Enable or disable network discovery on Windows 10/8/7



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Network Discovery in the Windows operating system is a network setting that allows you to determine if other computers on the network can see your computer or if your computer can find other computers and devices on the network. When Network Discovery is enabled, sharing files and printers on a network becomes easier.

If you remember that the first time you connected to a network on your Windows PC, you would have been asked if it was a private, public or domain network.

Enable or disable network discovery

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If you are using a standalone PC, you can disable network discovery because you do not need it. You can disable network discovery from Windows 10 settings or from the Windows Control Panel or Windows 10/8/7 Control Panel prompt. Let’s see how it goes.

About Windows Settings

Click the Start button and open Settings and select Network and Internet, then Dial (or Ethernet).

Select the network, then click Advanced Options. Turn the cursor to the Off position for the Make this PC discoverable setting.

To reactivate it, simply slide the cursor to the On position.

The same applies to WiFi networks. Open Settings > Network and Internet > Wi-Fi > Manage Known Networks > Select a Wi-Fi network > Properties > Disable Cursor.

For an Ethernet connection, you must click the adapter and then switch the switch to make this PC recognizable.

Using the Control Panel

In the WinX menu, open Control Panel > Network and Share Center > Advanced Share Settings.

Deselect the Network Discovery box for private and public/guest profiles.

Save and exit changes.

Using CMD

To disable Network Discovery, execute the following command at an increased command prompt :

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

To enable Network Discovery, execute the following command at a high command prompt:

netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group='Network Discovery' new enable=Yes

This way you can enable or disable Network Discovery.

If you cannot enable network discovery, you must run services.msc to open Services Manager and verify that the following services are started and set to Automatic.

  1. DNS client
  2. discovery resource release
  3. SSDP discovery
  4. SSDP discovery
  5. UPnP device host

Let’s hope this helps.



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