Merging Network Locations

So it seems yet again Microsoft changed the merge networks feature (Which IMHO is still necessary) and as far as I can tell has been removed in M3. Going to Network & Sharing Centre, it lists networks, whereas there is no icon nor a link to merge locations. It's mostly a visual issue, however also partly operational as many networks are virtual devices in my case (OpenVPN/SixXS/Gogo6/VirtualBox/VMware) and it's rather annoying they're separate.

I'm still searching for the See Full Map.

By your reply, it is taken that as far as users are concerned, features were indeed removed. I speak for the visual annoyance that is multiple interfaces namely, but the network map itself; personally was not in fact the reason I decided to start this thread. However, it is probably respectable that we both provide feedback via Microsoft Connect, etc. to make aware our dissatisfied stance.

I also would like to voice my complaints that network management with regards to firewall configuration is yet again just as gimped as it was in 7. Vista exposed some features that advanced users could use, but so as of yet it is not taken advantage of through conventional interfaces. It's not as of so the interface should be dumbed down, but it is serious converse to the addition of such feature that we cannot through at least a few clicks apply a reasonable set of parameters on new interfaces.

Sorry to revive a 4 year old thread, but there's very little info out there on this issue so I figured I'd update it here in case anyone searches. MS did remove the GUI to merge/rename/delete networks in 8 and it's not back in 10 so I figured it was time to track it down.

Can't help on the network map, but managing network locations can still be done via the registry. Standard disclaimers apply.

"ProfileName"="<network name you see in Network and Sharing Center>"

Or delete the entire key to remove that network profile (equiv of the old "Delete" button)

Merging is slightly more complicated but still quite do-able. First, get the GUID of the Profile you want to merge TO above, then look at the network signatures in

Each of the network signatures will have a value called ProfileGuid, paste the GUID that you found above into ProfileGuid for each signature that you want to merge into the Profile above. There are some descriptive fields that might help you figure out which is which, such as MAC of your router, Description (which appears to be the name of the network but is not updated if you change that in the above Profiles key), etc.

What do you mean by merge in this case? I don't understand.

In my case it was to turn the "before" view of Network and Sharing Center:



To this:


It's just cosmetic I guess, but when you've got VMware creating 15 software NICs stuff gets complicated quickly.

I do miss the merge option also for what it's worth. Probably not much as far as MS is concerned.

I'll have to look at my 8.1 system at home tonight. I have Ethernet and Wireless and run Oracle VirtualBox. Curious to see what it looks like. I've been there hundreds of times but never noticed and duplication like you show. I don't have onboard and PCI-E NIC though, just onboard NIC and wireless.