17/11/2016 You cannot turn on Network Discovery in Network and Sharing Center in Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, or Windows Server 2012

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You cannot turn on Network Discovery in Network and

Sharing Center in Windows Server 2008, Windows Server
2008 R2, or Windows Server 2012

Symptoms

Assume that you try to turn on Network Discovery on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008,
Windows Server 2008 R2, or Windows Server 2012. To do this, you change the Advanced sharing
settings in Network and Sharing Center. However, the changes are not saved. Therefore, you cannot turn
on Network Discovery, and you experience the following issues: 
You cannot browse or find any network share.

You cannot view shared folders on a local network.

Cause

This issue occurs for one of the following reasons:

The dependency services for Network Discovery are not running.  

The Windows firewall or other firewalls do not allow Network Discovery.  

Resolution

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
https://support.microsoft.com/en­us/kb/2722035 1/3
17/11/2016 You cannot turn on Network Discovery in Network and Sharing Center in Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, or Windows Server 2012

SSDP Discovery

UPnP Device Host

2. Configure the Windows firewall to allow Network Discovery. To do this, follow these steps:
a. Open Control Panel, click System and Security, and then click Windows Firewall.

b. In the left pane, click Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall if you are running
Windows Server 2012. Or, click Allow a program or feature through Windows Firewall if
you are running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2.

c. Click Change settings. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation,
type the password or provide confirmation.

d. Select Network discovery, and then click OK.

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

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

Properties

Article ID: 2722035 ‐ Last Review: 01/22/2013 09:51:00 ‐ Revision: 1.0

Applies to
Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter, Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise, Windows Server 2008 R2
Foundation, Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard, Windows Server 2008 Standard, Windows Server 2008
Datacenter, Windows Server 2008 Enterprise, Windows Server 2008 Foundation, Windows Server 2012
Datacenter, Windows Server 2012 Foundation, Windows Server 2012 Standard

Keywords:
kbtshoot kbexpertiseinter kbexpertiseadvanced KB2722035

Support

Account support
https://support.microsoft.com/en­us/kb/2722035 2/3
17/11/2016 You cannot turn on Network Discovery in Network and Sharing Center in Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, or Windows Server 2012

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