Fix: Windows Server not showing up in Network in File Explorer

by Matthew Adams
Matthew Adams
Matthew Adams
Windows & Software Expert
Matthew is a freelancer who has produced a variety of articles on various topics related to technology. His main focus is the Windows OS and all the things... read more
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Some users utilize Windows Server PCs for their local networks. However, a few users have stated in forum posts that their Windows Server PCs don’t show up in Network within File Explorer on their client PCs.

Thus, File Explorer does not display all network devices within Network on its navigation pane. This has become a more prevalent issue since Microsoft removed HomeGroup from Windows 10 1803.

However, the same error can also arise on Windows 7 clients.

The Network icon windows server not showing up in network

How can Users Fix Windows Server not Showing Up in Network?

1. Check That Network Discovery is Enabled

  1. First, check that network discovery is on (for all the networked PCs), which enables the connected PCs to find each other. Users can do that by pressing the Windows key + R hotkey.
  2. Enter ‘Control Panel’ in Run’s Open box, and click the OK button.
  3. Then click Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center to open the applet shown directly below.Network and Sharing Control Panel applet windows server not showing up in network
  4. Click Change advanced sharing settings to open the options shown directly below.Advanced sharing settings windows server not showing up in network
  5. Is the Turn on network discovery option selected? If not, select the Turn on network discovery setting.
  6. Don’t forget to click the Save changes button before closing the window.

2. Turn the FDResPub Service On

  1. Users have confirmed they’ve fixed File Explorer Network not displaying Windows Server by turning the Function Discovery Resource Publication (FDResPub) service on. To do that, open the Run accessory with the Windows key + R hotkey.
  2. Type ‘services.msc’ in Run and click OK to open the window shown directly below.Services window windows server not showing up in network
  3. Double-click Function Discovery Resource Publication to open that service’s window.The Function Discovery Resource Publication service windows server not showing up in network
  4. Select the Automatic option on the Startup type drop-down menu.
  5. Click the Start button.
  6. Select the Apply option, and click the OK button to close the window.

3. Check the DNS Client, SSDP Discovery, and UPnP Device Host Services Are On

If turning FDResPub on doesn’t do the trick, there might be other services users also need to switch on. So, check if the DNS Client, SSDP Discovery, and UPnP Device Host services are turned off.

Repeat the steps outlined for FDResPub for those services by double-clicking them, selecting the Automatic Startup type option, and clicking Start for each.

DNS Client window The Function Discovery Resource Publication service

4. Turn on SMB 1.0

  1. The SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support feature needs to be on for network discovery. To check if that feature is enabled, launch the Run accessory.
  2. Input ‘appwiz.cpl’ in the Open box and click OK to open the uninstaller Control Panel applet.The Windows uninstaller windows server not showing up in network
  3. Click Turn Windows features on or off on the left of the Control Panel.
  4. Then select the SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support check box if that isn’t currently selected.Windows Features windows server not showing up in network
  5. Press the OK button.
  6. Restart Windows after turning SMB 1.0 on.

5. Turn Off Windows Defender Firewall

  1. To ensure Windows Defender Firewall isn’t blocking network discovery, turn off the WDF. Open the search utility by pressing the Windows key + S hotkey.
  2. Enter ‘firewall’ in the search box, and click Windows Defender Firewall.Windows Defender Firewall applet windows server not showing up in network
  3. Then click Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off, which will open the settings shown directly below.Windows Defender Firewall options windows server not showing up in network
  4. Select the Turn off Windows Defender Firewall settings, and press the OK button.
  5. If Network then displays all network devices after turning WDF off, click Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall on the WDF Control Panel applet.The Allow an app link windows server not showing up in network
  6. Click the Change settings button.Alllow application settings windows server not showing up in network
  7. Then select all the Network Discovery check boxes.
  8. Press the OK button.
  9. Then users can turn the firewall back on, which will no longer block network discovery.

6. Turn Off Third-Party Antivirus Software

In addition, turn off third-party antivirus utilities that might also include firewalls. Users can usually do that by right-clicking antivirus system tray icons and selecting a turn off or disable setting on their context menus. Alternatively, open the antivirus software’s primary window and look for a disable option on its Settings tab.

So, that’s how users can fix File Explorer when it doesn’t display all networked devices. Then File Explorer will show all networked devices in Network.

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