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How to change a network from public to private? RRS feed

  • Question

  • The network has been set as public.  How to change it to be private?  I suppose I used to be able to right-click somewhere and simply change it over.  However I can't find such option.

    I try to disconnect it and re-connect it again.  Doing so I hope that it will ask what type of network to be set to but it won't ask again.

    This is only Windows 8.1 Home system, not Professional.  So I don't have secpol.msc at my disposal.  Perhaps somebody can tell me where the regedit data setting is.

    I do not want to change only the advanced sharing settings.

    Monday, November 4, 2013 2:15 AM

Answers

  • Hi healee, 

    On Charm, 

    Settings -> Change PC Settings -> Network -> Connections -> <Connection you want to change>

    You can see Find devices and Content

    If you turn on the toggle, it is changed to Private profile.

    • Marked as answer by healee Tuesday, November 5, 2013 2:01 AM
    Monday, November 4, 2013 8:03 AM
  • Sorry, I didn't notice that.

    You can delete the network profile using the next command.

    netsh wlan delete profile name="HomeNetwork"

    Then you can reconnect to the network again and choose the type you want to.

    If you don't know the name of the profile, use the next command.

    netsh wlan show profiles


    • Edited by T. Kujala Monday, November 4, 2013 7:57 AM
    • Marked as answer by healee Tuesday, November 5, 2013 2:01 AM
    Monday, November 4, 2013 7:57 AM

All replies

  • You can do this by using the Group Policy management console.

    Start --> Run --> type gpedit.msc and press the Enter button.

    Navigate to the following location.

    Computer Configuration --> Windows Settings --> Security Setting --> Network List Manager Policies

    Double-click a network that you want to modify and select the Network Location tab.


    • Edited by T. Kujala Monday, November 4, 2013 7:20 AM
    Monday, November 4, 2013 7:19 AM
  • Thanks!

    Please notice that a home system in contrast with a professional system does not have all these fancy things. So no group policy editor or security policy editor!

    Monday, November 4, 2013 7:31 AM
  • Sorry, I didn't notice that.

    You can delete the network profile using the next command.

    netsh wlan delete profile name="HomeNetwork"

    Then you can reconnect to the network again and choose the type you want to.

    If you don't know the name of the profile, use the next command.

    netsh wlan show profiles


    • Edited by T. Kujala Monday, November 4, 2013 7:57 AM
    • Marked as answer by healee Tuesday, November 5, 2013 2:01 AM
    Monday, November 4, 2013 7:57 AM
  • Hi healee, 

    On Charm, 

    Settings -> Change PC Settings -> Network -> Connections -> <Connection you want to change>

    You can see Find devices and Content

    If you turn on the toggle, it is changed to Private profile.

    • Marked as answer by healee Tuesday, November 5, 2013 2:01 AM
    Monday, November 4, 2013 8:03 AM
  • Thanks guys.

    Both methods work.

    Tuesday, November 5, 2013 2:02 AM
  • This is a solution that worked for me with a Windows 10 home client.

    Hi,

    According to your description, my understanding is that you want to change the network location type of VPN connection from public to private on Windows 10.

    You may try to edit the network location type with registry key:
    1. Locate the registry key:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Profiles
    2. Click sub key of Profiles, check the PofileName in the right pane, and try to find one which displays current network name.
    3. When you find the correct PofileName, double click Category in the same right pane and change the value data to 1.
    4. Reboot your computer.

    Remember to back up registry key on your device before any change. You may try to restore from the backup if there is anything wrong after changing.

    Best Regards,
    Eve Wang

    Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Support, contact tnmff@microsoft.com.


    Staple Bench Computers

    Friday, September 4, 2015 9:48 PM
  • The registry change works a treat in Windows 10, thanks..  Category 1 = Private, 0 = Public
    Friday, February 19, 2016 6:11 PM