How to change Windows 10 network location from Private to Public

Posted by Paul Braren on Oct 29 2015 (updated on Mar 18 2020) in

If you're at an airport or hotel WiFi, you'll want to be sure your Windows 10 is set to the Public network type, to block network neighborhood browsing by you, and of you. Yes, Network Location Awareness might guess wrong. As Tim Anderson explains, this can also be a common, self-induced scenario described at ITWriting:

So I arrive at a hotel and turn on wi-fi and connect. That little dialog comes up, Do you want to find PCs devices and content on this network? The correct answer in a hotel is No, but in my jet-lagged stupor I click Yes. Oops.

This article shows you exactly how to fix this manually, easily, and usually takes under 30 seconds!

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-Version-1709-and-1803-and-1809-and-1903-and-1909--TinkerTry

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 Wired Network Connections

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

Fix for Wi-Fi Network Connections

left-click the tiny Wi-Fi network icon (beams icon) in your system tray at bottom-right, near your clock)
left-click on Properties below the network item near the top of the menu, such as Wi-Fi or your Wi-Fi network's name (aka SSID)
at the top, under Network profile, change from Private to Public

Windows 10 Creators Update, Version 1703 Build 15063

Windows 10 Anniversary Update, Version 1607 Build 14393

here's-how-Network-Location-looks-win-Windows-10-1607-by-TinkerTry — Here's how Network Location looks in Windows 10 Versions 1607 and 1703

Both versions use the same fix, with menus appearing very nearly the same:

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

It looks like you have JavaScript disabled. Click here to view the video above.

For Wi-Fi networks, this short video loop demonstrates every step. Mouse-over to reveal playback controls. Only applicable to Windows 10 Version 1607 Build 14393.

Fix for Wired Network Connection

It looks like you have JavaScript disabled. Click here to view the video above.

For Wired networks, this short video loop demonstrates every step. Mouse-over to reveal playback controls. Only applicable to Windows 10 Version 1607 Build 14393.

No single fix works for everybody, with several fix methods listed in this article. The most successful & common fix is shown above, taking under 30 seconds. More techniques appear below. This article and videos were created on my Windows 10 Pro SuperServer Workstation.