How to Turn Network Discovery On or Off in Windows 8 and 8.1
InformationNetwork discovery is a setting that affects whether your computer can see (find) other computers and devices on the network and whether other computers on the network can see your computer. It's one of several settings that are turned on when you turn on network sharing to have a private network location.
This tutorial will show you how to turn network discovery on or off in the sharing options for private and public network profiles in Windows 8.
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.
This tutorial will show you how to turn network discovery on or off in the sharing options for private and public network profiles in Windows 8.
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.
NoteYou can turn network discovery on or off independently of network sharing, but it is not recommended.
Here's why. If you're connected to a network in a public location and you decide to turn on network discovery but leave network sharing turned off (set to public network), the network discovery setting will be on for every public network you connect to from then on. This would not be safe. That's why it is recommend to use the network sharing setting following the How to Set Network Location to be Public or Private in Windows 8 tutorial.
Here's why. If you're connected to a network in a public location and you decide to turn on network discovery but leave network sharing turned off (set to public network), the network discovery setting will be on for every public network you connect to from then on. This would not be safe. That's why it is recommend to use the network sharing setting following the How to Set Network Location to be Public or Private in Windows 8 tutorial.
OPTION ONE
Turn Network Discovery On or Off in Network and Sharing Center
1. Do step 2 or 3 below for how you would like to open the Network and Sharing Center.
2. On the desktop, right click on the Network system icon in the taskbar notification area, click/tap on Open Network and Sharing Center, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)
OR
3. Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on the Network and Sharing Center icon, and go to step 4 below.
4. In the left pane of Network and Sharing Center, click/tap on the Change advanced sharing settings link. (see screenshot below)
5. Click/tap on the 
button to the right of the network profile (private or public) that you want to expand and turn network discovery on or off for, then do step 6 or 7 below. (see screenshot below)
button to the right of the network profile (private or public) that you want to expand and turn network discovery on or off for, then do step 6 or 7 below. (see screenshot below)NOTE: Normally this would be for the network profile marked as your current profile.
6. To Turn On Network Discovery for Private or Public Network Profiles
NOTE: This is the default setting for private network profiles.
A) Click/tap on (dot) Turn on network discovery. (see screenshots below step 5)
B) If this is for Private network profiles, then you could also click/tap on (check) Turn on automatic setup of network connected devices. (see screenshots below step 5)
C) Go to step 8 below.
7. To Turn Off Network Discovery for Private or Public Network Profiles
NOTE: This is the default setting for public network profiles.
A) Click/tap on (dot) Turn off network discovery, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshots below step 5)
8. Click/tap on Save changes. (see screenshots below step 5)
9. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.
10. You can now close the Network and Sharing Center window if you like. (see screenshot below step 4)
OPTION TWO
Turn Network Discovery On or Off in Command Prompt
1. Open an elevated command prompt.
2. Do step 3 or 4 below for what you would like to do.
3. To Turn On Network Discovery for Private and Public Network Profiles
NOTE: This is the default setting for private network profiles.
A) In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below, press Enter, and go to step 5 below.
netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="Network Discovery" new enable=Yes
4. To Turn Off Network Discovery for Private and Public Network Profiles
NOTE: This is the default setting for public network profiles.
A) In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below, press Enter, and go to step 5 below.
netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="Network Discovery" new enable=No
5. When finished, you can close the elevated command prompt.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Connect To or Disconnect from a Wireless Network in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Set Network Location to be Public or Private in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Turn "File and Printer Sharing" On or Off for Networks in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Turn "Password Protected Sharing" On or Off in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Turn "Public Folder Sharing" On or Off for Networks in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Change File Sharing Connections Encryption Settings in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to "Share with" and "Stop Sharing" Files and Folders on a Network or Shared PC in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Change Network Connection Priority in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
- How to Change Connection Priority of Wireless Networks in Windows 8 and 8.1
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