Missing Network Settings - "Find Devices and Content"

Well, I am not quite sure what to make about all this.

On some of my user accounts, I have the FADC option.  On others I don't.  Been through all the firewall settings, Advanced Sharing setting, Network troubleshooting, and my network type is Private.

If I create a new user account, I can have the FADC option so long as the new user account is an Administrator account.  If I change it to a Standard account, no FADC.

I tried a system restore to a week or so back, and it made no difference.

I could always try a refresh or completely blow away the OS, but it isn't worth the trouble.

Not sure what the FADC does.  I can still find and connect to printers and screen mirroring devices such as my Roku 3 even though I do not have the FADC setting.

In reading this thread and other related ones found with a web search, this appears to be a well documented problem and Microsoft's only comment is to restore, refresh, blow away the OS, or copy folders to new user account.  Restore and copying folders to new user account not working for me unless again I set the new user account as Administrator.

My Windows 8.1 appears to be otherwise working fine, so I'm not going to bother with this.

I have other problems with user accounts awhile back.  Microsoft needs to either resolve these problems with user accounts and not make the account profiles so easily corruptible, or else make it so each device can only have a single account like Apple does.  It is a good idea to have multiple accounts on a single PC, but in Windows 8.1 anyways Microsoft hasn't been able to make this a stable feature.  

In latest w 10 TP, there is no option for FADC as of yet.  Windows 10 is Microsoft's last chance for Windows to be a viable CONSUMER desktop platform.  If they can't make it easier for the casual user to set up and maintain, then Windows desktop will be relegated to enterprise only. So far Windows 10 looks promising.  Time will tell...

Update:  Looks like creating a new user account is the solution.  One can copy over their existing user folders to the new account to keep ones data.  There are instructions for how to do this is several places.  FADC also only works in accounts with administrator rights.

So stop beating your heads against the wall, folks.  Microsoft has weighed in with their response -- create new user account or try a system restore.

Good day!

I have the same problem, need to switch my network from public (as it was auto detected) to private to use homegroup network

I used the homegroup troubleshooter, it fixed the problem and changed it to Private, which I have no idea what has been fixed and how, this is typical microsoft you do things and just pray it works.

The issue still outstanding in microsoft's hands, I still do not see the Find devices and content as mentioned above , my Surface Pro has been updated successfully to 8.1 Pro.

I have the same problem and tried everything in this thread except reinstalling OS. How disappointing no fix to this from Microsoft.

OK, here's what I've discovered so far about this "Find Devices and Contents" problem:

1. I do not know what causes FDAC to disappear, but once it does, apparently it's gone forever.
2. The developer of the software, Microsoft, do not know the answer to 1) either.
3. If I go into the Control Panel and create a new Windows profile with administrator rights, the new profile will have FDAC enabled. But you are still SOL on the old profile where it's disappeared.

4) Sometimes Windows 8.1 suddenly and inexplicably goes **** up with BSOD.

5. The developer of the software, Microsoft, do not know the answer to 4) either.
6. The only fix Microsoft  has to offer is the rather blunt tool known as the "reinstallation of the OS".
7. After freshly reinstalling Windows 8.1, miraculously, I have back FDAC. Also I have hours of time spent restoring everything from backup.

In summary, one way to get back FDAC is to create a new profile and migrate everything from your old profile to it. Another way is to attempt a System Refresh. If you decide to go the latter route, it might be less painful to create a Custom Refresh Image which would increase the odds that some of your installed programs might come through the refresh intact.