Missing Network Settings - "Find Devices and Content"

Anonymous
2013-11-29T13:30:12+00:00

Windows 8.1 -Under all my various network adapters there is no  "Find Devices and Content" box.

I've tried various fixes. Changing homegroup etc. Nothing work.

Please provide some guidance

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

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Anonymous
2014-01-11T17:54:45+00:00

I am not sure if everyone is checking at the right place if they are connected to domain network and they have 8.1 because only 8.1 has this option. Windows 8 has a different way to share devices and content.

For chromecast troubleshooting:

https://support.google.com/chromecast/troubleshooter/2995236?hl=en&ref\_topic=3447927#ts=3081637,3249450

Where to find the option to share:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/turn-sharing-on-or-off

I have been using Windows since forever and have used Apple too, so switching to Mac / Apple is not going to help. Its just another OS with the same fundamentals. Go figure it out in a Apple store if you want a demo.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-10-12T23:39:01+00:00

    My Win 8.1 is a wireless only laptop:

    I didn't have the HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Network\NewNetworkWindowOff 

    I also forgot all the wireless connections, which were listed and then reconnected to my home router

    When I reconnected, I was asked if I wanted to share files and printers at home with a yes or no answer choice (the implications of what kind of a share group may be setup at that time is unclear).

    The said switch was not there before I forgot all previous connections, after I forgot everything, or after I reconnected.

    More trial and error to go...

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-10-12T23:41:47+00:00

    My Win 8.1 is a wireless only laptop:

    1. I open registry editor
    2. Navigated to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Network\NwCategoryWizard
    3. and there was no "Show"

    Oh, well...

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-10-13T01:04:49+00:00

    But, I don't want to be told how to fix it any more, I want an APP!

    You mean a troubleshooter that actually does something useful or helps you understand what is really wrong?   <eg>

    FWIW I stopped using that "bypass the Network troubleshooter when you use the Homegroup troubleshooter in order to make the network Private" workaround by using  PowerShell  Set-NetConnectionProfile  -NetworkCategory "Private".   That works as long as there is no automatic invocation of a troubleshooter.   So, then I also started using secpol.msc  to say  Private  is OK.  Now I am less irritated by this dysfunctional UX.

    FYI

    Robert Aldwinckle

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-11-09T23:57:02+00:00

    I was having this same issue on Windows 10 Pro and finally found the answer, which I'm not crazy about.  I'm posting the answer here because this thread is a top search return.

    If you have User Account Control (UAC) set to "Always Notify," Find Devices and Content is not available.  This is a pretty bad flaw in logic.  UAC shouldn't interfere with this setting. 

    To bring back Find Devices and Content, I had to reduce my UAC setting to the default level, "Notify me when apps try to make changes to my computer," to bring back the option.  No other solution worked for me.

    Good luck!

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