How to Turn On or Off Network Discovery on Windows 10

Network Discovery lets your PC find—and be found by—other devices on your network. When it’s on, you can share files, printers and media with other computers; when it’s off, your PC stays hidden, adding a layer of security on public or untrusted networks. Here’s how to switch Network Discovery on or off in Windows 10.

Why Toggle Network Discovery?

• Security: On public Wi-Fi (cafés, airports), you typically want Discovery off so strangers can’t see your machine.
• Sharing: At home or in a small office, turning Discovery on makes it easy to share files, printers, and media.
• Troubleshooting: Sometimes Discovery gets stuck. Cycling it off and on can fix network-visibility glitches.

Two Ways to Access Network Discovery

1. Settings app (simplified on private networks)
2. Control Panel (full Advanced Sharing Settings)

Method 1: Using the Settings App

Tip: This only appears for networks marked Private. If you’re on a Public network, you’ll need Method 2.

1. Open Settings
   Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Network & Internet
   Click Network & Internet, then select Status in the left pane.
3. Change Connection Properties
   Under your network name, click Change connection properties.
4. Mark Network as Private or Public
   • Private: enables Network Discovery and sharing by default.
   • Public: disables Discovery.
     Select Private to turn Discovery on, or Public to turn it off.
5. Verify Discovery Status
   Back in Settings → Network & Internet → Status, scroll down and click Network and Sharing Center.
   You’ll see “Network discovery” listed under your network. It should say On or Off accordingly.

Method 2: Using Control Panel’s Advanced Sharing Settings

This method works on any network profile (Private, Guest, Public).

1. Open Control Panel
   • Press Win + R, type control, hit Enter.
   • Or press Win, type Control Panel, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to Network and Sharing Center
   Click Network and Internet, then Network and Sharing Center.
3. Open Advanced Sharing Settings
   In the left sidebar, click Change advanced sharing settings.
4. Choose Your Network Profile
   Profiles include Private, Guest or Public, and All Networks.
   Select the profile you want to modify.
5. Toggle Network Discovery
   Under the chosen profile:
   • Turn on network discovery
     • Check Turn on network discovery
     • Also check Turn on automatic setup of network connected devices for easier device sharing.
   • Turn off network discovery
     • Select Turn off network discovery.
6. Save Changes
   Click Save changes at the bottom.

Confirming and Troubleshooting

• Firewall settings: Windows Firewall may block Discovery. In Control Panel → Windows Defender Firewall → Allow an app or feature…, ensure Network Discovery is allowed on your current profile.
• Services check: Discovery relies on services like Function Discovery Resource Publication and SSDP Discovery.
  1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
  2. Find each service, set its Startup type to Automatic, and start it if stopped.
• Reboot: After toggling Discovery or adjusting services, reboot your PC to apply changes.

When to Keep Network Discovery Off

• Public Wi-Fi: Airport, café, hotel networks.
• Untrusted networks: Any environment where you don’t know or trust other users.
• Basic security: Hiding your PC adds one more barrier against network-based attacks.

When to Turn Network Discovery On

• Home network: Share media libraries, printers, and files with family devices.
• Office network: Collaborate on documents, access shared folders.
• Home media: Stream music and videos from one machine to another.

Turning Network Discovery on or off in Windows 10 takes just a few clicks. By understanding which network profile you’re on and using either the Settings app or Control Panel, you can quickly control your PC’s visibility. Keep Discovery off on public networks and on at home or trusted workplaces for smooth file and device sharing—while staying secure.

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!