Make a Wi-Fi network public or private in Windows 10. Content provided by Microsoft. Applies to: Windows 10. Select Product Version. After you connect to a network the first time, you can change it to public or private at any time. To set a Wi-Fi network to public or private when you first connect. If you don’t want to share musics, pictures, videos or even printers with other PCs on the network, you should set the network type to public. In this tutorial we’ll show you 3 ways to change network location to public or private in Windows 10. Method 1: Change Windows 10 Network Location Using Group Policy.
How to Set Network Location to be Public or Private in Windows 10
A network location identifies the type of network that a PC is connected to with a network adapter.
By default, the first time you connect to a new network (wired or wireless), you will be prompted 'Do you want to allow your PC to be discoverable by other PCs and devices on this network?' by the Network Location wizard. Turning on this setting prepares your PC for sharing files and devices on a network. Based on the network location you choose, Windows will automatically assign a network discovery state to the network and automatically sets the appropriate Windows Firewall and security settings for the type of network that you connected to. You can change the network location anytime.
This tutorial will show you how to set the network on your PC to be connected to a domain, public, or private type of location for all users in Windows 10.
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to change the network location of a network adapter.
Public network = By default, the public network location type is assigned to any new networks when they are first connected. A public network is considered to be shared with the world, with no protection between the local computer and any other computer. Therefore, the Windows Firewall rules associated with the public profile are the most restrictive. This blocks the following apps and services from working: PlayTo, file sharing, network discovery, and automatic setup of network printers, TVs, and other devices.
Private network = A private network location type can be for home or small office networks, or when you know and trust the people and devices on the network. This setting allows your PC to connect to a homegroup and devices on the network, such as printers.
Domain network = The domain network location type is detected when the local computer is a member of an Active Directory domain, and the local computer can authenticate to a domain controller for that domain through one of its network connections.
Private network = A private network location type can be for home or small office networks, or when you know and trust the people and devices on the network. This setting allows your PC to connect to a homegroup and devices on the network, such as printers.
Domain network = The domain network location type is detected when the local computer is a member of an Active Directory domain, and the local computer can authenticate to a domain controller for that domain through one of its network connections.
- Option One: To Change a Network Location in Settings app
- Option Two: To Change a Network Location in Registry Editor
- Option Three: To Change a Network Location Local Security Policy
- Option Four: To Change a Network Location in PowerShell
- Option Five: To Change Network Location of Current Network Connection in PowerShell
- Option Six: To Change Network Location of Current Network Connection using a VBS file
EXAMPLE: Network Location of adapter in 'Network and Sharing Center'
To Change a Network Location in Settings app
1. Do step 2 or step 3 below for how you would like to open Network settings.
2. Click/tap on your networksystem icon in the taskbar notification area, click/tap on the Network & Internet settings link, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)
3. Open Settings, click/tap on the Network & Internet icon, and go to step 4 below.
4. Do step 5 (Ethernet) or step 6 (Wi-Fi) below for you currently connected network.
5. To Change Network Location of Ethernet Network
A) Click/tap on Ethernet on the left side, click/tap on the Ethernet connection (ex: Brink-Router2) on the right side you are currently connected to, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
A) Click/tap on Wi-Fi on the left side, click/tap on the wireless network name (ex: Brink-Router2) you are currently connected to, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
7. Do step 8 (Private) or step 9 (Public) below for the network location you want.
8. Select (dot) Private or Public for the network location you want for this network connection. (see screenshots below)
9. When finished, you can close Settings if you like.
To Change a Network Location in Registry Editor
1. Type regedit in the search box (Windows+Q) on Start or taskbar, and press Enter to open Registry Editor.
2. If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.
3. In Registry Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionNetworkListProfiles
4. Double click/tap on the Profiles key in the left pane to expand it. Click/tap on each long GUID number subkey, and look at it's ProfileName string value in the right pane to see if it has the current network name (ex: Network) until found. (see screenshot below)
5. When you find the correct ProfileName for your network name, double click/tap on the Category DWORD value in the same right pane to modify it. (see screenshot below)
6. Type in a new data value number for the network location you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
Network Location | Data Value |
Public | 0 (zero) |
Private | 1 |
Domain | 2 |
7. When finished, you can now close Registry Editor if you like.
8. Sometimes you may need to sign out and in of your user account to apply the new network location.
To Change a Network Location Local Security Policy
This option will override Option One and Option Two above.
