Window 10/11 wired PCs not displayed in File Explorer under the Network folder

Question

I have had an on going problem with one or the other of my wired PCs not being displayed in the Network folder in File Explorer. I have had four networked PCs for several years. I have had this problem since Windows 10. I undated those PCs and now have new Windows 11 PC running Window 11 Pro. I found the same problem as with my old Window 10 PC's.

I have tried all the reported possible fixes but none of them work. I did find a fix this year but the problem seem to come back for some reason not known to me but now I know how to fix the wired PC problem report above.

The fix:

-In the Control Panel go to System>About. Under Device specification select Advanced system settings.

-On the System Properties select Computer Name then select Network ID.

-Select This computer is part of a business network... then select My computer uses a network without a domain... then make sure all your PCs use the same Workgroup (e.g.. WORKGROUP).

-Restart your PC. You may have to do the same on all your wired PCs. Sometimes if you try this on one wired PC the problem is fixed but if not repeat on all wired PC's. The reason you can't select "This is a home Computer"... in the above procedure is that a home PC can't be seen by other PC on the network. This fix may have to be repeated later for some unknown reason to me after say a system update or perhaps a household power failure if you don't have some type of battery backup. Laptops have there own batteries so this may not be an issue.

Answer 1

Hello Bob Bertram

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A.  

Thanks for sharing your experience and solution — it's incredibly helpful for others facing similar network visibility issues on Windows 10 and 11. 

 

You're absolutely right that network discovery and visibility can be inconsistent, especially after updates or power interruptions. Your fix using the Network ID wizard to ensure all PCs are part of the same Workgroup is a solid workaround, especially for home networks that don't use domains.Here’s a quick summary of your method for others who might benefit: 

 

Fix for Wired PCs Not Showing in Network Folder (Windows 10/11) 

1. Go to Control Panel → System → About 
2. Click Advanced system settings 
3. In System Properties, go to the Computer Name tab 
4. Click Network ID 
5. Choose: 
   1. “This computer is part of a business network…” 
      1. Then: “My computer uses a network without a domain” 
6. Ensure all PCs use the same Workgroup name (e.g., WORKGROUP) 
7. Restart the PC 
8. Repeat on other wired PCs if needed 

 

Why It Might Revert 

• Windows Updates can reset network settings 
• Power outages may cause network discovery issues 
• Firewall or antivirus software might block visibility 
• Network profile changes (e.g., switching from Private to Public) 

 

 

Hope the above information is helpful to you！ 

 

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