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Cannot see any computers in network, windows 11

Anonymous
2023-05-30T02:25:30+00:00

Hello

I cannot see any computers or other shared items under Network in Windows 11, even the laptop I am on right now.

I have checked all the settings are proper.

Please help.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Internet and connectivity

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  1. Sumit D - IA 167K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2023-05-30T02:57:23+00:00

    Hi Tasneem,

    I'm Sumit, here to answer your query at the Microsoft Community.

    This problem usually occurs when one of the services is not working properly.

    Via

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/fil...

    Turn on network discovery and file and printer sharing, and turn off password protected sharing.

    Select the Start button, then select Settings > Network & internet , and on the right side, select Sharing options.

    Under Private, select Turn on Network discovery and Turn on file and printer sharing.

    Under All Networks, select Turn off password protected sharing.

    Make sharing services start automatically.

    Press the Windows logo key + R.

    In the Run dialog box, type services.msc, and then select OK.

    Right-click each of the following services, select Properties, if they're not running, select Start, and next to Startup type, select Automatic:

    Function Discovery Provider Host

    Function Discovery Resource Publication

    SSDP Discovery

    UPnP Device Host

    Hope that helps, and rely on us for any further inquiries. All the best.

    30+ people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2023-08-27T16:43:17+00:00

    Reboot your router and see if it picks up and shows all your devices in File Explorer>Network. If it doesn't then you need to check and see if SMB 1.0 is selected. See the image below.

    ImageHere are two ways to get to and see if SMB 1.0 is selected. First you can open the Control

    Panel and find it there.

    Image

    You can also search for it.

    ImageAnytime you reboot your computer all the devices may disappear requiring a reboot of the router again to see them. This has been my experience. I have Windows 11 Pro with all updates.

    I just rebooted my router to get all my devices to show. Click on, tap, or activate image to enlarge it.

    Image

    https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/4513062e-550a-4a6a-ac93-8fdbd06ee238?platform=QnA

  4. Anonymous
    2024-04-24T23:31:54+00:00

    Yeah, I agree - Windows 11 sucks big time. I wish I had the choice (but a brand new Alienware and no choice).

    ALL my other computers on our network work fine, but something with Win 11 versus 10 bought the big one. So now I can't even use what is supposed to be my base computer because it can't communicate with any of the others.

    And it's clear that Microsoft doesn't care - they keep repeating the same tired information that has never worked for anyone. It really shouldn't be this hard to share info between computers except that MS doesn't understand how to do it. So we're stuck back in the 80's, with sneakernet.

    Sigh - I will NEVER upgrade my other computers. We'll be on Win 10 until the day I die.
  5. Anonymous
    2023-08-27T16:23:08+00:00

    I think I have the same problem. I have two Windows 11 PCs on my in-house network, one Tower computer and one Laptop. I cannot see either computer from the Laptop under "Network" with Windows Explorer and I can see only the Laptop under "Network" from the Tower PC with Windows Explorer. My Tower windows computer is ethernet connected to my router, while my laptop uses wi-fi to the same router. Both PCs are Windows 11 version 22H2 with the latest patches (as of the end of Aug 2023). Both have the 4 services running (and set to automatic) as mentioned in an earlier part of this thread. Both are on the same private network, and both have network discovery on as well as file and print sharing on (and password sharing off).

    Just as a note, I have also shared two folders (one on each computer) between the two PCs by mapping each folder on the other PC as a network drive. That works fine as either PC sees the shared folder on the other computer through the mapped drive. The visibility problem seems to be related to Windows File Explorer but I'm not sure. Is it possible that there is some "view" setting in Windows Explorer that needs to be turned on that I am not aware of?

    Since the suggested fixes mentioned earlier in this thread do not solve the visibility problem, any additional ideas would be appreciated.

    Bob S