Windows 10 is a fantastic operating system, I mean I remember the day when it was full of bugs and issues back in 2016, but looks like developers have resolved almost every error and bug. Moreover, Windows will allow you to share files on another computer through the same connected network. Suppose you are a job employee and want to get a printout of a specific document, you can do that if the printer is connected to over the same network. And the same thing is applicable when you want to send a huge file to someone over the same connected network.

You can actually communicate with other computers connected to the local network. On the other side, some users are experiencing issues, they can’t see another computer on the network. As a result, they fail to communicate with other computers or do other activities. That’s obvious if the network fails everything fails to transfer, so your system needs to be connected over the same network in order to communicate with another computer.

In this article, we have managed to provide you with an ultimate guide that will help you to fix the “Can’t see another computer on the network” issue. So, make sure to read the article till the end. Without further ado, let’s get started.

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Troubleshooting Can’t See Other Computer on the Network

Let’s figure out whether the issue is from our end, if that’s the case, we need to fix the issue from our side. Follow each method mentioned below, if one works for you to stick to it, else try the next method.

Restart Your PC

Restarting your PC is the major and effective thing you can perform without wasting any time. “Restart your computer” that’s what the IT department suggests to employees who are using the computer. It happens that your side’s network line could go corrupt, a simple restart can fix the issue in no time. Here’s how to do it effectively:

• Visit the start menu, and click on the Power button and select to choose the Shutdown option.
• Let the PC turn off completely, unplug the ethernet cable from the PC. Wait for 10-20 seconds then plug the ethernet cable back to the PC. Also, perform a restart on your router or modem.
• Turn on your computer.

Enable Network Discovery on Windows 10 PC

Mind you, you will not able to see another computer on the line if your network discovery is disabled. That makes you hidden from the local network, and that’s the reason why other PCs find you undiscoverable.

• Visit Windows File Explorer, in the left sidebar, select the Network tab. That’s how you check whether your computer is connected to the local network or not.
• If you see the notification about Network discovery is turned off. Then visit Start menu > Network & Internet > Sharing Options > Turn on network Discovery. Or you can also press on the yellow bar as shown in the image below.
• Select Turn on network discovery and file sharing from the options menu.
• A window will appear which will ask you to choose between public or private networks. If you are using your own network, then select No, make the network that I am connected to private network option.
• Now you should be able to see another computer on the network successfully.

If you are unable to see the computers on the network, then assume that they are on disabled network discovery.

Disable the VPN connection

If your computer is connected to the VPN network, then you will be unable to connect your computer to the required local network. Therefore, you need to disable the VPN running on your computer. Here’s how to do that:

Step 1: Visit the Start menu, and open Settings denoted in the gear icon.

Step 2: In the Settings window, select Network & Internet.

Step 3: From the left sidebar, select VPN.

Step 4: Inspect which VPN network your computer is running. Turn off the VPN and restart your computer to apply the changes.

Check if your computer is connected to the network, stick to the method if this works.

Check Local Network Configuration

If you still can’t see another computer on the network by enabling network discovery or disabling VPN. Then have a look at your physical cables, faulty cables might be the culprit try to change the cable to see if this works. In case you are using any wireless connection, check if the access point is active.

Here, we will see if your PC is actually connected to the local network using a command using PowerShell.

This method needs the IP or hostname of another computer that is connected to the same network.

• Do a right-click on the start menu, and select Windows PowerShell or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
• Once the PowerShell window open, type ping x.x.x.x or ping hostname and press enter. (Replace x.x.x.x as an IP address or input the hostname.

If everything is running fine and the ping comment successfully responds to you with a reply, then there are no issues at all, you should be able to see the computer on the network.

It might possible that the issue is due to network configuration. If that’s the case, then we need to test the network configuration to inspect the issues.

• Visit the start menu and open Settings.
• From the Settings window, select Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Network Adapter > and click on Run the Troubleshooter.

The troubleshooter will detect the errors and issues and fix them then and there if possible. mind you, the troubleshooter will unable to fix the network configuration if the IP address is set up incorrectly. If your IP address is wrong, then it is impossible to communicate with other computers on the same network.

How to change the IP address on Windows 10?

Step 1: Single click on the start menu, and open Settings.

Step 2: Select Network & Internet from the settings menu.

Step 3: Select Status from the left navigation bar, and select Change adapter options.

Step 4: In the Network connection window, right-click on your network and select Properties.

Step 5: In the Properties window, click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and select Properties.

Step 6: In the IPv4 Properties window, enable Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically by selecting it, then press OK > close the window to save the changes.

Additionally, your router or modem could be the culprit why? Because it could be set on the “Wireless isolation” feature which is also known as client isolation or AP isolation. If this setting is enabled then you will not able to connect your computer to the local network.

Depending upon the router or modem you are using, take the help of a manual or you can search more to disable the isolation feature.

Reinstalling Drivers and Command Prompt Workaround

What we are trying to do here is to re-installing the network drivers along with Command Prompt workaround to see if this works. New drivers should be able to fix can’t see another computer on the network issue.

