Network and Internet Turn On or Off Network Discovery in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off network discovery for private and public networks on your Windows 11 PC.

Network Discovery is a network setting that affects whether your computer can see (find) other computers and devices on the same network and whether other computers and devices on the same network can see your computer.

When network discovery is turned on, the device sends out signals over the network to search for other discoverable devices. This makes it convenient for you to share network resources among the devices connected to the network.

There are three network discovery states:


Windows creates a separate network profile for each network you use. You can turn on or off network discovery separately for each Private and Public network profile type.

Reference:

You must be signed in as an administrator to turn on or off network discovery.

If you can't turn on Network Discovery, check to make sure the services below are enabled, set to automatic (startup type), and running (status).

DNS Client
Function Discovery Provider Host
Function Discovery Resource Publication
SSDP Discovery
UPnP Device Host

EXAMPLE: Computer with network discovery turned on showing up in File Explorer > Network

This option is only available starting with Windows 11 version 22H2 KB5030310 Build 22621.2361.

1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on Network & internet on the left side, and click/tap on Advanced network settings on the right side. (see screenshot below)


3 Click/tap on Advanced sharing settings on the right side. (see screenshot below)



4 Click/tap on Private networks and/or Public networks to expand open. (see screenshot below step 5)

5 Turn On or Off Network discovery for what you want for private and public networks.

Network discovery is turned off by default for public networks.

Network discovery is turned on by default for private networks. You can also check (default) or uncheck Set up network connected devices automatically for private networks.

6 You can now close Settings if you like.

This option is no longer available starting with Windows 11 build 22509.1011.

1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Network and Sharing Center icon.

2 Click/tap on the Change advanced sharing settings link on the left side in Network and Sharing Center. (see screenshot below)


3 Expand open the Private or Guest or Public network profile you want to turn on or off network discovery for. (see screenshots below)

4 Select (dot) Turn on network discovery or Turn off network discovery for what you want, and click/tap on Save changes.

Network discovery is turned off by default for public networks.

Network discovery is turned on by default for private networks. You can also check (default) or uncheck Turn on automatic setup of network connected devices for private networks.

5 You can now close the Control Panel if you like.








1 Open Windows Terminal (Admin), and select either Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.

2 Copy and paste the command below you want to use into Windows Terminal (Admin), and press Enter. (see screenshots below)





3 You can now close Windows Terminal (Admin) if you like.








1 Open Windows Terminal (Admin), and select Windows PowerShell.

2 Do step 3 (on) or step 4 (off) below for what you want.



A) Copy and paste the command below you want to use into the elevated PowerShell, press Enter, and go to step 5 below.










A) Copy and paste the command below into the elevated PowerShell, press Enter, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)








5 You can now close the elevated PowerShell if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink