[Fixed] network discovery is turned off in windows 10

Microsoft has turned off the ability for Windows 10 machines to automatically detect and connect to other computers on your local network. This means that if you are trying to get a computer in your home or business connected with another PC, it will not be able to find them.
If this happens, here is how you can fix it:
1) Open up Group Policy Editor by typing gpedit.msc into the search box of Windows 8/10’s Start menu and hitting Enter 2) Navigate through Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Network 3) In “Network Discovery” select Enabled 4) Click Apply Changes 5) Restart

The “unable to turn on network discovery windows 10” is a problem that has been present for a while. The solution is to turn on the Network Discovery feature in Windows 10.

We’ll teach you how to fix the issue “Network discovery is disabled in Windows 10 or Windows 11” and enable it again in this article.

Many Windows customers have complained that no matter what they attempt to activate the network discovery capability in Windows, an error message stating “network discovery is switched off” appears. The computers and gadgets on the network are not visible. “Please enable Network Discovery in the Network and Sharing Center.”

So, after reading this post, you’ll be able to effortlessly switch Network Discovery on or off on your Windows 10 PC, laptop, or two-in-one device like a Microsoft Surface. 

Network discovery is a function in Windows that is sometimes misunderstood or overlooked, but it is a critical tool that may keep your computer secure from hackers by preventing it from automatically joining public networks that should not be trusted.

In Windows 10, what is Network Discovery?

Network discovery, as the name implies, enables your computer to discover, see, and locate other computers and devices on the network, as well as allowing other computers on the network to view your computer. When network discovery is enabled, it becomes simpler to share network resources amongst the computers you wish to share them with. It does, however, make it simpler for an attacker to locate these assets. 

Follow the steps below to resolve the issue; if one doesn’t work, go on to the next.

Reconfigure your advanced sharing settings (fix #1). 

Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 are affected by this fix.

1. By clicking the Windows key, open the Control Panel on your Windows PC, then search for “Control Panel” and click on it.
2. 
3. After that, look for “Network and Sharing Center” and choose it. 
4. 
5. To repair the “Network discovery is disabled” problem on Windows 10 and 11, go to the left pane and click “Change advanced sharing options.”
6. 
7. Under the “Private” box, make sure “Turn on network discovery” is enabled. Also, choose “Turn on automated configuration of network-connected devices” from the drop-down menu.
8. 
9. Next, enable “Turn on file and printer sharing” under the “File and printer sharing” section.
10. 
11. Under the “Guest or Public” section, enable “Turn on network discovery” and “Turn on file and printer sharing.” On public networks, network discovery is not advised. If you’re using public Wi-Fi, keep it turned on while you’re working and switch it off when you’re done. Click “Save changes” when you’re finished.
12. 
13. Then, under the All networks section, activate the following section:
    1. Allow anybody with network access to view and write files in the Public directories by turning on sharing;
    2. (If you have older network devices on your network, choose “Enable file sharing for devices that employ 40-bit or 56-bit encryption”) (old Windows version, Samba shares, NAS devices)
    3. Password-protected sharing should be turned off (if you trust all the devices in your network)
14. 

1. Restart your computer and see whether the “Network Discovery is switched off” notification is still shown.

In most circumstances, this will solve your issue, but if it does not, go on to the following step.

Fix 2: Make sure these Windows services are turned on.

If Network discovery remains disabled, ensure sure the following services are up and running:

• Publication of a Function Discovery Resource
• Client for DNS
• SSDP Exploration
• Device Host for UPnP
• Connections to the Internet
• Location Awareness in the Network

To enable Publication of a Function Discovery Resource follow the steps carefully:

1. To launch the Run window, using the Windows keyboard shortcut “Win + R.” Enter services.msc into the search box.
2. Now from the services, find “Publication of a Function Discovery Resource” and Double-click on it and change the “Startup type” to “Automatic”. After that click “Apply” and “OK.

1. Next, look for the “Client for DNS” service and make sure it’s set to “Automatic” as well. Also, ensure that the service is running. 
2. 
3. Next, look for the “SSDP Exploration” service and make sure it’s set to “Automatic” as well. Also, ensure that the service is running.
4. 
5. Next, look for the “Device Host for UPnP” service and make sure it’s set to “Automatic” as well. Also, ensure that the service is running. 
6. 
7. Next, look for the “Connections to the Internet” service and make sure it’s set to “Automatic” as well. Also, ensure that the service is running.
8. 
9. Next, look for the “Location Awareness in the Network” service and make sure it’s set to “Automatic” as well. Also, ensure that the service is running.
10. 

You should be able to repair the issue after activating these Windows services, but if it still isn’t fixed, try the following method.

Fix 3: In the firewall settings, enable network discovery.

Follow the instructions below to enable network discovery in Windows Firewall.

1. On your Windows 10 or 11 PC, press the Windows key and type “Windows Firewall.” Now go to the Control Panel and enter the “Windows Defender Firewall” options.
2. Select “Allow an app or feature via Windows Defender Firewall” from the left side.
3. Then, in the top-right corner, select “Change Settings” and seek for “Network Discovery.” Check that the functionality is enabled and that the “Private” and “Public” options are both checked.
4. 
5. Now, click “OK,” and your Windows 10/ 11 PC should no longer have the “Network Discovery is switched off” problem.

If the problem persists, go on to the next step.

Fix 4: Reset the network

If the preceding repair doesn’t work, try resetting the network settings.

1. By hitting “windows + I you may access the settings menu.
2. Then choose Network and Internet from the drop-down menu.
3. After that, click to Network Reset.
4. And then choose “Reset Now” and then “Yes.”

To reset the network settings and firewall rules, execute the following commands:

1. reset.txt netsh int ip reset
2. reset winsock netsh
3. reset advfirewall netsh

Restart your PC after that.

Solution #5: Use the Network Troubleshooter.

Microsoft has included a troubleshooter in Windows 10 to help customers with common issues. If none of the preceding solutions worked for you, you may want to try running the Windows Troubleshooter application.

To use the network troubleshooter, follow these steps.

1. By hitting “windows + I you may access the settings menu.
2. Then click on Update & Security.
3. Click Troubleshoot on the left side, and then Additional Troubleshooters on the right side.
4. Scroll down and choose Network adapter, followed by Run the troubleshooter.
5. The troubleshooter will open in a separate window. Follow the wizard’s instructions and make the modifications that the troubleshooter suggests.
6. After that, run the Shared Folders troubleshooter as described in steps 4 and 5.

The troubleshooter’s discovered errors should now be repaired. If it doesn’t work, go on to the next step.

UPDATE THE NETWORK ADAPTER (Fix #6)

Network difficulties might also be caused by an outdated or corrupt network device. As a result, you need upgrade your network drivers. 

Pro tip: To update all of your missing drivers in one click, use drivereasy (download it here for a 10% discount).

Follow these procedures to manually update your drivers:

1. Press “windows + x” and choose “device manager” from the choices.
2. 
3. Expand the section Network Adapters. Select Update driver from the menu by right-clicking on your network device. (In this part, update all of the drivers)

Fix 7: Turn off your antivirus and firewall.

In certain cases, your antivirus software is to blame for disruptions that cause network discovery to fail. First, make sure it’s up to date. Whether the problem persists, turn it off for a time to see if it’s the source of the problem.

If you’re using a third-party firewall, try deactivating it. Check to see whether the problem has been fixed by restarting your computer.

Hopefully, this will solve your issue; if you have a different solution that works for you, please share it in the comments below so that others may benefit from it.

Last but not least,

In conclusion, this article explains what network discovery is in Windows and how to switch it on or off in Windows 10 or Windows 11.

The preceding remedies should have resolved the issue with your Windows device’s network discovery not turning on. Turn off network discovery as soon as the problem is addressed. Because leaving network sharing turned on might cause your firewall settings to change, putting your computer at danger. As a result, make sure it’s turned off.

Watch This Video-

The “network discovery is turned off in windows 10” is a problem that has been present for a while. This article will help you fix the problem. Reference: what happens when the network discovery is turned off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Windows 10 keep turning off network discovery?

A: Windows 10 has a setting for the amount of time that it spends scanning for networks before giving up and turning off network discovery. This can be found in Network & Sharing Center, under View available networks.

How do I turn network Discovery back on?

A: To turn on network discovery, open the Beat Saber app and tap the cog icon in the top right corner. Tap Network Discovery to re-enable it.

What does it mean when it says network discovery is turned off?

A: This is a message that appears when you try to connect your PSVR headset and the PlayStation 4 system with no cable attached.

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