If you don't see your computer on a home network

prukeyhi · 2026-10-29T15:06:55-0400

On a home network (workgroup) with Windows 7. Here is the situation:
0- The network is functioning well on both sides.
1- In the Windows 7 network window, you can see the Windows 7 computer and also the Windows 11 computer.
2- In the Windows 11 network window, you can see the Windows 7 computer but not the Windows 11 computer.
I tried several solutions, including changes to Services.msc and the firewall, but nothing helped until we came up with a solution using Gemini that includes creating a BAT with a shortcut to the desktop (maybe it is also possible to make a shortcut to START when the computer starts).
What the command does is initialize/refresh the Network Discovery rule group in the firewall and causes the Windows 11 computer to appear in the Network window in Windows 11.
Here is the command:

netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="Network Discovery" new enable=No
netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="Network Discovery" new enable=Yes

pseymour · 2026-10-29T15:46:21-0400

Not trying to pee in your Cheerios or anything, neat trick, etc., but just in general... I've never understood why people need to see the computer they're on in the network section of Explorer. You're on the computer already.

prukeyhi · 2026-10-29T15:55:53-0400

For example, to transfer files from computer to computer in the same window, have you thought about that?

idgat · 2026-10-29T16:10:25-0400

prukeyhi said:
For example, to transfer files from computer to computer in the same window, have you thought about that?

But you appear to be talking about not seeing the (same) computer you're already on, on the network. That's not computer to computer?

I would agree with above, why should you want to see the home/base/same computer on the computer being used. Sufficient to be able to identify other computers on the network anyway

I suspect that's why it doesn't show up and that Windows 11 networking has removed that redundancy, and it's an unnecessary anachronism in the Windows 7 networking

EDIT
In any case, networking between versions of Windows is a nightmare, as many posts in many forums demonstrate. Why knows why? That's why a lot of users resort to cloud-based sharing.

pseymour · 2026-10-29T16:26:01-0400

prukeyhi said:
For example, to transfer files from computer to computer in the same window, have you thought about that?

I've not only thought about it, I've actually transferred files from one computer to another at least twice in my lifetime, maybe more. If I'm on computer A, I grab the files from a folder on computer A, and copy them to a share on computer B. I have no idea why I would go through the share on computer A, if the folder is even shared, and send them to a share on B.

prukeyhi · 2026-10-29T16:29:07-0400

At the time, I managed to create a network with 98SE and Vista just for the challenge and fun.

Try3 · 2026-10-29T16:52:16-0400

prukeyhi said:
I tried several solutions

We all have to try solutions or workarounds. This fault has existed for eight years and there's no sign of MS ever doing anything about it.

prukeyhi said:
a shortcut to the desktop

Using shortcuts as an alternative to File manager's Network section is fairly common. It's what I've been doing for years.
On each network computer, I have shortcuts to the shared folders of all other network computers & several specific folders within them. It's easy for me to organise the shortcuts because I use Taskbar Toolbars:-
My ExplorerPatcher guide to Windows 11 Taskbar Toolbars [post #2225] - ElevenForum

prukeyhi said:
initialize/refresh the Network Discovery

I've seen reports of people trying that fix but finding that it does not work for long.
What I've also seen reports of people trying [and, so far, I have not seen any adverse reports about it] is
File manager network section FDResPub solution - glasskuter #3 - ElevenForum
so I suggest you try that if shortcuts do not appeal to you.

Best of luck,
Denis

Banjoman301 · 2026-10-29T16:58:35-0400

prukeyhi said:
In the Windows 11 network window, you can see the Windows 7 computer but not the Windows 11 computer.

Been an issue for several years...

Experimenting, I can get it to display for a short period of time by running ipconfig /release and then ipconfig /renew.

Disconnecting and reconnecting the ethernet cable on the system will also get it to display (for a short period of time).

I came up with a fix when we were on Windows 7 and Windows 10, but it no longer works in Windows 11.

For me, it's not an issue...other computers on the LAN can see it, and access based on their permissions.

Bree · 2026-10-29T17:23:56-0400

idgat said:
why should you want to see the home/base/same computer on the computer being used. Sufficient to be able to identify other computers on the network anyway

I suspect that's why it doesn't show up and that Windows 11 networking has removed that redundancy, and it's an unnecessary anachronism in the Windows 7 networking

It's not just Windows 7 that can see itself on the network, every version of Windows EXCEPT Windows 11 can see itself. Demonstration attached.

Try3 · 2026-10-29T17:29:39-0400

Bree said:
every version of Windows EXCEPT Windows 11 can see itself

When Windows 11's File explorer-related components are behaving themselves, each Windows 11 network computer also lists itself in the File explorer Network section just as earlier Windows versions did.
I have just double-checked this and it remains true in 26H2.

All the best,
Denis

MisterEd · 2026-10-29T17:37:37-0400

You don't have to care whether a computer shows up in File Explorer > Network if you use a shortcut to each network computer.

On all my Computers I have a folder on the desktop called "My Network".

In that folder I have shortcuts to all the computers on my network. That even includes the computer the folder is on.
For example the shortcut for computer DarkMatter is \\DarkMatter.

Once I created the folder on one computer I didn't need to recreate it on each computer. All I had to do was copy the original folder onto the desktop of all the other computers.

I use this method on all my computers including those with Windows 7, 10 and 11. It even worked when I had computers with Windows XP.

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