How to fix Network Discovery Is Turned Off issue on Windows 10?

Network Discovery is a Windows network setting that lets you choose whether to allow your computer to be seen by other computers on the network and whether your computer can connect to other computers and devices on your network.

The Network Discovery feature makes it possible to share files and printers over a network. When connecting to a network for the first time, see the message “Do you want to allow your PC to be discoverable by other PCs and devices on this network?” Windows then asks you to choose a Private, Public or a Domain network location.

What if Network Discovery is turned off? This can be frustrating, especially if you want to share files quickly. It’s easy to resolve the network Discovery is turned off problem in Windows 10, and the following tips show you exactly how to go about it.

How to turn on Network Discovery in Windows 10? Tip 1: Enable Network Discovery

Network Discovery can only work if it’s enabled. There are two options to turn on Network Discovery in Windows 10.

Option 1: Using the Settings app

1. Launch Settings > Network & Internet.
2. Choose your network type. If you’re using an Ethernet network, click Ethernet and then select the Ethernet connection you’re currently connected to on the right side of the window.
3. Click on “Advanced options”.
4. Select the slider to turn it On.
5. If you’re on Wi-Fi, click Wi-Fi and then select the Wi-Fi connection you’re currently using.
6. In Windows 10 version 1803, this option opens the “Network profile” panel that allows you to select either Public or Private networks. Choosing the Private Network profile makes your PC discoverable on your network.
7. In other versions, click the toggle button to “On” under the “Make this PC discoverable” option.

Option 2: Using the Control Panel

1. Click the “Start” menu, and type control.
2. Hit Enter to open Control Panel.
3. Click “Network and Internet.” If this option isn’t available, set “Category” as the default in the “View by” drop-down list.
4. Choose the “Network and Sharing Center” option.
5. Click the “Change advanced sharing settings” option located on the left side of the panel.
6. In the “Network discovery” section, click to check the “Turn on network discovery” option.
7. Click “Save changes”.

Tip 2: Update your computer’s network drivers

Outdated network drivers can cause network connectivity issues, and it’s always recommended that you ensure they are up to date. There are two ways to get driver updates: manual and automatic.

Updating your drivers manually requires you to visit the manufacturer’s website and search for compatible drivers. This is a complicated process, and you risk installing the wrong driver versions, especially if you don’t have the right computer skills.

To make the process easier and quicker, let Auslogics Driver Updater automatically download and install your network drivers. The software installs the latest drivers directly from the manufacturers, and you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues.

The tool goes even further by updating all the outdated device drivers on your computer, and you don’t even need to know the driver versions that your computer requires. Auslogics Driver Updater will handle all the hard work for you so that you can enjoy using your PC without a glitch.

Tip 3: Check if the dependency services are activated

Dependency services, including DNS Client, Function Discovery Resource Publication, SSDP Discovery, and UPnP Device Host, can affect Network Discovery in Windows 10. To check their status:

1. Use the shortcut keys Windows Key+R to open the “Run” dialogue box.
2. Type service.msc and hit Enter.
3. In the “Services” window, locate the dependency services mentioned above and check them one by one. For instance, find “Function Discovery Resource Publication”.
4. Right-click it, and select “Properties”.
5. In the “Startup type” drop-down menu, “Automatic” should be the default selection.
6. Make sure the “Service status” is “Running.”

Remember to apply the same process to all the dependency services.

Tip 4: Perform a Network Reset

Another option to resolve the Network Discovery is turned off problem is to reset your network settings. A program you installed might have caused some changes to your network settings, and a network reset could be the solution.

1. Open “Settings,” using the Windows Key+I on your keyboard.
2. Launch “Network and Internet”.
3. On the right side of the “Settings” window, navigate to and select “Network reset.” This option uninstalls and then reinstalls all the network adapters and sets the network settings back to their default.
4. Click the “Reset now” button. Windows will restart, and your network settings will be reset. You will have to reinstall some of the networking software you were using previously.

Tip 5: Configure Windows Firewall settings

To ensure Network Discovery is allowed through the Windows Firewall, use the following steps:

1. Open Control Panel from the “Start” menu.
2. Click “System and Security”.
3. Navigate to the “Windows Defender Firewall” option on the right side of the window, and then select “Allow an app through Windows Firewall”.
4. Click on the “Change settings” button, and then click “Yes” if prompted.
5. Check if “Network Discovery” is checked. If it isn’t, check it and any other apps or features that affect Network Discovery and then click “OK”.
6. Turn on Network Discovery, using the steps in Tip 1, Option 2 above.

Let us know which of these tips helped you to fix the Network Discovery is turned off issue in Windows 10 in the comments section below.