Windows 10: Can't view networked devices in File Explorer?

Would be grateful for any assistance... Following the successful clean install of a dual boot desktop PC (W10 Pro V20H2 on one HDD, Ubuntu on the the second), I can no longer view any (of five) networked devices in W10 Pro File Explorer. I'm particularly interested in my NAS as it contains backups of personal user folders & files that I wish to re-install on the W10 Pro HDD. How can I use File Explorer to view networked devices? At present, the 'network' option is shown but it's empty. I'm pretty new to all this so simple explanations would be appreciated. Thanks for your understanding. PS no changes have been made to hardware connections or physical layout of PC or devices.

:)

 

Can't view networked devices in File Explorer?

Windows 10 deprecation of SMB1 has impacted users ability to view/access networked devices/shares as has already been noted here. Nevertheless, it is still possible to view/access these devices in Windows Explorer. The difference is that procedures for doing so are now different than in the past and this has caused many frustrations for users. This has resulted in various recommendations, hacks, etc. including the re-enabling of SMB1 which does solve the issue but leaves a security hole in your network.

Below are simple procedures that will enable a user to view/access a device/share in Windows 10 using Explorer without the hacks, etc.


Explorer default view when opened shows an overall view of locations and attached devices as seen in the screenshot below:





Explorer view when opened with This PC selected view of the PC and connected devices as seen in the screenshot below:



Note that I have defined a number of networked devices in this example that can be viewed and accessed in the This PC view of Explorer.

If you wish to add networked devices to the Explorer This PC view then you first need to understand the path statement necessary to define the location in the Add a network location wizard in Explorer. In the above screenshot locate the notation for Address bar. Using this space you can begin to enter a path statement that once verified works can be used to define the desired device path and add that device to the Explorer window.

It is important to understand the path statement syntax to accomplish a successfully verified path statement that will verify when executed. The use of the keyboard backslash character - \ is necessary to have success. In addition, you must provide either the IP Address of the device or location or the network name of the device and/or share. Example: \\192.168.2.100 typed into the Address bar followed by pressing the Enter key when Network is selected will gain access to a device as shown in the example screenshot below:



Note: The network shares shown in the above screenshot are all password protected so even though I can now see/view those shares to gain access I must provide the appropriate credentials to access them. All shares have the same owner. If my desire is to only add one of the shares here, for example the Backup share, I would need to refine the path statement to that share as follows - \\192.168.2.100\Backup. If I had done this then only the Backup share would be visible here instead of all the shares on the device.

A network name may be used to define a network location instead of using the IP Address of the location to verify the location path. This is not always possible as some devices will refuse to be identified by name. In the screenshot below I have now added a second network location which in this example is a FreeNAS server device by using the device location name in the path like this - \\FreeNAS.



As you go about verifying network device\location paths make sure you write them down so that once you have them defined and verified working, you can use the Add a network location wizard to add them to Explorer. Once you have them added, your network locations will only be a few clicks away.

Enjoy! *Smile

 

setting default view for Winodws Explorer Search Reasults

Thank you for the detailed response. To change the search result's view from content to list, we suggest following the steps below:

• Open the File Explorer and try to search for files.
• In the toolbar, open the View tab and click List
  to change the view.
• Once changed, close the File Explorer.
• Open the File Explorer again and try to search to see if the setting has been retained.

After performing the steps above, reply back to us so we can provide additional help.

 

Can't view networked devices in File Explorer?

Would be grateful for any assistance...

Following the successful clean install of a dual boot desktop PC (W10 Pro V20H2 on one HDD, Ubuntu on the the second), I can no longer view any (of five) networked devices in W10 Pro File Explorer. I'm particularly interested in my NAS as it contains backups of personal user folders & files that I wish to re-install on the W10 Pro HDD.

How can I use File Explorer to view networked devices? At present, the 'network' option is shown but it's empty. I'm pretty new to all this so simple explanations would be appreciated. Thanks for your understanding.

PS no changes have been made to hardware connections or physical layout of PC or devices.