How to Change Network from Public to Private in Windows 10

By Hally | Last Updated January 03, 2024

Windows grants users privileges to select a network type (private, public and domain) when a new network is connected to the computer. And private and public are two common types we usually use to change the network connection. If you really need to change network type from default public to private in Windows 10, please learn about them at first and then follow 4 ways to do.

What's the difference between public network and private network?

1. Public network:

You can select this type of network to refuse to communicate with any other network device or when you have only one computer in this network. Surely you don't need to change the network type generally to public at most of time because default network type is public network.

While network is public, Windows Firewall will use the Public network type rules to make your computer the most restrictive. It will help to block most of the apps from connecting from the Internet and disabling some features, such as file and printer sharing, network discovery and automatic setup of network devices etc.

2. Private network:

Use this network if you trust the network you are connecting to. And it is usually selected when you are in home or work network. You can share file, setup network device and network discovery etc when you select it.

So do you want to make network private when it is connected to your computer? If you do, please go on to follow the article.

4 ways to change network type from default public to private in Windows 10

1. HomeGroup in Control Panel
2. Registry Editor
3. Local Group Policy Editor
4. PowerShell

Way 1: HomeGroup in Control Panel

Step 1: Go to Control Panel Network and Internet HomeGroup.

Type "homegroup" in Search box and press Enter to find "HomeGroup" in Control Panel. Click it to open HomeGroup.

Step 2: Click on Change network location link.

change network location in windows 10

Step 3: This will open a charm dialog to ask you that "Do you want to allow your PC to be discoverable by other PCs and devices on this network?"

confirm network private

Click Yes button if you are sure to set your network to Home or Work.

Now go to "Network and Sharing Center" in Control Panel Network and Internet, you can see Network has become "Private network".

successfully change network type to private

Way 2: Windows Registry Editor

If you are an advanced user in your Windows 10 computer, this method will be easier for you to switch the network type between public and private.

Step 1: Press Win + R to open Run box and type in "regedit". Press Enter and click "Yes" to run Registry Editor.

Step 2: Go to following key in Registry Editor.

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

Under the Profiles key, probably you find some sub-keys. Select each one and look for the ProfileName key in the right hand pane. You would know the name of the network and recognize which network you want to change type.

recognize network to change type in registry editor

Then change network type by changing Category DWORD value in the right hand pane. Value data can be 0 for Public network, 1 for Private network and 2 for Domain network.

change value data to change network type

Just double click the Category and you can change the value data to 1. Connected network would be private.

Way 3: Local Group Policy Editor with Admin Rights

If you have administrative rights, local group policy editor also could help to change your network type in Windows 10 computer.

Step 1: Open Local Group Policy Editor.

Click the Start button, type gpedit.msc then press Enter key. Or type "gpedit.msc" in Run box and press Enter.

Step 2: Change unidentified networks location type from "Not Configured" to "Private".

1. Click Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Network List Manager Policies. And double-click on Unidentified Networks.

select network in policy editor to change

2. Change Location type from Not configured to Private then click OK to close the window.

change network location type to private

Way 4: PowerShell Commands

When you are logged in Windows 10 with administrator or account with admin privileges, you can make full use of PowerShell command to change network type, not only from public to private.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt (Admin).

run command prompt as administrator