How to change Windows 10 network location from Public to Private

Ever found yourself with a Windows system that won't let you browse other computers or printers on the local network? If you're on a public connection such as an airport or hotel Wi-Fi, this expected behavior is good. But even if you're at home, Windows sometimes mysteriously winds up with this Public network type. Yes, Network Location Awareness might guess wrong. Thankfully, the simple fix usually takes under 30 seconds, with the article below created entirely on my SuperServer Workstation.

You'll need to know your exact Windows version to get to the exact fix below that's for you. Press your keyboard's Windows key + R, type winver, then press the Enter key. Note your Version number (as pictured below with a red box around the version), then click on the matching number in this list:

• Easy Fix for Version 1909, 1903, 1809, 1803, 1709, 1703, 1607, 1511, or 1507 below.

Windows 10 October 2020 Update, aka version 20H2 OS Build 198042.685

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/inside-this-update-93c5c27c-f96e-43c2-a08e-5812d92f220d?OCID=WUSettings&ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US#windowsupdate=19042

Windows 10 May 2020 Update

Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, Version 1709 Build 16299

Windows 10 April 2018 Update, Version 1803 Build 17134

Windows 10 October 2018 Update, Version 1809 Build 17763

Windows 10 May 2019 Update, Version 1903 Build 18362

Windows 10 Jan 2020 Update, Version 1909 Build 18363

It's gotten much easier since all previous Windows 10 versions, thank you Microsoft! It's also rather nice that the fix is exactly the same in 1709, 1803, 1809, 1903, and 1909. Here's the step-by-step instructions, with screenshots:

Fix for Wi-Fi Network Connections

1. left-click the tiny Wi-Fi network icon (beams icon) in your system tray at bottom-right, near your clock)
2. left-click on Properties below the network item near the top of the menu, such as PAB's iPhone pictured in this example, use whatever your Wi-Fi network's name is, also known as the SSID
    
    
    
    
3. at the top, under Network profile, change from Public to Private

   

    

Fix for Wired Network Connections

1. left-click the tiny network icon (computer screen symbol) in your system tray at bottom-right (near your clock), then a menu pops up
2. left-click the first network item that comes up near the top of the menu, such as Network Connected or similar network name
    
3. under the top section labeled Ethernet, left-click the first network item that comes up near the top, such as Network Connected

   

4. at the top, under Network profile, change from Public to Private

   

    
    

Windows 10 Creators Update, Version 1703 Build 15063

Windows 10 Anniversary Update, Version 1607 Build 14393

All versionssince 1607 use the same fix, with menus appearing nearly the same, with identical wording:

Make this PC discoverable
Allow your PC to be discoverable by other PCs and devices on this
network. We recommend turning this on for private networks at
home or work, but turning it off for public networks to help keep
your stuff safe.

Fix for Wi-Fi Network Connection - Video

Fix for Wired Network Connection - Video

Fix for Wi-Fi Network Connection - Instructions

 
Step 1 - click on the Wi-Fi icon in the System Tray

 
Step 2 & 3 - click on the 'Connected' Wi-Fi connection at the top of the list, submenu opens, click 'Properties'

 
Step 4 - under 'Make this PC discoverable' move the slider to 'On'

Fix for Wired Network Connection - Instructions

 
Step 1 & 2 - click on the Network icon in the System Tray, click on your Network Connection that shows 'Connected'.png

 
Step 3 - click on your Network Connection that shows 'Connected'

 
Step 4 - under 'Make this PC discoverable' move the slider to 'On'

No single fix works for everybody, with several fix methods listed in the original post below. Many were improved by some helpful commenters below. The most successful & common fix is shown above, taking under 30 seconds. More techniques appear below.

Jul 12 2016 Update

Windows 10 November Update, Version 1511 Build 10586

Windows 10 RTM, Version 1507 Build 10240 (initial release)

These instructions look the same for Builds 15063, 14393, 10586, and 10240, see Windows version details in the table here.

Below is an archive for reference, and yes, Microsoft completely changed how the user interface looks in Version 1607, which has been detailed above.

