Windows 10: How to change public network to private

My wife's laptop jumped into public network mode yesterday for no known reason.

I remember that it happened to my desktop last year, and I found instructions online showing how to change it back.

So yesterday we searched online and she found the secpol.msc method.
I rejected that solution because I "knew" that the policy editors are only available on the Windows Pro editions, and we have Windows Home.

Oh wait! I was wrong. Her laptop has Pro. S'good. So we did the secpol thing and it's fixed.

But back to my desktop ... which really is Windows Home. No secpol is available.
So how the heck did I change it back from public to private last year? I cannot remember.
Even if I remembered ... it might be moot because MS is always changing the settings panel with every new release.

So ... after that long-winded tale ... how do I change public to private on Windows 10 Home 1803 ?

:)

 

Change Network from Public to Private

Hi,

Thank you for your interest in Windows 10.

I suggest you to follow the steps below to
change your network from Public to Private:

• 
  Type PowerShell in Search Window and then right click on it and click on
  Run as Administrator.
  
• 
  Type the following command to find your interface Index:
  Get-NetConnectionProfile
  
• 
  Use your interface index (for example 5) with this command:
  Set-NetConnectionProfile -InterfaceIndex 5 -NetworkCategory Private
  
• 
  Now reboot the device and check if the network has changed from Public to Private.
  

Hope this information is helpful. Please do let us know if you need further assistance, we’ll be glad to assist you.

 

Changing Network from Public to Private

To use these steps to set a network to public or private, your PC must be running Windows 10 Version 1709.

To see which version of Windows 10 your device is currently running, select Start, then select Settings > System > About

To change a Wi-Fi network to public or private:

- Select Start, then select Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi

- Select Manage known networks, select the network you want to change, and then > select Properties.

- Under Network profile, select Public or Private.

Taken from:

Make a Wi-Fi network public or private in Windows 10

 

Changing Public to Private Networks and Vice versa

Yes. I can change the sharing options on the "Advanced sharing settings" dialog but that (unless I'm missing something) won't change the overall network setting from private to public or public to private.

I've found only two options (as the network profile toggle buttons) aren't present on any of my computers (Lenovo T580, 460, and 430)

Option 1

Opening PowerShell with administrative privileges

• Run the following command: Get-NetConnectionProfile
• See the network name you want to change its type and run the following command:
  Set-NetConnectionProfile -Name [name] -NetworkCategory
  Public
  
• Where [name] is the name of my network and then change the -NetworkCategory switch value to Public or Private.

Option 2

1. Run –> secpol.msc

2. Select Network List Manager Policies. This will list all the networks in the right hand pane.

3. Double click your desired network, go to Network Location tab.

4. Change the Network location type to either Not configured, private or public.

Note Can do this for all the connected networks, double click All Networks instead of your desired network.