Windows 10: Difference between SSID isolation and Network profile type?

What I want to know is that on my laptop, there is an option called network profile type, public or private. I can choose public or private in connecting to the ISP router using WiFi. Besides, I can do AP or SSID isolation in the router settings. I think they both have the same effect. What is the difference between them? Note: I use windows 11 home

:)

 

Windows shows a network with known SSID as a hidden network.

In summary, I have an access point which shows up in Windows WiFi settings GUI as a "Hidden Network" but is NOT a hidden network. I am looking for a way to get Windows to recognize this network via its SSID.

1. The access point uses WPA2-Personal auth.
   
2. When a Windows machine (tried 3 different ones) first sees the access point, it shows as a "Hidden Network".
   
3. When I click on the network, Windows IMMEDIATELY asks for the security key (not the SSID).
   
4. Once I type the security key, Windows properly connects.
   
5. Once it is connected and I click on the "Info" icon, Windows shows the correct SSID.
   
6. From this point forward, Windows shows the network by its SSID (unless I forcibly forget the network).
   
7. Android/Chromebook/IPhone/Linux desktop all see the SSID of this network (none of them think it is hidden).
   
8. Running netsh wlan show networks mode=Bssid shows the network via its SSID before I ever connect.
   
9. AP is running on 5GHz ch165 (although I tried various channels across both bands).
   

This issue started happening perhaps 2 months ago, from one day to the next, on two separate Windows machines.

Although this might not seem like a big issue, I am working with an AP device that auto-generates a semi-random SSID multiple times a day (this is not an actual router), so the current Windows operation is rather frustrating. It is also difficult to explain to others using the same device that they have to click each Hidden Network in the list of Wifi networks until they find one that doesn't ask for the SSID, and 'trust' that it's the right one.

I am running Windows 11 Pro 23H2, 22631.3347, experience pack 1000.22688.1000.0. I tried the usual advice of rebooting, resetting network settings, ipconfig renew etc. I've tried asking Bing AI every question I can think of, and it has not come up with an intelligent or helpful answer. I DO NOT want to set up a profile manually and add it via netsh wlan add, it is not practical for target audience .

Any fresh ideas are welcome!

 

disable 2.4ghz network

First, get the computer to forget your current network:

• Click the Network icon on the lower right corner of your screen.
• Click Network settings.
• Click Manage Wi-Fi settings.
• Under Manage known networks, click the network you want to delete.
• Click Forget. The wireless network profile is deleted.

Next, go into your router and either completely disable the 2.4GHz radio or set the 2.4 and the 5G radios to different SSIDs, maybe the 2.4 can be your guest Wifi...

Then, on your computer, only join the 5Ghz SSID network.

The suggestion in the post above to just disable the SSID broadcast of the 2.4Ghz radio will probably not work, your computer will still join it.

 

Network Profile Windows 10

This did not work. the "Get" part worked and showed up with the status, but step 3 just showed a bunch of red text... Could you put a step by step screenshot set to show how it SHOULD be?