desktop not finding laptop

Question

my desktop can no longer find my wifes laptop and both are windows 11

Answer 1

Hello. Could you please clarify what you mean by "not finding"? Are you attempting to connect to it via Bluetooth?

Answer 2

Follow these steps on both the desktop and the laptop to restore visibility and sharing.

1. Confirm both devices meet Nearby Sharing requirements
   • Both must be running Windows 11.
   • Both must support Bluetooth 4.0 or higher with Low Energy (LE).
   • On each PC:
     1. Select Start, type device manager, and open Device Manager.
     2. Expand Bluetooth and double-click the Bluetooth adapter.
     3. Go to Details tab, choose Bluetooth radio supports Low Energy Central Role under Property.
     4. Ensure Value is True.
2. Turn on Nearby Sharing on both PCs
   1. Select Start > Settings > System > Nearby sharing.
   2. Turn Nearby sharing On.
   3. Set it to Everyone nearby (easier for testing) or My devices only if both are using the same Microsoft account.
3. Turn on Bluetooth and Wi‑Fi
   • On both devices, ensure Bluetooth and Wi‑Fi are turned on from Settings or the quick settings panel.
   • Make sure both are connected to the same Wi‑Fi network if using Wi‑Fi for sharing.
4. Set the network profile to Private on both PCs
   1. Select Start > Settings > Network & Internet.
   2. Choose Wi‑Fi (or Ethernet if wired) and select the network in use.
   3. Under Network profile type, select Private network.
5. Test discovery/sharing
   • From the desktop, right‑click a small file in File Explorer and choose Share.
   • In the share window, check if the laptop appears under Nearby sharing.
   • Repeat from the laptop to the desktop.

If the laptop still does not appear, repeat the steps to verify:

• Nearby sharing is enabled on both.
• Network profile is Private on both.
• Bluetooth LE is supported and enabled.

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References:

• Fix problems with nearby sharing in Windows