How to Hide Your Windows 10 PC From Other Computers on a Network

To hide a Windows 10 computer from the Network list on other PCs, set an untrusted connection to the Public network profile and make sure Network Discovery is turned off. You can change either setting in Windows. This reduces how easily other devices can find your PC for normal network sharing, but it does not disconnect your computer from Wi-Fi or hide it from the router.

For a coffee shop, hotel, airport, or other network you do not control, use a Public profile. At home, you can still turn off discovery if you do not want other computers to browse for yours.

Set the connection to Public

Windows uses network profiles to apply different sharing and firewall defaults. A Private profile is intended for a network whose devices you trust; a Public profile is the safer choice for an unfamiliar network and makes the PC undiscoverable for ordinary file and printer sharing.

1. Open Start > Settings > Network & Internet.
2. Select Wi-Fi and the connected network, or select Ethernet for a wired connection.
3. Open the connection's properties and choose Public under Network profile or Network profile type.

Windows 10 versions may label the properties screen slightly differently. If you cannot find this option, use the Control Panel method below. When you later return to a trusted home network and need file or printer sharing, switch that connection to Private and enable only the sharing features you use.

Turn off Network Discovery in Control Panel

Use these steps to check the sharing profile directly. The Advanced sharing settings page separates options by profile, so turn discovery off for the profile you are using.

1. Open Start, type Control Panel, and open it.
2. Select Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.

3. Choose Change advanced sharing settings in the left pane.

4. Expand the profile that applies to the connection—Private or Guest or Public.
5. Under Network discovery, select Turn off network discovery, then select Save changes.

If you want discovery disabled whenever you use this PC on any profile, repeat the setting for each profile you use. A work or school administrator may manage these options, in which case Windows can prevent you from changing them.

What hiding your PC does—and does not do

Network Discovery helps Windows find other devices and lets your computer be found for network browsing. Turning it off can remove the PC from other computers' File Explorer > Network views after they refresh. The change does not remove the PC from the local network, conceal its IP or MAC address from the router, or guarantee that no one can connect to it. A device that already knows an address may still reach a shared service if sharing is enabled and the firewall allows it.

Network Discovery and File and printer sharing are separate controls. If you do not need to share folders or printers on an untrusted network, keep that sharing feature off too. Leave Microsoft Defender Firewall on; do not turn off the firewall just to change visibility. If your goal is to prevent devices on the same Wi-Fi from communicating at all, use a guest network or client-isolation option on the router, if available. Windows' discovery setting is not network isolation.

Check the result

• Confirm the active connection is marked Public when it is unfamiliar.
• Return to Advanced sharing settings and verify discovery is off under the active profile.
• On another computer, refresh File Explorer's Network view. It may take a short while for a cached listing to update.
• If the PC remains visible, check the other profile you use and any organization policy. Do not treat visibility in the list as proof that someone has opened your files; access also depends on shares, permissions, and firewall rules.

Windows 10 standard support ended on October 14, 2025. Hiding a PC from network browsing is only one precaution; check Microsoft's current guidance for your update status and use a supported Windows release when possible.

Microsoft references

• Essential network settings and tasks in Windows
• Firewall and network protection in Windows Security
• Windows 10 security update and end-of-support information