Windows 10: Win 11 File Explorer Showing Some But Not All of Network Drives

I have a TP-Link Deco BE85 home network. I have 6 network attached storage NAS devices connected to the network via Ethernet cables Synology DS418Play, DS620Slim1, DS620Slim2, DS620Slim3, DS620Slim4, and Lenovo IX2. Also, I have a Dell XPS 9520 laptop connected to the network via a wireless connection. When I open Windows 11 File Explorer on my Dell XPS 9520 laptop, I can see all 6 NAS devices under the Other Devices heading. However, under the Network heading, I can only see 4 of the 6 NAS devices but not the Synology DS418Play and the Lenovo IX2. I am looking for help to get the Syno

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Win 10 Explorer not showing Network drives

Win Explorer shows my network as < empty > on one of my PC's

A little background info. I have 2 PC's and 2 laptops connected on my home network, all running Win 10 and up until a few weeks ago, everything worked fine. Have not added any new software or changed any settings unless inadvertently. Basically, it was working in the morning and not working later in the day.

So now -
Recently, all three other machines can see my PC as a Network drive, and can access it. However, on my PC, the Network listing shows as empty.

I've reviewed the Network and Local Services settings of one laptop and my pc but could not find anything relating to networking that was different.

I then setup some Network Locations using the " \\Laptop\Users " setup. This gave me an Explorer entry under My Computer as Laptop but clicking on it showed only a Default and Default.migrated folders. The URL bar showed > Network > Laptop > Users






Just for fun, I clicked on Laptop in the URL bar and lo and behold I had access to all the Laptop folders, which could now be navigated, AND, in the left hand pane, the highlight dropped from Laptop to Network. However, clicking now on Network said < this folder is empty >









So, I have a feeling that my network and sharing settings are fine, it's Explorer 11 that's acting strange.


Any assistance or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Windows 11 File Explorer not showing external drive

If Windows 11 File Explorer is not showing an external drive that is connected to your device, there are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Check the connection: Make sure that the external drive is properly connected to your device. Try unplugging and replugging the drive, or connecting it to a different USB port.
   
2. Check Disk Management: Open Disk Management by pressing Windows key + X, then selecting Disk Management. Look for the external drive in the list of drives. If it appears but has no drive letter assigned, right-click on it and select "Change Drive Letter and Paths". Assign a drive letter to the external drive, and then check if it appears in File Explorer.
   
3. Update drivers: Make sure that your device's drivers are up to date, particularly the drivers for your USB ports. Use the Device Manager to check for any outdated or malfunctioning drivers, and update or reinstall them as needed.
   
4. Check power supply: If the external drive requires a separate power supply, make sure it is properly connected and functioning.
   
5. Test on another device: Try connecting the external drive to another device to see if it appears in File Explorer. This will help determine if the issue is with the drive itself or your device.
   

By following these steps, you may be able to resolve the issue of Windows 11 File Explorer not showing an external drive.

 

File Explorer Not Showing Network Properly

I have two Win 11 Home 64 bit laptops and one Win 10 Home 64 bit laptop networked together. All my file and folder shares work and I am able to map all the drives I need on all machines. The Network Pane and the Navigation pane in File Explorer on the Win 10 laptop and one of the Win 11 laptops show all the devices on the network just fine. The other Win 11 laptop shows everything except itself and its shared folders. It shows them on neither the Network Pane nor the Navigation Pane. I have checked the settings in the Network and Sharing Center on both Laptops and they are identical. Both Win 11 laptops have the latest build of Win 11 installed with all updates- they were installed from the same ISO file. This problem shows up with both File Explorer and with several File Explorer replacements I have tried. I have no problem accessing anything, it’s just a little more difficult to do on this one laptop. It’s just very weird that this laptop will not show itself in its own File Explorer.

Can anyone help?