from Family Sharing in that it's only for media files, and you must be on the same Wi-Fi network and Apple ID. With Home Sharing, you can access your entire media library across all your devices within seconds.