Step 1: Visit the start menu and type Device Manager into the search bar.

Step 2: Now click on the Network Adapters in order to expand the list of network drivers or adapters available.

Step 3: Right-click on the drive and select Uninstall device, this will remove the network adapter.

Step 4: If prompted click on OK, the network adapter will get removed from the list.

Step 5: Repeat the process for all the network drivers which is listed under the Network Adapters section.

Step 6: Now do a right-click on the start menu, and select Command Prompt.

Step 7: Type the following command, you can also copy-paste the command and press Enter.

ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /registerdnsipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
netsh int ip reset
netsh winsock reset

Step 8: Restart your computer, Windows will automatically install the drivers.

Configure Firewall

There are some features and services that get blocked on your computer, this block is due to the Firewall. A firewall can also prevent your computer to connect over the local network. Follow the steps mentioned below to allow the Firewall to connected your computer to the local network.

Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the Run box.

Step 2: Type Control Panel and press Enter.

Step 3: In Control Panel, click on View By option and select Large Icons.

Step 4: Select Windows Defender Firewall, and then select Allow an app or Feature through Firewall from the left sidebar.

Step 5: Click on the Change Settings option and grant the admin permission to change the settings.

Step 6: Check Public as well as Private options for File and Printer Sharing over SMB Direct option.

Step 7: Save your changes and close the window.

See if you are able to see computers on the network.

Enable Computer Browser Service on Windows 10

When nothing is working on your computer, try enabling the Computer Browser service system. Computer Browser service issued by Windows to list the local computer on the same local area connection.

Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the Run box.

Step 2: Type services.msc and press OK.

Step 3: In the Services management console window, search Computer Browser service. Check if the service is Stopped or Disabled in the status section, enable the service by selecting the service, and press the Properties option.

Step 4: In the Computer Browser Properties window, select the Startup type to Automatic, and select Start and press OK to save the changes made.

Change Network Profile

If you don’t select the network profile correctly, you won’t able to share any printer files on the network. So we need to change the network profile to see if this works.

Step 1: Visit the start menu and open Settings.

Step 2: In the Setting window, select the Network and Internet option.

Step 3: Select Status from the left sidebar and select the Change Connection Properties button.

Step 4: Here, keep the profile Private, this will allow communicating to the computers that you trust and connected to computers over the same network.

See if you are able to see the computer on the network.

Use Command Prompt to change Master Browser

Here, we are using Command Prompt in order to change the registry configurations. This will also change the Master Browser due to which issues encounter.

Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the Run box.

Step 2: Type Regedit and press enter in order to open the registry.

Step 3: Now navigate to the following location in the Registry Editor.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser\Parameters

Step 4: Double click on the MaintainServerList option and set it to Yes.

Step 5: Do a right-click on the empty space and then click on the New option.

Step 6: Select the String Value from the list and name it IsDomainMaster.

Step 7: Select the value to True and close the registry editor.

Changing Adapter Configurations

Here, we will change the adapter configurations in order to see your computer to see the computer on the same network.

Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the Run box.

Step 2: Type ncpa.cpl and press enter to open the network configuration panel.

Step 3: Right-click on the Network Adapter that you use and select Properties.

Step 4: Select Link-Layer Topology drivers in the list and select Install.

Close the network configuration panel and see if this works.

See other computers on the network on macOS

Follow the steps mentioned below.

• Visit the Finder app and click on the Network tab, to see another computer on macOS.
• If you cannot see any device, go to the Finder app and click on Go > Connect to Server.
• In Connect to Server window, type the IP address and hostname for the PC that you want to connect to. Once done, select Connect.
• If you are still unable to connect the device, visit Finder > Preferences > under the Sidebar tab tick Connected servers.

Further, check your Wi-Fi or internet connection if you are still unable to see another computer on the network.

See other computers on the network on Linux

the process of checking computers on the network is different on Linux. This is done by using the software packages and commands.

• Use arp-scan network scanning tool in order to scan network devices. For this, install wen need to install the package on all devices to run the scan. Open terminal and type sudo apt install arp-scan.
• Once done, type arp-scan -l in the command and press enter. (You can also use sudo arp-scan -l if this doesn’t work).
• List fo devices will appear ith IP address, MAC address, and device types.
• If this works you will be able to see the computer on the network on Linux. Else, the problem lies in the network configurations or firewall.
• For Ubuntu users, open File Manager and select the Other Locations tab in order to see the connected devices on the network.

What if Nothing Works?

All the troubleshooting methods mentioned above are valid fixes. At this point “Can’t see other computers on the network” issue should get resolved. If you are still unable to fix the issues, then we recommend resetting your Windows 10, macOS, and Linux operating system accordingly. Make sure to create a backup before performing resetting your operating system.

The last thing you can do is to re-install the entire Windows 10 operating system if nothing is working in the end, this might work. Or you have to make available any It expert to fix this issue.

That’s it for now, hope this helps! We are glad to know your thoughts in the comment section below. Till then, stay tuned for more info.

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