Solved How can I change a public network to private in Windows 11?


hsehestedt

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I have Win 11 setup on a laptop. I'm doing some experiments with a WiFi extender but when I connect to the WiFi connection presented by that device Windows sees it as a public network. Any idea how to change this to Private in Win 11? In Windows 10 I found this so easy to find, but for the life of me I cannot find it in Win 11.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7-11700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS Prime Z590-A
    Memory
    128GB Crucial Ballistix 3200MHz DRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    No GPU - CPU graphics only (for now)
    Sound Card
    Realtek (on motherboard)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP Envy 32
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    1 x 1TB NVMe Gen 4 x 4 SSD
    1 x 2TB NVMe Gen 3 x 4 SSD
    2 x 512GB 2.5" SSDs
    2 x 8TB HD
    PSU
    Corsair HX850i
    Case
    Corsair iCue 5000X RGB
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black cooler + 10 case fans
    Keyboard
    CODE backlit mechanical keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1Gb Up / 1 Gb Down
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Additional options installed:
    WiFi 6E PCIe adapter
    ASUS ThunderboltEX 4 PCIe adapter
  • Operating System
    Win11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 2
    CPU
    Intel i7-1255U
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek® ALC3306-CG codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.3-inch IPS Display
    Screen Resolution
    WQXGA (2560 x 1600)
    Hard Drives
    2 TB 4 x 4 NVMe SSD
    PSU
    USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 Power / Charging
    Mouse
    Buttonless Glass Precision Touchpad
    Keyboard
    Backlit, spill resistant keyboard
    Internet Speed
    1Gb Up / 1Gb Down
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    WiFi 6e / Bluetooth 5.1 / Facial Recognition / Fingerprint Sensor / ToF (Time of Flight) Human Presence Sensor
Press Start and type wifi, then SSID properties. That will then show Public or Private.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP / Spectre x360 Convertible 13
    CPU
    i5-8250U
    Motherboard
    83B9 56.50
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel(R) UHD Graphics 620
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio(SST)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 256GB SSD
    Internet Speed
    500Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Nope, not working for me. What's odd is that for Ethernet I get the option to switch between public and private, but not WiFi.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7-11700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS Prime Z590-A
    Memory
    128GB Crucial Ballistix 3200MHz DRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    No GPU - CPU graphics only (for now)
    Sound Card
    Realtek (on motherboard)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP Envy 32
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    1 x 1TB NVMe Gen 4 x 4 SSD
    1 x 2TB NVMe Gen 3 x 4 SSD
    2 x 512GB 2.5" SSDs
    2 x 8TB HD
    PSU
    Corsair HX850i
    Case
    Corsair iCue 5000X RGB
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black cooler + 10 case fans
    Keyboard
    CODE backlit mechanical keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1Gb Up / 1 Gb Down
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Additional options installed:
    WiFi 6E PCIe adapter
    ASUS ThunderboltEX 4 PCIe adapter
  • Operating System
    Win11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 2
    CPU
    Intel i7-1255U
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek® ALC3306-CG codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.3-inch IPS Display
    Screen Resolution
    WQXGA (2560 x 1600)
    Hard Drives
    2 TB 4 x 4 NVMe SSD
    PSU
    USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 Power / Charging
    Mouse
    Buttonless Glass Precision Touchpad
    Keyboard
    Backlit, spill resistant keyboard
    Internet Speed
    1Gb Up / 1Gb Down
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    WiFi 6e / Bluetooth 5.1 / Facial Recognition / Fingerprint Sensor / ToF (Time of Flight) Human Presence Sensor

