Microsoft WindowsWindows 11

How to Fix Network Discovery is Turned off in Windows 11

In this guide, we will show you How to fix network discovery is turned off in Windows 11. A lot of Windows users have been requesting that when users try to enable the “network discovery feature in windows” it always shows an error “network discovery is turned off. “Network computers and devices are not visible”. “Please turn on Network Discovery in Network and sharing center”.

Network discovery is turned off

So after reading this guide, you will be eligible to turn On/Off Network Discovery on your Windows 11 computer.

What is Network Discovery in Windows 11?

The Network discovery permits your system to discover, and find other devices and computers on your network. So what happens when the network discovery option is on. You can easily share network resources with the computers you want. However, network discovery makes it easier for the attacker to find these resources.

Network discovery is turned off error

Table of Contents

Reconfigure your advanced sharing setting

Enable these windows services

Allow network discovery in firewall settings

Do a Network reset

Run Network troubleshooter

Update Network Adapter

Disable antivirus and firewall

To fix the above error follow the below steps, if one does not work for you, then please try the next one.

Reconfigure your advanced sharing setting


Open run command, type Control Panel and then hit ok.

Control panel run command

Click on Network and Sharing Center.

Control panel

On your left side, click on Change advanced sharing settings to fix the Network discovery is off error on Windows 11.

Network and Sharing center

Under the private section
Turn on network discovery
Enable Turn on automatic setup of network connected devices.
Under the File and printer sharing section

Enable Turn on file and printer sharing.

Advanced sharing settings network discovery

Under the Guest or Public
Turn on network discovery
Turn on file and printer sharing

Advanced sharing settings network discovery

Under the All networks section

Turn on sharing options so everyone with network access can read and write files under the Public folders “Enable file sharing for devices” that use 40-bit or 56-bit encryption
Turn off Password Protected Sharing (if you trust all the devices in your network) and click save settings.

Restart your computer and then check the error Network Discovery is turned off is still showing or not.

Advanced sharing settings

Enable these windows services

If you are still continuing to see Network discovery is turned off error, then please make sure these services are running.

Press the Windows keyboard button Win + R to launch the Run window. Enter services.msc and then hit enter.

Services run command

Function Discovery Resource Publication

Launch “Function Discovery Resource Publication” service, choose Automatic. Click start and then click ok.

Function discovery resource publication services

DNS Client

Open DNS Client service and then make sure it is set to Automatic and make sure the service is running.

DHCP Client service

SSDP Discovery

Set to Automatic and make sure the service is running.

SSDP discovery service

UPnP Device Host.

Make sure it is set to Automatic and make sure the service is running, if not click the start button and then click ok.

UPnP Device Host service

Network Connections

Check is it Automatic and makes sure the service is running.

Network Connections service

Network Location Awareness

Set to Automatic and make sure the service is running.

Network location awareness service

After enabling these services, you must be able to fix the network discovery error.

Allow network discovery in firewall settings

Click on the Windows search bar type Windows Firewall and then open the Windows Defender Firewall.

Search Windows Defender Firewall

On your left side, click on Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.

Windows Defender Firewall

Make sure the network discovery feature is turned on (Private and Public) checkboxes.

Allow apps and features firewall

Do a Network Reset

Try resetting the network settings if the above fix didn’t help you.

Open Windows Settings and then click on Network & Internet.

Click Advanced network settings.

Scroll down select network reset and then click reset now.

Network reset in windows 11

After this restart your computer.

How to Run Troubleshoot on Windows 11

Open Settings, click on System, and then click the Troubleshoot.

Settings system in windows 11

Click the Other troubleshooters.

Troubleshoot in Windows 11

Run Network troubleshooter

Other troubleshooters in Windows 11

Also read this article: How to Enable Network Discovery.

For more details, visit Microsoft

Jamil Parvez

Jamil Pervez works as a Network Administrator, based in Kuwait with a Primary focus on Microsoft technologies. Microsoft Certified MCSE, MCTP, MCITP, CCNP, CCIP, CCVP with 20 years of experience in administering Windows Servers, Exchange, VMWare, Veeam B&R, Veritas BackupExec.

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