One of the common issues that many face after installing a Windows update is that network sharing stops working. The issue recently appeared with Windows Update on some PCs, but the problem could occur after updating Windows at any point in time. So, how do you fix network devices not showing after a Windows update error?
Network devices not showing after Windows Update
Try the following solutions if your network devices are not showing after a recent Windows update.
- Reconfigure your network settings
- Check your network drivers
- Uninstall recent updates
1] Enable Network discovery
After a recent Windows update, some users have reported the computer or other devices fail to appear in the network list. Because of that, they are unable to share files and printers between different PCs.
To double check if you run the “net view” on an elevated comment prompt, you should get System error 6118.
- Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Navigate to Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Advanced sharing settings.
- Over here, enable Network discovery and Turn on file and printer sharing.
To prevent further issues, make sure that all the devices on your network have Network discovery and file sharing. To cross-check, run the net view command again and confirm if the error does not appear anymore.
Read: Network discovery is turned off and not turning on in Windows
2] Check your network drivers
The issue also could be with a faulty network driver, and you can use the below steps to check and update them if required:
- First, press the Windows key + X and select Device Manager.
- Expand Network adapters and see if you can spot any driver with a yellow mark.
- If you see a driver with a yellow mark, the driver is faulty. In this case, you must download and install new drivers from the manufacturer’s website. Alternatively, you can use a free driver updating tool.
- Your drivers are working fine if you don’t see a yellow mark.
3] Uninstall recent updates
You can also go back to the previous version of Windows or roll back the new update. For this, follow these steps:
- Press Windows Key + I to open Settings.
- Navigate to Windows update > Update History > Uninstall updates.
- Select the recently installed updates individually, recheck your network sharing settings, and see if it fixes the issue.
Read: Latest Windows Updates not showing on my Windows 11 PC; Why?
Those were a few ways to fix network devices not showing after the Windows update. You should consider uninstalling recent Windows updates and only updating your Windows once a patch for the bug is available.
Read: WiFi does not work after installing Windows Update
Can Windows Update affect network connection?
Windows Update can affect network connections by updating or replacing network drivers, changing network settings, or introducing bugs. This may lead to connectivity issues like slower speeds, dropped connections, or failure to connect to specific networks.
Can Windows Update cause performance issues?
Windows Updates can sometimes cause performance issues. This happens if the updates are incompatible with hardware, introduce bugs, or demand more system resources. Outdated drivers and software conflicts after updates can also negatively affect your system’s performance.