Table of Contents - 4 Methods

1. HomeGroup Control Panel - easiest fix that works for most (Video)
   HomeGroup Control Panel - easiest fix that works for most (Screenshots)

2. Find devices and content toggle - WiFi (Video)
   Find devices and content toggle - Wired (Video)

3. HomeGroup Troubleshooter (Video)

4. Run gpedit.msc - requires admin rights (Video)

Change from Public Network to Private Network (Windows 10)

1. HomeGroup Control Panel - easiest fix that works for most (Video)

1. HomeGroup Control Panel - easiest fix that works for most (Screenshots)

2. Find devices and content toggle - WiFi (Video)

2. Find devices and content toggle - Wired (Video)

3. HomeGroup Troubleshooter (Video)

4. Run gpedit.msc, requires admin rights (Video)

This fix carries risk, and could put you on a private network type in the future, when connecting to an unknown (new) network. Proceed at your own risk:

1. click the Start button, type gpedit.msc then press Enter key
2. click Computer Configuration / Windows Settings / Security Settings / Network List Manager Policies
3. double-click on Unidentified Networks / change Location type from Not configured to Private then click OK to close the window

Interested in reading more about the Microsoft Networking security implications of network location? See also Microsoft's Choosing a network location.

Original blog post from Jan 05 2015 below (Windows 10 Insider Preview / Beta).

History of the solution for various Windows 10 Insider Preview builds

• See Build 9926 Jan 25 2015 Update below.
  With the January 23 2015 release of Build 9926, it became obvious Microsoft is still moving things around quite a bit. The new method of changing from Public to Private on build 9926 is described.

• See Build 10041 March 26 2015 Update below.
  With the March 18 2015 release called Windows 10 Technical Preview ISO March Update Build 10041, they've changed it yet again.

• See Build 10074 May 01 2015 Update below.

• See Build 10130 June 15 2015 Update below.

• See Build 10159 July 03 2015 Update below.

• See Build 10240 July 29 2015 Update below.
  This "real" release that became generally available on Jul 29 2015. Network type change methods seem to have remained the same ever since.

Jan 25 2015 Update

With the Jan 23 2015 release of build 9926, it’s become obvious Microsoft is still moving things around quite a bit. Here’s the new method of changing from Public to Private on build 9926.

On Wired or WiFi connections that are stuck in Public:

1. press the Windows Key (on your keyboard)
2. type Homegroup, a “HomeGroup” menu will come up, press enter
3. a “Change network location” link appears, click/tap it
4. Next, the “Networks” dialogue will slide in the from the right, asking
   “Do you want to find PCs, devices, and content on this network, and automatically connect to devices like printers and TVs? We recommend that you do this on your home and work networks.”
   Tap/click on “Yes”

That’s it, you’re now in the desired private network mode.

Mar 26 2015 Update

For build 10041, here's the modified way to do the same thing.

1. press the Windows Key (on your keyboard) or Start button
2. type HomeGroup, and “HomeGroup” will be on top and selected, press Enter
3. select the blue link "Change network location"
4. tap/click on "Yes" when prompted with
   “Do you want to find PCs, devices, and content on this network, and automatically connect to devices like printers and TVs? We recommend that you do this on your home and work networks.”
5. optionally, you can confirm by right-clicking on the network tray icon, then left-clicking "Open Network and Sharing Center" notice it now shows "Private network"

May 01 2015 Update

For build 10074, here's the modified way to do the same thing, for folks where searching for HomeGroup (as seen above in 10041) simply doesn't work. It's possible there is some A / B testing going on here, as discussed at this spot on Windows Weekly 411. The method below will work without relying on search.

1. click or tap the Start button
2. Settings
3. Network & Internet
4. Ethernet
5. HomeGroup
6. Change network location
7. "Do you want to find PCs, devices..." select Yes

June 15 2015 Update

For build 10130, see what Jason has to say in the dialog below

I had to run the home group troubleshooter and it gave me the option to apply the fix to change my network to private.

So I recorded a video how to:

and documented the step-by-step:

1. press the Windows Key (on your keyboard) or Start button
2. type HomeGroup, and “HomeGroup” will be on top and selected, press Enter
3. select "Find and fix problems with homegroup"
4. select on "Next"
5. select on "Troubleshoot network problems"
6. select on "Explore additional options"
7. close the "Additional Information" window
8. when "Change the network location to Private" window comes up, select "Apply this fix"
9. when "Troubleshooting has completed" window comes up, select "Close"

July 03 2015 Update

For build 10159, it's pretty easy again, back to the to the same procedure as we used to have way back on build 10041:

1. press the Windows Key (on your keyboard) or Start button
2. type HomeGroup, and “HomeGroup” will be on top and selected, press Enter
3. select the blue link "Change network location"
4. tap/click on "Yes" when prompted with
   “Do you want to find PCs, devices, and content on this network, and automatically connect to devices like printers and TVs? We recommend that you do this on your home and work networks.”
5. optionally, you can confirm by right-clicking on the network tray icon, then left-clicking "Open Network and Sharing Center" notice it now shows "Private network"

