What’s the Difference Between Private and Public Networks in Windows?

Windows lets you set each network you connect to as either a “Private” or “Public” network. When you connect to a network the first time, Windows 10 asks if you want your computer to be discoverable or not by other computers. This option helps Windows understand the type of network you’re connecting to so it can select the correct settings. For example, Windows will behave much more conservatively on public networks than it will on your home network, boosting your security.

Public vs. Private

You can customize how Windows treats Private and Public networks, but here’s how it works by default. On Private networks, Windows enables network discovery features. Other devices can see your Windows computer on the network, allowing for easy file sharing and other networked features. Windows will also use the Homegroup feature to share files and media between your PCs. On Public networks–like those in coffee shops–you don’t want your computer to be seen by others, though, or share your files with them. So Windows turns off these discovery features. it won’t seem to other devices on the network and won’t try to discover them. Even if you’ve set up a Homegroup on your PC, it won’t be enabled on a public network. It’s simple, really. Windows assumes that your private networks–like your home or work networks–are trusted networks full of other devices you may want to connect to. Windows assumes that public networks are full of other people’s devices you don’t want to connect to, so it uses different settings.