Quick Info
  • If you're running into the 'Network Discovery is turned off' error, you should first try running the Network and Internet Troubleshooter.
  • You should also make sure Network Discovery is turned on, especially for private networks like your home network.
  • Check that all services required by Network Discovery are running and working properly. Additionally, you can whitelist Network Discovery in Windows Defender Firewall.
  • If your network adapter drivers are outdated, look for newer drivers and install them to get rid of the error.

Solution 1: Run the Network and Internet Troubleshooter

  1. Use the Win + I shortcut to open the Settings app and click on 'System' on the left.
  1. On the System page, scroll down and click on 'Troubleshoot'.
  1. Click on 'Other troubleshooters'.
  1. On the next page, click on the 'Run' button on the right of the 'Network and Internet' option.
  1. The Network and Internet Troubleshooter will try to detect problems with your network. If any issues are present, it will recommend certain steps you need to perform, otherwise it will let you know that your connection is fine.

Solution 2: Turn on Network Discovery

  1. Open the Settings page and click on 'Network and Internet' on the left.
  1. Next, click on 'Advanced Network Settings' at the bottom.
  1. Then, click on 'Advanced sharing settings' in the More Settings section.
  1. Click on the toggle for 'Network Discovery' for both private and public networks and for File and Printer sharing before trying to use Network Sharing again.

Solution 3: Turn on additional required services

Network Discovery requires certain services to work properly. You can enable these by following these steps:

  1. Open the Start menu, type services.msc and click on 'Run as administrator'.
  1. Now locate 'Function Discovery Provider Host' in the list of services in the Services utility. Right-click on it and click on 'Properties'.
  1. In the Startup type dropdown menu, select 'Automatic'.
  1. Then click on the 'Start' button to enable the service before clicking on OK.
  1. Repeat the process for the following services:
    • Function Discovery Resource Publication
    • DNS Client
    • SSDP Discovery
    • UPnP Device Host

Solution 4: Whitelist Network Discovery in Windows Defender

Windows Defender may be blocking your network connection, resulting in the 'Network Discovery is turned off' error. To fix this, you will need to whitelist Network Discovery.

  1. Type 'Windows Security' in the Start menu and open the program.
  2. Click on 'Firewall and network protection' when the application opens.
  1. On the next page, click on 'Allow an app through firewall'.
  1. Look for Network Discovery in the list of apps and features and check whether the checkboxes for 'Public' and 'Private' are enabled. If they are, the feature is already whitelisted. If they aren't, first click on the 'Change Settings' button at the top and then click on the checkboxes to whitelist it.
  1. Click on OK and retry what you were doing earlier to see if the error has been resolved.

Solution 5: Reset the firewall in Windows Defender

You can try resetting the firewall in Windows Defender to its default settings. However, this is an extreme measure that can affect other network-related functions, so make sure to note down your custom settings before the reset.

  1. Open Windows Security and click on 'Firewall and Network protection' as before.
  2. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on 'Restore firewalls to default'.
  1. Click on the 'Restore defaults' button on the next page.

Solution 6: Update drivers for your network adapter

The 'Network Discovery is turned off' error can also occur if your network adapter drivers are outdated. Check whether updated drivers are available and install them to try and sort out the problem.

  1. Right-click on the Start button and click on 'Device Manager'.
  1. When the Device Manager opens, click on 'Network Adapters' to expand it and view all installed drivers.
  1. Right-click on a driver and click on 'Update driver'.
  1. Click on 'Search automatically for drivers' in the pop-up that appears.
  1. If any drivers are available, Windows will automatically download and install them. Restart your PC once the driver is installed.
Note: You can also visit the website of your PC manufacturer and look for the latest drivers there. If newer drivers are available, download and install them before rebooting your computer.

Things to know

  • Network Discovery is often turned off by default since turning it on, especially on public networks, can put your system at risk.
  • If you do need to connect to a network while in a public location, you can use the Network Sharing feature.
  • In case you need to use Network Discovery in public places, you can turn it off once your work is done to prevent other systems from locating your device.