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP EliteBook 840 G4
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-7600U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated
    Sound Card
    Integrated
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    SSD
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0 enabled
    "Your PC does not meet the minimum hardware requirements recommended for windows 11, and there may be issues and bugs that impact your experience."
Nope, not working for me. What's odd is that for Ethernet I get the option to switch between public and private, but not WiFi.
To change your connection from either public or private, the WiFi has to be enabled as main connection. Then you will have the choice for either private or public.
1630203460593.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i9-12900K Desktop Processor 16 (8P+8E)
    Motherboard
    Asus TUF Gaming Z790-PLUS WIFI D4
    Memory
    G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 32gb (2x16gb) DDR4 3200mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus Dual Geforce Rtx™ 3060 TI Edition 8gb Gddr6
    Monitor(s) Displays
    BenQ EW3270U 31.5” 3840x2160 UHD 16:9 HDR LED 4K LG 27UK850-W 27'' 4K UHD IPS LED Monitor with HDR10
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 990 with heatsink PRO PCIe 4.0 Gen 4 NVMe® SSD 1TB
    WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe M.2 2280 1TB PCI-Express 4.0
    Crucial T500 2TB Gen4
    Samsung 970 Evo M.2 2280 2tb Pcie Gen3. X4
    PSU
    Corsair AXi Series AX860i Digital 860W 80 PLUS PSU
    Case
    Fractal Meshify C ATX Mid Tower Case
    Keyboard
    Logi MX Keys
    Mouse
    Logi M705
    Internet Speed
    400 mbs
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32
    Other Info
    Love fast boots
For WiFi and Ethernet, it is quite easy, how to do it for other networks like VPNs ?
Thanks and regards
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Assembled
    CPU
    Intel i7-7700k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Z270 Taichi
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel 630 onboard
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    1920*1080
    Hard Drives
    NVMe, SSD and HDD
    Case
    Cooler Master
    Keyboard
    Asus wireless
    Mouse
    Asus Wireless
    Internet Speed
    75 Mbps
    Browser
    Chrome, Edge, Arc
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Nope, not working for me. What's odd is that for Ethernet I get the option to switch between public and private, but not WiFi.
The old media sharing trick still works in WIndows 11, when WiFi in settings is missing the option to switch from public to private network.

1.) Open Network and Sharing Centre, and select Change advanced sharing settings:

Private WiFi 1.jpg

2.) Select All networks, click Choose media streaming options:

Private WiFi 2.jpg

3.) Click Turn on media streaming:

Private WiFi 3.jpg

4.) Click OK:

Private WiFi 4.jpg

The public WiFi network has now been switched to private.

Kari
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 PRO x64 Dev
    Manufacturer/Model
    Hyper-V Virtual Machine (host in System 2 specs)
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-8550U
    Memory
    6 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Microsoft Hyper-V Video
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop display (17.1") & Samsung U28E590 (27.7")
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 PRO x64 Dev Channel
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP HP ProBook 470 G5
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-8550U
    Motherboard
    HP 837F KBC Version 02.3D.00
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel(R) UHD Graphics 620 & NVIDIA GeForce 930MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop display (17.1") & Samsung U28E590 (27.7")
    Hard Drives
    128 GB SSD & 1 TB HDD
    Mouse
    Wireless Logitech MSX mouse
    Keyboard
    Wireless Logitech MK710 keyboard
    Internet Speed
    100 Mbps down, 20 Mbps up
    Browser
    Edge Chromium Dev Channel
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    2 * 3 TB USB HDD
    6 TB WD Mirror NAS
The problem turned out to be some oddity with the network device to which I was connected. I was using a network bridge to connect me to a WiFi network using a physical Ethernet connection from my computer.

Why not just use a USB WiFi adapter, you might ask?

The whole idea was to be able to perform Wake-On-LAN which only works over Ethernet, and not WiFi. However, by using a bride to bridge your WiFi adapter to the WiFi network, it actually works.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7-11700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS Prime Z590-A
    Memory
    128GB Crucial Ballistix 3200MHz DRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    No GPU - CPU graphics only (for now)
    Sound Card
    Realtek (on motherboard)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP Envy 32
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    1 x 1TB NVMe Gen 4 x 4 SSD
    1 x 2TB NVMe Gen 3 x 4 SSD
    2 x 512GB 2.5" SSDs
    2 x 8TB HD
    PSU
    Corsair HX850i
    Case
    Corsair iCue 5000X RGB
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black cooler + 10 case fans
    Keyboard
    CODE backlit mechanical keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1Gb Up / 1 Gb Down
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Additional options installed:
    WiFi 6E PCIe adapter
    ASUS ThunderboltEX 4 PCIe adapter
  • Operating System
    Win11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 2
    CPU
    Intel i7-1255U
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek® ALC3306-CG codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.3-inch IPS Display
    Screen Resolution
    WQXGA (2560 x 1600)
    Hard Drives
    2 TB 4 x 4 NVMe SSD
    PSU
    USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 Power / Charging
    Mouse
    Buttonless Glass Precision Touchpad
    Keyboard
    Backlit, spill resistant keyboard
    Internet Speed
    1Gb Up / 1Gb Down
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    WiFi 6e / Bluetooth 5.1 / Facial Recognition / Fingerprint Sensor / ToF (Time of Flight) Human Presence Sensor

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