1. Open the Local Security Policy (secpol.msc).
2. In the left pane, click/tap on Network List Manager Policies. (see screenshot below)
3. In the right pane of Network List Manager Policies, double click/tap on your network name (ex: Network). (see screenshot above)
You can click/tap on All Networks if you wanted to apply this to all networks on your PC instead of a single network.
4. Do step 5 (Not configured), step 6 (Private), or step 7 (Public) below for what you would like to do.
5. To Allow Network Location to be changed by OPTION ONE and OPTION TWO
NOTE:This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Network Location tab. (see screenshot below)
B) Under Location type, select (dot) Not configured.
C) Under User permissions, select (dot) Not configured.
D) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below.
A) Click/tap on the Network Location tab. (see screenshot below)
B) Under Location type, select (dot) Private.
C) Under User permissions, select (dot) User cannot change location.
D) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below.
A) Click/tap on the Network Location tab. (see screenshot below)
B) Under Location type, select (dot) Public.
C) Under User permissions, select (dot) User cannot change location.
D) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below.
8. You can now close Local Security Policy if you like.
To Change a Network Location in PowerShell
Thank you to our member sm156 for pointing out this option.
1. Open an elevated Windows PowerShell.
2. Do step 3 (see current location), step 4 (Private), or step 5 (Public) below for what you would like to do.
A) Copy and paste the command below into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
B) Make note of the name of your network. For example: Brink-Router3
C) Go to step 4 (Private) or step 5 (Public) below for what you would like to set your network location as.
4. To Set Network Location to Private
A) Type the command below into the elevated PowerShell, press Enter, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
Set-NetConnectionProfile -Name 'Brink-Router3' -NetworkCategory Private
Substitute Brink-Router3 in the command above with your network name from step 3 above instead.
A) Type the command below into the elevated PowerShell, press Enter, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)
Set-NetConnectionProfile -Name 'Brink-Router3' -NetworkCategory Public
Substitute Brink-Router3 in the command above with your network name from step 3 above instead.
6. When finished, you can now close PowerShell if you like.
To Change Network Location of Current Network Connection in PowerShell
1. Open an elevated Windows PowerShell.
2.
Do step 3 (Private) or step 4 (Public) below for what you would like to set the network location of your current network connection.
3. To Set Network Location of Current Network Connection to Private
A) Type the command below into the elevated PowerShell, press Enter, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)
$net = get-netconnectionprofile;Set-NetConnectionProfile -Name $net.Name -NetworkCategory Private
4. To Set Network Location of Current Network Connection to Public
A) Type the command below into the elevated PowerShell, press Enter, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)
$net = get-netconnectionprofile;Set-NetConnectionProfile -Name $net.Name -NetworkCategory Public
5. When finished, you can now close PowerShell if you like.
To Change Network Location of Current Network Connection using a VBS file
1. Do step 2 (Private) or step 3 (Public) below for what you would like to set the network location of your current network connection.
2. To Set Network Location of Current Network Connection to Private
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Set_Current_Network_Location_to_Private.vbs
3. To Set Network Location of Current Network Connection to Public
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Set_Current_Network_Location_to_Public.vbs
4. Save the .vbs file to your desktop.
5. Run the .vbs file.
6.Unblock the .vbs file. (see screenshot below)
7. Click/tap on Yes or OK when prompted by UAC.
8. The network location of your current network connect will now be changed.
That's it,
Shawn
Windows lets you set each network you connect to as either a “Private” or “Public” network. When you connect to a network the first time, Windows 10 asks if you want your computer to be discoverable or not by other computers.
