If you share Windows folders, you probably noticed that when you browse Network Neighborhood ("My Network" in XP or "Network" in Vista), Windows broadcast your PC name to anyone browsing on the same subnet.
While this is no big deal, you may want to hide you Computer from being discovered, but still be able to connect to your shared folders.
To hide your computer from being browsed in Network Neighborhood, open a command prompt by clicking on Start \ Run… and typing the following:
net config server /HIDDEN:YES
If the command was executed successfully, you should see "The command completed successfully." or you can verify with the following command :
net config server
and check that the "Server hidden" status is Yes:
Server Name \\WTN1
Server Comment
Software version Windows 2002
Server is active on
NetbiosSmb (000000000000)
NetBT_Tcpip_{F08BC22F-B129-43DF-886A-850FA5A9EF7F} (000c29f61483)
Server hidden Yes
Maximum Logged On Users 10
Maximum open files per session 16384
Idle session time (min) 15
The command completed successfully.
Now reboot your Computer and when Windows has restarted, you will no longer be able to see it when browsing the network. When you want to connect to a shared folder, you can map the drive using the following syntax from Windows Explorer (Tools \ Map Network Drive…)
\\computername\sharename
So if I wanted to connect to the shared folder called media on my computer named wtn1, I would map it as:
\\wtn1\media
If you want to unhide your Computer, type the following at a command prompt and reboot:
net config server /HIDDEN:NO
Remember, hiding your Computer from the Network is by no means secure or a substitute for security. You should always secure your shares when necessary with proper permissions.
Comments on How To Hide Your Computer From Windows Network Neighborhood
Permana Jayanta @ 11:51 pm
It's not working. I'm using windows XP sp2 and my computer is still listed in Network Neighborhood. Is there another way to hide my computer in network neighborrhood ?
Florentalla @ 7:52 am
The methode does not work. I am using window XP sp2 and my pc is still appeared in the Network Places.
pkdavidson07 @ 3:32 pm
You must run CMD as administrator in order to do this. That's why it's not working for you!
Steve @ 7:05 pm
You need to reboot before it takes effect.
praveen @ 11:29 pm
it's not working
Josh @ 6:29 pm
It isn't working for me as well.
I tried doing it as an admin. But I can still see my computer in the network's other computer. (Both computers are running Vista)
Hades @ 10:21 am
Hi guys, is thera any way to do this in ubuntu(samba)
smokes @ 3:27 pm
awesome, everything works on windows7 ^_^
Pratzy @ 10:55 pm
Hi,
THIS WORKED AS A CHARM. FOR XP SP2,3 USERS, THE COMMAND WILL NOT TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY BUT AFTER SOMETIME COZ I DID SO AND AFTER AN HOUR OR SO MY COMPUTER STOPPED SHOWING ON NETWORK NEIGHBOURHOOD.SO DON'T PANIC AND HAVE PATIENCE…..LOLLLLZZZZ
bikram @ 7:21 am
hi guys,
i want to hide myself from ip scanner.. how can i do that?? need help.. its urgent..
RAZcracK @ 12:18 pm
bikram just download Zone-Alarm Firewall (It's free and works like charm) or any other firewall … An other thing you can do if someone has targeted your ip is to change your ip by restarting your router if your ip is dinamic or contact you internet provider if your ip is static…
aflam online @ 8:05 am
this not worked fr me tooo. i think you must check this
http://windows7forums.com/windows-7-networking/28459-cant-hide-computer-network.html
tutu @ 9:49 pm
how to push it from domain
i want to disable on all desktop on my domain
Wayne @ 9:07 am
Use PSEXEC from Sysinternals
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897553
psexec \\NameOfThePCYouWantToHide -AdminName -p AdminPassword NET CONFIG SERVER /HIDDEN:YES
I think an asterisk in place of the \\NameOfThePCYouWantToHide may affect all the machines on the domain.
Check it out in the manual. Help file or whatever.
You might not want to actually hide *everything*.
Dam1an @ 1:33 pm
Hy. Can you help me?
I don't know what happend but appeard a lot of networks and I don't know what to do to hide them and to show only my Internet conection called Bicu. Can you help me? How can I hide all other conection and let only my internet conection bicu showned? Just give me an email response in case I forghet the web page where I asked the question.
Dam1an @ 1:34 pm
Hy. Can you help me?
I don't know what happend but appeard a lot of networks and I don't know what to do to hide them and to show only my Internet conection called Bicu. Can you help me? How can I hide all other conection and let only my internet conection bicu showned? Just give me an email response in case I forghet the web page where I asked the question.
My problem: http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc152/arb0k/Networkproblem_zps33b2b86c.jpg
[IMG]http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc152/arb0k/Networkproblem_zps33b2b86c.jpg[/IMG]