Windows 11 Strange Private network issue.

[HP8000Elite]

I have two Win 11 PCs . My wife's is Intel and mine is AMD. Both are connected to the router via cables. There is a Halo device which operates via a 4G network when the BT cable broadband signal breaks down.
The printer is wireless and both PCs have no problems printing. Neither of the PCs required wireless dongles for this setup to work.
HOWEVER.....
Both computers are on the Home private network.
There has never been a reason for either of us to access the PCs across the Home network.
However, I have bought a Trailcam, and I have to load the videos etc onto my computer via an SD card interface ( to save messing about with the smartphone).
Rather than load them onto her computer, I thought she could see the pictures across the private network on my computer.
WRONG!

Her computer cannot see mine, although I can see hers.

When I look at the router from both ends I see that hers has 2 IP addresses -one wired and one wirelss, whereas mine has only one address.
I inserted a wireless dongle in my PC.
When I look in Settings the wireless network shows up. Investigating further for networks to connect to, I find apart from the router and EE options there is a Hidden network.

Why is this and is it relevant?

I have read about Windows Updates causing Network problems.
There was a time when the private network allowed the PCs to see each other.

Why has this changed?

As a matter of interest my Samsung A25 can link to my PC

 

[ChatGPT]

Hi HP8000Elite,
The Hidden network is almost certainly just a Wi‑Fi network whose SSID/name is not being broadcast. It is usually not relevant to your wired PC-to-PC sharing problem unless one PC is actually connecting to it.
Your wife’s PC showing two IP addresses means it has both Ethernet and Wi‑Fi active. That can confuse Windows network discovery, especially if one adapter is on a different network profile or subnet. The fact that printing works does not prove Windows file sharing is working, because printers often use different discovery/printing methods.

Most likely causes​

Your issue is probably one or more of these:

1. Your PC is not allowing inbound file sharing/discovery.
2. Network Discovery or File and Printer Sharing is off on your PC.
3. Windows Firewall profile/rules changed after an update.
4. The two PCs are on different subnets because Wi‑Fi/Ethernet/4G failover is involved.
5. Windows “Network” browsing is failing, even though direct access still works.

Windows updates can change or tighten SMB/file-sharing behavior, but the first thing to check is the basic profile/sharing/firewall setup.

---

Step 1: Temporarily simplify the network​

On your wife’s PC:

1. Go to Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings.
2. Disable Wi‑Fi temporarily, leaving only Ethernet enabled.
3. Make sure her PC still has internet access.
4. Restart both PCs.

Expected result: both PCs should now be using the same wired router path only.
You can re-enable Wi‑Fi later if needed.

---

Step 2: Check both PCs are on the same subnet​

On both PCs:

1. Press Win + R.
2. Type cmd and press Enter.
3. Run:

ipconfig
Look for the Ethernet adapter IPv4 address.
Example:

PC 1: 192.168.1.20
PC 2: 192.168.1.25
Gateway: 192.168.1.1

That is good.
But if you see something like:

PC 1: 192.168.1.20
PC 2: 192.168.0.35

then they are probably on different network segments, and discovery may fail.

---

Step 3: Make sure both Ethernet connections are Private​

On both PCs:

1. Go to Settings > Network & internet.
2. Click Ethernet.
3. Make sure Network profile type is set to Private, not Public.

Private allows Windows discovery and sharing. Public blocks many discovery/sharing features for safety.

---

Step 4: Turn on Network Discovery and File Sharing​

On both PCs:

1. Go to Settings > Network & internet.
2. Open Advanced network settings.
3. Open Advanced sharing settings.
4. Under Private networks, turn on:
   • Network discovery
   • Set up network connected devices automatically
   • File and printer sharing
5. Under All networks, leave Password protected sharing turned On.

Do not enable SMB1. It is obsolete and insecure.

---

Step 5: Share the Trailcam folder properly​

On your PC:

1. Create a folder, for example:

C:\Trailcam

1. Right-click the folder.
2. Select Properties.
3. Open the Sharing tab.
4. Click Advanced Sharing.
5. Tick Share this folder.
6. Give it a simple share name, for example:

Trailcam

1. Click Permissions.
2. For a quick test, allow Read access.
3. Click OK.

For better security, share it only with your wife’s Windows user account rather than “Everyone”.

---

Step 6: Try direct access instead of relying on “Network”​

On your wife’s PC:

1. Press Win + R.
2. Type one of these:

\\Your-PC-Name\Trailcam
or:
\\Your-PC-IP-Address\Trailcam
Example:
\\192.168.1.20\Trailcam

1. Press Enter.

If prompted for credentials, use the username and password/PIN-related account credentials for your PC, not hers.
Expected result: the shared folder should open even if your PC does not appear under “Network”.

---

Step 7: Check Windows services used for discovery​

On both PCs:

1. Press Win + R.
2. Type:

services.msc

1. Check these services:

Function Discovery Provider Host
Function Discovery Resource Publication
SSDP Discovery
UPnP Device Host

1. Set them to Automatic or Automatic (Delayed Start).
2. Start them if they are stopped.

The especially important one is:
Function Discovery Resource Publication
That service helps your PC appear to other Windows PCs in File Explorer’s Network view.

---

Step 8: Check firewall rules​

On your PC:

1. Open Windows Security.
2. Go to Firewall & network protection.
3. Click Allow an app through firewall.
4. Make sure these are allowed on Private networks:
   • File and Printer Sharing
   • Network Discovery

If you use a third-party antivirus/firewall, check that too. Some security suites block SMB/file sharing even when Windows settings look correct.

---

Why your Samsung A25 can link to your PC​

That is probably using Phone Link, Bluetooth, Wi‑Fi Direct, cloud services, or another app-based connection. It does not necessarily mean normal Windows file sharing over SMB is working.

---

My recommended order​

Do this in order:

1. Disable Wi‑Fi temporarily on your wife’s PC.
2. Confirm both Ethernet IPs are in the same range.
3. Confirm both Ethernet profiles are Private.
4. Turn on Network Discovery and File and Printer Sharing on both PCs.
5. Share C:\Trailcam.
6. Test using \\Your-PC-IP\Trailcam.

If direct access by IP works but the PC still does not appear under Network, the problem is only Windows discovery, not actual file sharing.

---

If you reply, please post these details​

Please paste the following from both PCs:
ipconfig
Also tell us:

1. Your PC name and your wife’s PC name.
2. Whether \\your-PC-IP-address\Trailcam works from her PC.
3. Whether either PC is running Windows 11 23H2, 24H2, or 25H2.
4. Whether you use only Windows Security or a third-party antivirus/firewall.