How to See Other Computers on Network in Windows 10

This guide shows you how to make other computers on your local network visible in Windows 10’s File Explorer. You’ll learn how to enable network discovery and file sharing, so you can browse and access shared folders on other PCs, NAS devices, and media servers. We’ll cover the essential settings, common pitfalls, and fixes for when network computers don’t appear.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 10 PC connected to the same local network (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) as the computers you want to see.
• Administrator access to your Windows 10 PC to change network settings.
• The other computers must also have network discovery and file sharing enabled (we’ll show you how to check).
• If the network has multiple subnets or VLANs, you may need router access to allow discovery across them—but for most home networks, this isn’t required.

Step-by-Step

1. Open File Explorer. Click the folder icon in the taskbar or press Win + E.
2. Go to Network. In the left sidebar, click “Network”. If you don’t see it, click “This PC” first, then look in the left pane. You might see a yellow bar at the top saying “Network discovery is turned off.”
3. Enable Network Discovery. Click the yellow bar and select “Turn on network discovery and file sharing.” Choose “Yes, turn on network discovery and file sharing for all public networks” if prompted (or just for the current network profile). This makes your PC visible to others and lets you see them.
4. Check your network profile. Make sure your network is set to “Private”. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status. Click “Properties” under your active connection. Under “Network profile”, select “Private”. Public networks block discovery by default.
5. Verify the other computers have sharing enabled. On each computer you want to see, repeat steps 1-3. Also, ensure they have shared folders or printers. Without shared resources, they may still appear but show nothing when you click them.
6. Refresh the view. In File Explorer’s Network section, press F5 to refresh. Sometimes it takes a minute for devices to appear.
7. If you still don’t see a computer, try accessing it directly. Press Win + R, type \\computername (replace with the actual computer name) and press Enter. If that works, the computer is reachable but discovery is having issues.

Common Mistakes

• Network profile set to Public. This is the most common reason. Windows blocks discovery on public networks for security. Always set your home or work network to Private.
• Network discovery disabled on the remote computer. Even if your PC is set correctly, the other computer must also have discovery enabled. It’s a per-PC setting.
• File and printer sharing turned off. In the same yellow bar prompt, if you only turned on discovery but not sharing, you might see the computer but not be able to access its shared folders. Enable both.
• Using a different subnet. If your router creates separate networks (e.g., a guest network), computers on different subnets won’t see each other. Ensure all devices are on the same network.
• Antivirus or firewall blocking. Third-party security software can block discovery. Temporarily disable it to test, but re-enable it afterwards.

Tips

• Use the computer name instead of IP. IP addresses can change (DHCP). The computer name is more stable and easier to remember.
• Set up a HomeGroup (deprecated). HomeGroup was removed in Windows 10 version 1803. Use the built-in sharing features instead.
• Use the “Network” section in File Explorer. It shows computers, media devices, and network infrastructure. If you have a NAS, it may appear under “Other Devices”.
• Check the “Advanced sharing settings”. Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Advanced sharing settings. Under “Private”, ensure both “Turn on network discovery” and “Turn on file and printer sharing” are selected. Also, under “All Networks”, you can enable “Public folder sharing” and “File sharing connections” (use 128-bit encryption for best compatibility).
• Restart the Function Discovery services. If discovery is flaky, open Services (services.msc) and restart these services: Function Discovery Provider Host, Function Discovery Resource Publication, SSDP Discovery, and UPnP Device Host. Set them to Automatic.

Troubleshooting

I turned on discovery but still see nothing.

• Check that the other computers are powered on and not in sleep mode.
• Make sure all devices are on the same network and subnet. Check each computer’s IP address (ipconfig in Command Prompt) to see if they start with the same three octets (e.g., 192.168.1.x).
• Try pinging the other computer’s IP address. If ping fails, there’s a network issue.
• Turn off the Windows firewall temporarily (or add exceptions for File and Printer Sharing) to see if that’s the culprit.

I see the computer but can’t access shared folders.

• Ensure the folder is actually shared. Right-click the folder, go to Properties > Sharing > Share, and add the user (e.g., “Everyone” with Read/Write permissions).
• You may need to enter the username and password of an account on the remote computer. If you don’t know it, ask the owner.
• Check that the remote computer has “File and Printer Sharing” enabled in its firewall settings.

I can access via IP but not by name.

• This is a name resolution issue. Try using the IP address directly (e.g., \\192.168.1.10). If that works, the problem is DNS or NetBIOS. Restart the “DNS Client” service on your PC, and ensure the remote computer’s network discovery is on.

Network discovery keeps turning off.

• This often happens when the network profile is set to Public. Change it to Private as described in Step 4.
• Some third-party security suites automatically disable discovery. Check their settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why can’t I see other computers on my network?
A: The most common causes are network discovery being off, network profile set to Public, or the other computers having discovery disabled. Follow the steps above to enable it on all machines.

Q: Do I need to be on the same Wi-Fi network?
A: Yes, all computers must be on the same local network (same router and subnet). If you’re on a guest network, you won’t see devices on the main network.

Q: Can I see Macs or Linux computers?
A: Yes, if they have SMB sharing enabled. Windows uses SMB protocol. Macs have SMB sharing built-in (System Settings > General > Sharing > File Sharing). Linux may require Samba to be installed.

Q: Why do I see some computers but not others?
A: The missing computers likely have discovery turned off, or are on a different subnet. Also, some devices like printers may not appear in the Network list if they don’t support SMB.

Q: Is it safe to enable network discovery?
A: On a private, trusted network, it’s generally safe. On public networks (like coffee shops), keep it off to prevent strangers from seeing your device. Always set your network profile to Private only when you trust the network.

Q: How do I share a folder so others can see it?
A: Right-click the folder, select “Give access to” > “Specific people”. Choose “Everyone” from the drop-down, set permission level (Read or Read/Write), and click Share. Then others can access it via the Network section.

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