July 29 2015 Update

For build 10240, which is now generally available, what we have is the same procedure as it was back on 10041 and 10159, which is the following:

1. press the Windows Key (on your keyboard) or Start button
2. type HomeGroup, and “HomeGroup” will be on top and selected, press Enter
3. select the blue link "Change network location"
4. tap/click on "Yes" when prompted with
   “Do you want to find PCs, devices, and content on this network, and automatically connect to devices like printers and TVs? We recommend that you do this on your home and work networks.”
5. optionally, you can confirm by right-clicking on the network tray icon, then left-clicking "Open Network and Sharing Center" notice it now shows "Private network"

Jan 03 2016 Update

These network location change methods also work with:

Microsoft Windows
Version 1511 (OS Build 10586.36)

Jan 08 2016 Update

Animated GIFs were removed, in favor of smaller and better looking autoplay HTML5 video, with audio (muted by default) and full playback controls, so you can pause at will, on any frame.

Oct 18 2016 Update

Windows 10 Anniversary Update (Version 1607, Build 14393.187) and Windows Server 2016 (Version 1607, Build 10.0.14393) have been released, and so far, I don't see any need to update the above screenshots and videos, since most of these fixes still work the same way. Admittedly, I still have further testing to do.

Nov 07 2016 Update

There are some UI changes in Windows 10 Anniversary Update, so updating the contents above could make the instructions a bit clearer. I will try to make the time for revisions.

Oct 18 2017 Update

Added Version 1709, and thankfully, it's finally gotten much easier to fix! Oddly, searching for "network location" or "network profile" in Search/Cortana still comes up with nothing. It would appear Microsoft telemetry data might not really ndicate just how many people struggle to find this setting, which keeps moving around in the Windows 10 UI between builds.

Here's the clear new verbeage Microsoft uses in the Network profile section of Settings:

Network profile

• Public
  Your PC is hidden from other devices on the network and can't be
  used for printer and file sharing.
• Private
  For a network you trust, such as at home or work. Your PC is
  discoverable and can be used for printer and file sharing if you set
  it up.

May 27 2019 Update

1803 and 1809 were already added at a date I didn't track. Today, I added 1903.

Mar 18 2020 Update

Article updated, with build point release table added below:

• Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, Version 1709 Build 16299.19
• Windows 10 April 2018 Update, Version 1803 Build 17134.1
• Windows 10 October 2018 Update, Version 1809 Build 17763.1
• Windows 10 May 2019 Update, Version 1903 Build 18362.116
• Windows 10 Jan 2020 Update, Version 1909 Build 18363.720

See also at TinkerTry

• How to show Windows version and build number on your desktop
  May 24 2019

• How to change Windows 10 network location from Private to Public
  Oct 29 2015
  If you're trying to go in the opposite direction, this article is for you!

• How to change Windows 8.1 network location from Public to Private
  Nov 26 2013

• Windows Task Manager auto-started as an effective CPU monitor in your system tray
  Feb 12 2013

• Superguide: Veeam Endpoint Backup FREE
  Free way to back up and restore your family's Windows 10 PCs, using a local disk or any Windows or NAS network share.

• Order a TinkerTry'd Supermicro SuperServer Bundle - powerful and efficient home virtualization lab solutions

See also

• How to Set Network Location to be Public or Private in Windows 10
  Jun 07 2015 by Brink at Windows Ten Forums

• Network Location Awareness (NLA) and how it relates to Windows Firewall Profiles
  Sep 08 2010 by Michael Platts at Windows Networking Blog

In this Wiki page, you can see the version number consists for the first 2 digits being the year, and the second 2 digits being the month the finalized bits were released to Window Insiders, which was usually a month or two before the GA (Generally Available) date.

• Windows 10 version history
  Wikipedia:

  Version 1507 Build 10.0.10240 GA'd on 07/29/2015, First Release/GA/RTM, codename Threshold 1
  Version 1511 Build 10.0.10586 GA'd on 11/12/2015, November Update, codename Threshold 2
  Version 1607 Build 10.0.14393 GA'd on 08/02/2016, Anniversary Update, codename Redstone 1
  Version 1703 Build 10.0.15063 GA'd on 04/05/2017, Creators Update, codename Redstone 2
  Version 1709 Build 10.0.16299 GA on 10/17/2017, Fall Creators Update, codename Redstone 3
  Version 1803 Build TBD (ETA 1Q2018), codename Redstone 4