Network Discovery - Turn on or Off in Windows 7

Published by

Brink

Windows 7: Network Discovery - Turn On or Off in Windows 7

Recommended Fix: Download Here

Network Discovery - Turn On or Off in Windows 7

How to Turn Network Discovery On or Off in Windows 7

Published by Brink

07 Sep 2011

How to Turn Network Discovery On or Off in Windows 7

Information

When you connect to a network, you must choose a network location. There are four network locations:

Home, Work, Public, and Domain. Based on the network location you choose, Windows assigns a network

discovery state to the network and opens the appropriate Windows Firewall ports for that state.

Network discovery is a network setting that affects whether your computer can find other computers and

devices on the network and whether other computers on the network can find your computer.

This tutorial will show you how to to turn Network Discovery on or off in Windows 7.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

Note

There are three network discovery states:

On

This state allows your computer to see other network computers and devices and allows people on

other network computers to see your computer. This makes it easier to share files and printers.

Off

This state prevents your computer from seeing other network computers and devices and prevents

people on other network computers from seeing your computer.

Custom

This is a mixed state in which some settings related to network discovery are enabled, but not all of

them. For example, network discovery could be turned on, but you or your system administrator might

have changed firewall settings that affect network discovery. If some but not all of these below are

true, then the network discovery state will be shown as Custom.

Network discovery requires that the DNS Client (Automatic), Function Discovery Resource

Publication (Automatic), SSDP Discovery (Manual), and UPnP Device Host (Manual)

services are set to be started.

Network Discovery needs to be allowed to communicate (add as exception) through

Windows Firewall for the network type that the computer or device is connected to.

If you have a 3rd party firewall installed, then you will also need to allow Network Discovery to

communicate through it as well.

Join Forum | Login | Today's Posts | Tutorials | Windows 10 Forum | Windows 8 Forum

Welcome to Windows 7 Forums. Our forum is dedicated to helping you find support and solutions for any problems regarding your Windows 7 PC be it Dell,

HP, Acer, Asus or a custom build. We also provide an extensive Windows 7 tutorial section that covers a wide range of tips and tricks.

Windows 7 Help Forums > Windows 7 help and support > Tutorials »

Network Discovery - Turn On or Off in Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help F... http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/185237-network-discovery-turn-o...

1 of 4 10/15/2014 10:20 AM

Here's How:

1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click on the Network and Sharing Center icon.

2. In the left pane, click on the Change advanced sharing settings link. (see screenshot below)

3. Click on the to expand the network that you want to turn network discovery on or off for. (see screenshot below)

NOTE: Normally this would be your current profile.

4. To Turn On Network Discovery

A) Select (dot) Turn on network discovery. (see screenshots below step 6)

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Turn Off Network Discovery

A) Select (dot) Turn off network discovery. (see screenshots below step 6)

6. Click on the Save Changes button. (see screenshots below)


2 of 4 10/15/2014 10:20 AM

7. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

8. When finished, you can close the Network and Sharing Center.

That's it,

Shawn

Related Tutorials

How to Set the Windows 7 Network Location Type

How to Add or Remove a Windows Firewall Exception in Windows 7

How to Turn Media Streaming Using Windows Media Player On or Off in Windows 7

How to Join or Add a Computer to a Windows 7 Homegroup

How to Create a Homegroup in Windows 7

How to Turn Public Folder Sharing On or Off in Windows 7

How to Turn Password Protected Sharing On or Off in Windows 7

24 Jan 2012 #1

power8383

Windows 7

6 posts

I was frustrated as 'network discovery' was turning off all the time.

Thanks for telling which services should be started.

All those services were disabled in my computer.

Thanks again.

Tip: Download Windows Repair ToolMy System Specs

24 Jan 2012 #2

BrinkYou're most welcome Power.


3 of 4 10/15/2014 10:20 AM

64-bit Windows 8.1

Enterprise

57,187 posts

Texas

My System Specs

Recommended Fix: Download Here

« Graphics Card - Overclock | Windows Media Player Library Album Art »

Similar help and support threads for2: Network Discovery - Turn On or Off in Windows 7

Windows 7 Tutorial Category

Can't turn on Network Discovery in Win 7 Network & Sharing

Cant turn on network discovery; cant turn on Function .... Network & Sharing

Can't turn on network discovery Network & Sharing

How do I turn off network discovery? Network & Sharing

i can"t turn on network discovery Network & Sharing

Can't turn on network discovery! Network & Sharing

Can't turn on Network Discovery etc.. Network & Sharing

Our Sites Site Links About Us Find Us

Vista Forums

Eight Forums

Ten Forums

PC Help Forum

Network Status

Contact Us

Legal

Privacy and cookies

Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been

authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft

Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of

Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:18 AM.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

Network Discovery - Turn On or Off in Windows 7


4 of 4 10/15/2014 10:20 AM

Documents

Network Discovery - Turn on or Off in Windows 7