Suddenly can't see other computers on network

We have three Windows 10 computers (2 desktop, 1 laptop) on a local network. All are in the same workgroup, all have discovery and sharing turned on on private/guest/all networks, password protection off, etc. Everything was working great until about a week ago. We don't know what happened, but suddenly none of the computers on the network can see the others. We can hit the Internet just fine, but if I want to print on the front desk printer from back in the office, I can't.

I've reset the router, rebooted all the computers, etc., and I am now running up the white flag. I've been researching this on the web and it seems like this is a common problem, but I can't find a solution for it. Hopefully one of you has one.

Thanks in advance!

Welcome to the forum. The problem will be with master browser NetBScanner - NetBIOS scanner

Run the tool on all PC's it will show which one is MB and often kicks things into life

Didn't do anything. I ran it on all three computers. It doesn't any one of them as being a master browser (whatever that is). On each computer, it did list the other two computers plus my printers. On each computer, I see the other computers in the network list. However, I cannot connect to the other computers.

csears said:

We have three Windows 10 computers (2 desktop, 1 laptop) on a local network. All are in the same workgroup, all have discovery and sharing turned on on private/guest/all networks, password protection off, etc. Everything was working great until about a week ago. We don't know what happened, but suddenly none of the computers on the network can see the others. We can hit the Internet just fine, but if I want to print on the front desk printer from back in the office, I can't.

I've reset the router, rebooted all the computers, etc., and I am now running up the white flag. I've been researching this on the web and it seems like this is a common problem, but I can't find a solution for it. Hopefully one of you has one.

Thanks in advance!

I have a similar problem on build 16199. It doesn't list networked computers under Network. I was able to access other computers by putting \\computername in the network address field. It then showed up under Network. I right clicked on the computername and added it to quick access.

One must be Master browser when you look for PCs on the network Windows doesn't actually look it asks the Master browser for a list that is what you see. If the MB is offline an election is performed and one takes over it can take 30 mins when a major update is done to PC it in effect becomes a new PC so it takes time to update list stopping and restarting browser service can speed it up

Hi,

I too have a problem with seeing boxes (4 Win 10 pro - 1 XP) on different computers.

All named Workgroup and all have Internet access.

In NetBScanner and can see all boxes on all computers

It shows only 1 Master box (my main one)

All Win 10 boxes see all except themselves.

XP box sees all including itself.

I go to Explorer in Win 10 x64 Creative on all boxes ...

1. Master box sees and can access all other boxes including XP

2. 3 Win 10 boxes do not see themselves, the Master box or the XP

3. XP box only sees itself.

Any suggestions please?

oz

Until MS fixes the Win10(1703) Network Discovery / Master Browser issue, these workarounds should work.

1. You should still be able to access the shares using \\COMPUTERNAME\SHARENAME or \\192.168.X.Y\SHARENAME ... So you can map your network shares. Map Network Drive in Windows 10 Windows 10 Network Sharing Tutorials

2. If your router has a USB port and supports File Sharing (you have a USB Stick or USB HDD). Connect the USB Stick or USB HDD to your router and check your routers admin to make sure USB / File Sharing is enabled. This should make your router the Master Browser. Shut Down ALL PCs, then start each one.
Note: You may need to reboot router, before starting PCs.

3. If you have a pre 1703 PC (xp,7,8,10-1607) on your network. Shut down ALL PCs, start the pre 1703 first, then start the other PCs. This should make the pre 1703 PC the Master Browser.

I had followed all of the network and sharing suggestions in this thread to no avail. A couple of months ago I lost the ability to see the other computer (a Dell desktop) on our home LAN, although the other computer could see me (a Thinkpad). I finally concluded that it must be a computer name problem. The computer that could see mine had been in the shop and its Win 10 installation was done over. The techs had used my name, not my partner's name, for the user account. I changed the user account name and the computer name. But could not see this computer from my Thinkpad.
I checked all of the sharing and networking connections and protocols. Could ping the other computer by IP address but not by name.
So I changed the name of the other computer. Went back to my Thinkpad and it could all of a sudden see the Dell. And its attached printer (whew!). I still could not access the files by signing in with the computer's user account name and password. But when I tried my name and my partner's password it worked. I am guessing the following:
1. The Dell computer name change that I first performed must have been a problem and worked fine with the second name change.
2. After a fresh Win 10 installation, a change of name for the user account results in some residue of the earlier name [because I could not sign in across the network without using the name that had been replaced.]

I have spent many hours on the problem of not seeing the Dell, as I could not print. It was a very quirky problem in this case. And I am relieved to have resolved the issue.

This is one of the most frustrating problems I've come across. I hope posting in this old thread gets attention, because it is relevant to the problem, and similar to the other posters. I've tried to use some of the tools listed here.

4 computers are involved:
A--a desktop with LAN cable
B--a laptop with wireless
C--another laptop with wireless
D--a desktop server with LAN cable--however, this is being used as a NAS, and is not on Windows.

From Desktop A with LAN cable: This can only see laptop B in Network. Nothing else appears, including A itself.
Using NetBScanner on Desktop A, I can see BOTH laptops B & C (although C does not turn up on Network.) Neither is indicated as a Master Browser.

From Laptop B on wireless: This machine can see all four computers, including itself. However, using NetBScanner on Laptop B, I can see only Desktop A. Nothing else is listed. A is indicated as not the Master Browser. (BTW, all 4 computers are using the same workgroup name; HOWEVER, when I checked, I found that in one of the recent Win 10 "upgrades" Windows decided to change this to "WORKGROUP". How do they get away with this?) The irony is that, although I changed it back to my chosen workgroup name, I don't see that this has made ANY difference.

From Laptop C on wirelss: Interesting that I can only see Laptop C (itself) and Desktops A & D in the network. I think earlier I did see Laptop B there, but I'm not at the moment.
Using NetBScanner on Laptop B, I can see Desktop A and Laptop B. Nothing else is listed. Neither is indicated as the Master Browser.

Since none of these computers is listed as Master Browser, you might wonder who is? I suspect it's the NAS, which is running all the time, so it is always first in line. However, NetBScanner does not tell me this.Sharing is the same throughout--Password protected by user, and I think everything else is the same. However, the NAS may follow a different scheme.
How does one deal with this hodge-podge of information that does not seem to follow any rhyme or reason? Some computers have no trouble finding the NAS, and quickly. Others cannot even find themselves, after many tries.

I posted a week ago that I had solved not seeing the Dell on our home LAN from my Thinkpad. I changed the computer name of the Dell and suddenly it was visible. But, alas, not so two days later. Nothing in our environment had changed, no new apps, no new networks. The Dell has disappeared again. Grrr.