To turn on Network Discovery on a Windows PC, you can follow these methods depending on your Windows version and preference:
Using Control Panel (Windows 10/11)
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
- Click on Change advanced sharing settings on the left.
- Expand the network profile currently in use (Private or Public).
- Under Network discovery , select Turn on network discovery.
- Also, check Turn on automatic setup of network connected devices if available.
- Click Save changes to apply
Using Windows Settings (Windows 11/10)
- Open Settings (press Windows + i).
- Go to Network & Internet.
- Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
- Click on Properties.
- Under Network profile type , choose Private Network (this automatically enables Network Discovery).
- To disable, select Public Network instead
Using Command Prompt (Admin)
-
Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
-
Run the command to enable Network Discovery firewall rules:
netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="Network Discovery" new enable=Yes
-
To disable, run:
netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="Network Discovery" new enable=No
This method enables the necessary firewall rules for Network Discovery
Using PowerShell (Admin)
-
Open PowerShell as Administrator.
-
Enable Network Discovery with:
Set-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup "Network Discovery" -Enabled True
-
To disable, run:
Set-NetFirewallRule -DisplayGroup "Network Discovery" -Enabled False
This is an alternative command-line method
. Important: Ensure your network profile is set to Private or Home, as Network Discovery does not work on Public networks for security reasons
. Following these steps will enable your PC to see other devices on the network and be visible to them, facilitating sharing and connectivity.