How to Switch Network From Public to Private in Windows 10

 

Intro:

Need to change your network connection from Public to Private?

For the life of me I can't seem to remember how to get to these options. It's probably because I'm very used to the old Windows Control Panel and I am not a fan of the new Windows Settings. If it ain't broke don't fix it. I mean it's stayed the same for more than 25 years, why change it now? Well, that's another topic for another day.

There's more than one way to accomplish this:

1. The first way is the via the Windows Settings application.

2. The second way is through the registry.

Windows Settings Method:

1. Right click the Start Menu.

2. Click "Settings".

3. Click "Network & Internet".

4. You'll see your physical network connections in the list below.

5. Find the one you want and click on "Properties".

6. At this point you can now choose "Public" or "Private".

Registry Method:

1. Right click Start Menu and hit "Run".

2. Type "regedit" and hit enter.

3. Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Profiles

4. Each of the folders on the left is a GUID (Globally Unique Identifier). Essentially each folder/sub-key is a "network connection" that you've used in the past. Current connections are in here as well.

5. To find the right sub-key click on each GUID and look at the "ProfileName". Run "control /name Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter" from Start ➡ Run and these names will match those connections.

6. Once you find the correct profile name, change the value name of "Category" to one of the following:

• 0 for Public
• 1 for Private
• 2 for Domain network

7. Reboot for changes to take effect.

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