The short answer
For a few gigabytes, Wi-Fi is fine. For large photo and video libraries, a network (Ethernet) cable is usually much faster and more stable, because it isn't affected by walls, distance or other devices on the network.
When Wi-Fi is enough
- You're moving mostly documents — a few gigabytes in total.
- Both computers are in the same room as the router.
- You don't mind leaving the transfer running while you do something else.
When to use a cable
Connect both computers to your router with network cables, or connect them to each other directly. Most modern computers handle a direct cable connection automatically.
- You're moving hundreds of gigabytes of photos or video.
- Your Wi-Fi is slow or drops out.
- The computers are far from the router.
Why guest and office Wi-Fi often fails
Many guest, hotel, café and office networks use “client isolation”: every device can reach the internet, but devices can't see each other. That's a security feature — and it's also why two computers on the same guest Wi-Fi often can't find each other.
If that happens, use your home network, a phone hotspot that allows device-to-device connections, or a cable.
Tip
OthTech Switch is designed to explain this in plain words if it can't find your other computer, instead of just failing.