Im seeing the same as ‘horses0987’; using windows 10 systems, 1809, 1909. WHen you click on netwk taskbar icon, then click on the connected network, Setting appears, click on the connected Network again, and the first thing appearing on the window is ‘Metered Connection:’. There is no ‘Network Profile’ as your example shows (also appearing below Metered conn. is ‘Properties’.
Does this mean there is a GPO or reg setting that controls what is displayed on this window? Or is your example from an older version of windows 10 (or newer) where the Profile is no longer settable from this particular setting window?
following your directions to set ethernet cable network from public to private. the directions show a public/private switch in settings. THAT SETTING SWITCH IS NOT THERE!!!! so how the hell do i set it to private so i can use my wifi shared over ethernet. it just says metered connection on or off. im using win10 pro j
Unlike Windows Vista and Windows 7, Microsoft has dropped the GUI to manage (rename, delete and merge) network profiles on Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 (Why??)
Unused network profiles accumulate in the registry. I was able to see computers with regular access to public hot spots, containing more than 100 network profiles in the system for no purpose.
So I made this piece of software to manage (rename and delete) network profiles on windows.
The program is very simple but you can read the text file in the 7zip.
I reset the network to ‘Private’ it reverts to ‘Public’. This means I can’t properly connect wirelessly to other devices on my home network. There’s clearly a different function that’s affecting this; I have no idea how to find it.
Thanks for any advice!
This article was GREAT! I had been trying to figure why some of the PC on the network did not see each other. Had everyone in the same work group but still could not see them. Step by step instructions for wireless or Ethernet.
Thank you very much. Instructions were soooo easy to follow and the screen shots were as per, – even for this 73 year old. Book marking this site is a must.
Hi,
worked fine with PowerShell commands except for the “Unidentified network” kind that resets to Public @reboot.
The GUI menus don’t exist in Windows 10 1607 LTSB
In fact, in secpol.msc Network List Manager Policies there’s a group “Unidentified Networks” (note the ‘s’) and here that kind of network can be forced to Public or Private
Would be great, if it worked like that. Maybe some day it will. It currently does not. There’s no ‘Network Profile’ to change and no ‘Make this PC discoverable’. Not sure what version you have, or where it came from, but out here in the real world these settings don’t exist. Running April Creators update on Pro version.
Why the fxxx did Microsoft tinker with this. In earlier versions of Windows, I could change it in 15 secs or less, now 2 hours later, I still can’t figure out how to do it in Windows 10.
32 Responses to “How to change the Windows network profile to Private (or Public)”
Im seeing the same as ‘horses0987’; using windows 10 systems, 1809, 1909. WHen you click on netwk taskbar icon, then click on the connected network, Setting appears, click on the connected Network again, and the first thing appearing on the window is ‘Metered Connection:’. There is no ‘Network Profile’ as your example shows (also appearing below Metered conn. is ‘Properties’.
Does this mean there is a GPO or reg setting that controls what is displayed on this window? Or is your example from an older version of windows 10 (or newer) where the Profile is no longer settable from this particular setting window?
Metered connections cannot be set as public or private. If you disable the “metered” network setting, then you should be able to see the switch. This guide should help: https://www.digitalcitizen.life/what-are-metered-connections-windows-10-how-enable-them-and-why/
following your directions to set ethernet cable network from public to private. the directions show a public/private switch in settings. THAT SETTING SWITCH IS NOT THERE!!!! so how the hell do i set it to private so i can use my wifi shared over ethernet. it just says metered connection on or off. im using win10 pro j
Are you using a work laptop managed by your company? Also, did you read the whole guide, including the part about setting this using PowerShell?
Unlike Windows Vista and Windows 7, Microsoft has dropped the GUI to manage (rename, delete and merge) network profiles on Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 (Why??)
Unused network profiles accumulate in the registry. I was able to see computers with regular access to public hot spots, containing more than 100 network profiles in the system for no purpose.
So I made this piece of software to manage (rename and delete) network profiles on windows.
The program is very simple but you can read the text file in the 7zip.
Hope it helps: https://www.mediafire.com/file/ulm9jwzyg5q7mol/NetProf10.7z/file
Ilanio Castro
set-NetConnectionProfile -Name “ATT3SL9q6I_2.4” -NetworkCategory Private
didn’t work. It still says public
‘Get-NetConnectionProfile’ is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.
What now?
I reset the network to ‘Private’ it reverts to ‘Public’. This means I can’t properly connect wirelessly to other devices on my home network. There’s clearly a different function that’s affecting this; I have no idea how to find it.
Thanks for any advice!
Digital Citizen instructions always seem to work for me…!
We’re glad that they do. Do not hesitate to subscribe to our email newsletter, for more useful tutorials.
could you include a screenshot of where the Network Profile option is in the Settings app? I could not find it there
However, working from the Powershell in admin mode did allow me to change the Network Profile to Private
This article was GREAT! I had been trying to figure why some of the PC on the network did not see each other. Had everyone in the same work group but still could not see them. Step by step instructions for wireless or Ethernet.
couldn’t change to private. Would not accept check to private
Thank you very much. Instructions were soooo easy to follow and the screen shots were as per, – even for this 73 year old. Book marking this site is a must.
Had to remotely connect to an employee laptop but Powershell worked for me.
Hopefully when they reboot, it will remember that it’s settings.
Powershell did it for me – thanks.
Hi,
worked fine with PowerShell commands except for the “Unidentified network” kind that resets to Public @reboot.
The GUI menus don’t exist in Windows 10 1607 LTSB
In fact, in secpol.msc Network List Manager Policies there’s a group “Unidentified Networks” (note the ‘s’) and here that kind of network can be forced to Public or Private
The box to select Public or Private never showed up so nothing worked.
Used the Powershell Command successfully , but upon restart it goes back to Public
win 10 v.1803 i have nothing on there that says
network profile
Would be great, if it worked like that. Maybe some day it will. It currently does not. There’s no ‘Network Profile’ to change and no ‘Make this PC discoverable’. Not sure what version you have, or where it came from, but out here in the real world these settings don’t exist. Running April Creators update on Pro version.
Are you on a business network, with a business PC?
Why the fxxx did Microsoft tinker with this. In earlier versions of Windows, I could change it in 15 secs or less, now 2 hours later, I still can’t figure out how to do it in Windows 10.
I totally understand your frustration. That’s why we wrote this guide, to help you with this issue.
I did this and under Wi-Fi it doesnt have Make this private.
I want to make a HomeGroup on my computer so other laptops can share, but I cant find how to change the bloody Wi-Fi to private!
“Make this PC discoverable” does not exist.
There is no “Make this PC discoverable” switch.
Nothing you have said works and I have tried everything to make it work!!
With all due respect, I already knew how to do that. My problem is why my all my photos keep popping up the windows app screen in photos.
I guess I’ll just have to figure it out myself again.
Even so, I really like your presentation. ๐
Same here, no option to find devices and content, just disconnect.
I don’t get a screen to ‘find devices and content’ , I only get button to disconnect.