Use Windows‘ network profile and discovery settings to control whether nearby computers can find your PC for sharing. Enable discovery only on a network whose people and devices you trust. Turning it off does not make the PC invisible to the router or replace normal security protections.
Public and private network profiles
| Profile | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Public | A more restrictive profile for connections where you do not need local discovery and sharing. |
| Private | A trusted network where you may want the PC to be discoverable and use file or printer sharing. |
Microsoft‘s network-profile guide recommends the public profile for most connections. Choose private only after considering who else can access that network. A café, hotel or shared building connection should not be treated as trusted just because it has a password.
Check the active connection in Windows 11
- Open Settings → Network & internet.
- Open the connected Wi-Fi network’s properties or your Ethernet connection.
- Find Network profile type.
- Select the profile appropriate to that specific connection.
In Windows 10, open Settings → Network & Internet, choose the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection and open its properties. Look for the public/private profile setting. A workplace policy can prevent you from changing it.
Enable discovery and sharing when needed
On Windows 11, open Settings → Network & internet → Advanced network settings → Advanced sharing settings. Under the private-network section, review Network discovery and File and printer sharing. Older Windows versions expose similar controls through the Control Panel’s advanced sharing settings.
Microsoft’s file-sharing instructions explain these separate switches. Discovery helps devices find each other; sharing permissions decide which resources another user can open.
Discovery is not permission to read every file
Being discoverable does not automatically share every folder. Check the actual folder’s sharing permissions and the accounts allowed to access it. Keep authentication and appropriate firewall protections in place. Do not enable obsolete protocols or turn off the firewall as a general discovery fix.
Why does another PC still not appear?
- Check that both devices are awake and on the intended local network.
- A guest Wi-Fi network may deliberately isolate devices.
- Review the active profile and sharing settings on the relevant devices.
- Check access permissions and the exact computer or share name.
- Ask the network administrator about policies on a managed connection.
If the PC is joining an old or unintended wireless network, our guide to forgetting a saved Wi-Fi network explains how to remove that saved connection. Do not confuse a normal router restart with resetting its complete configuration.
Frequently asked questions
Does turning network discovery off hide me from the router?
No. It changes local discovery behavior. The router and network infrastructure can still know that your device is connected.
Does a private profile automatically share all my files?
No. Folder sharing and access permissions are separate settings and should be checked explicitly.
Why can devices on guest Wi-Fi not find each other?
Guest networks can isolate connected devices by design. Ask the network owner rather than trying to bypass that restriction.
Should I disable the firewall if discovery fails?
Do not use that as a general fix. Check the profile, sharing configuration and applicable network rules instead.