You can't turn on Network Discovery in Network and Sharing Center

This article provides a resolution for the issue that you can't turn on Network Discovery in Network and Sharing Center.

Original KB number:   2722035

You try to turn on Network Discovery on a computer that's running Windows Server 2012. To do it, you change the Advanced sharing settings in Network and Sharing Center. However, the changes aren't saved. So you can't turn on Network Discovery. And you experience the following issues:

• You can't browse or find any network share.
• You can't view shared folders on a local network.

This issue occurs for one of the following reasons:

• The dependency services for Network Discovery aren't running.
• The Windows firewall or other firewalls don't allow Network Discovery.

To resolve the issue, follow these steps:

1. Make sure that the following dependency services are started:

   • DNS Client
   • Function Discovery Resource Publication
   • SSDP Discovery
   • UPnP Device Host

2. Configure the Windows firewall to allow Network Discovery by following these steps:

   1. Open Control Panel, select System and Security, and then select Windows Firewall.
   2. In the left pane, select Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall.
   3. Select Change settings. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, enter the password or provide confirmation.
   4. Select Network discovery, and then select OK.

3. Configure other firewalls in the network to allow Network Discovery.

4. Turn on Network Discovery in Network and Sharing Center.