This option helps Windows understand the type of network you’re connecting to so it can select the correct settings. For example, Windows will behave much more conservatively on public networks than it will on your home network, boosting your security.
Public vs. Private
RELATED:What’s the Difference Between Private and Public Networks in Windows?
You can customize how Windows treats Private and Public networks, but here’s how it works by default.
On Private networks, Windows enables network discovery features. Other devices can see your Windows computer on the network, allowing for easy file sharing and other networked features. Windows will also use the Homegroup feature to share files and media between your PCs.
On Public networks–like those in coffee shops–you don’t want your computer to be seen by others, though, or share your files with them. So Windows turns off these discovery features. it won’t appear to other devices on the network and won’t try to discover them. Even if you’ve set up a Homegroup on your PC, it won’t be enabled on a public network.
It’s simple, really. Windows assumes that your private networks–like your home or work networks–are trusted networks full of other devices you may want to connect to. Windows assumes that public networks are full of other people’s devices you don’t want to connect to, so it uses different settings.
How to Switch a Network From Public to Private or Private to Public
You normally make this decision the first time you connect to a network. Windows will ask whether you want your PC to be discoverable on that network. if you select Yes, Windows sets the network as Private. If you select No, Windows sets the network as public. You can see whether a network is private or public from the Network and Sharing Center window in the Control Panel.
On Windows 7, you can click the link right below the network’s name here and set the network to either “Home Network,” “Work Network,” or “Public Network.” A Home network is a Private network, while a Work network is like a Private network where discovery is enabled but Homegroup sharing isn’t.
To switch a network to public or private on Windows 10, you’ll need to use the Settings app.
If you’re using a Wi-Fi connection, first connect to the Wi-Fi network you want to change. Launch the Settings app, select “Network & Internet,” select “Wi-Fi,” scroll down, and click “Advanced options.”
If you’re using a wired Ethernet connection, connect to that network. Launch the Settings app, select “Network & Internet,” select “Ethernet,” and click the name of your Ethernet connection.
You’ll see a few options for whichever Wi-Fi or Ethernet network you’re currently connected to. The “Make this PC discoverable” option controls whether a network is public or private. Set it to “On” and Windows will treat the network as a private one. Set it to “Off” and Windows will treat the network as a public one.
It’s a bit confusing because the Control Panel still refers to “Public” and “Private” networks, while the Settings app just refers to whether a PC is “discoverable”. However, these are the same setting–it’s just worded and exposed in a different way. Toggling this switch in the Settings app will switch a network between Public and Private in the Control Panel.
How to Customize Discovery and Firewall Settings
Windows 10 is clearly trying to simplify things by omitting any further options from the Settings app and just referring to whether a network is “discoverable” or not. However, there are still a variety of options in the Control Panel that take effect differently on public and private networks.
To adjust discovery settings, open the Control Panel, select “View network status and tasks” under Network and Internet, and click “Change advanced sharing settings.” From here, you can control network discovery, file sharing, and Homegroup settings for public and private networks. You could even enable discovery on public networks, if you wanted to do this for some reason. Or, you could disable discovery on private networks. By default, older-style Windows “file and printer sharing” is disabled on both types of networks, but you can enable it on either or both.
RELATED:What’s the Difference Between Private and Public Networks in Windows?
The Windows Firewall also has different settings for private and public networks. In the Control Panel, you can click “System and Security” and then click “Windows Firewall” configure the built-in firewall’s options. For example, you could have Windows disable the firewall on private networks but enable it on public ones, if you liked–but we definitely don’t recommend this. You can also click “Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall” and you’ll be able to adjust firewall rules to behave differently on public networks or private ones.
Set publicly accessible networks to public and ones at your home or workplace to private. if you’re not sure which–for example, if you’re at a friend’s house–you can always just set the network to public. You’d only need to set a network to private if you planned on using network discovery and file-sharing features.
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