How to Enable Device Discovery in Windows 11 Developer Mode
Device Discovery in Windows 11’s Developer Mode lets your PC be seen by other devices on your network.
Device discovery allows your computer to broadcast its presence. This makes it easier for other gadgets and PCs to find and connect to your computer.
You typically turn on Device Discovery when you need to test apps you’ve made, especially if you’re using tools like Visual Studio to deploy them to another device. It’s also essential for secure remote connections, such as SSH.
For most everyday computer tasks, you probably don’t need Device Discovery turned on. Keeping it off is generally safer and helps protect your PC.
Navigate to Settings System For developers and toggle Device discovery on or off. This feature allows your PC to find and be found by other devices on your local network for easier file sharing and streaming. Only enable it on trusted networks.
Before You Start: What You Need
- Administrator Access: You need to be signed in as an administrator on your Windows 11 computer to change these settings. To check if you are, go to Settings Accounts Your info
- Developer Mode: Device Discovery is linked to Developer Mode. You must have Developer Mode turned on in Windows 11 for Device Discovery to work. If Developer Mode is off, you won’t be able to turn on Device Discovery.
If you haven’t turned on Developer Mode yet, don’t worry. We’ll cover that briefly as part of the steps.
Option 1Turning Device Discovery On or Off Through Settings
Managing Device Discovery is most common within the Windows Settings app. You can turn the Device Discovery setting on or off directly within the Windows Settings app, which is accessible from your Start Menu.
Step 1Open Windows Settings
Let's open the correct settings screen. Here are a couple of quick ways:
- Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard.
- Or, click the Start button and then click on the Settings gear icon.
Step 2Go to Developer Settings
Once Settings is open, you need to find the options designated for developers.
- In the menu on the left side of the Settings window, click on System.
- On the right side, scroll down and click on Advanced.
Step 3Manage Device Discovery
You're in the right spot! Here, you'll find several options for developer features. Look for 'Device discovery'.
- To Turn ON Device Discovery: Click the switch next to "Device discovery" to turn it On.
- To Turn OFF Device Discovery: Click the switch next to "Device discovery" to turn it Off.
Step 4Close Settings
That concludes this method! You can now close the Settings window.
Option 2Turning Device Discovery On or Off Using the Registry Editor (For Advanced Users)
Why Use the Registry Editor?
You can manually change settings for direct control or when specific instructions require it. This manual control is helpful for configuring the same options across multiple computers.
Step 1Open the Registry Editor
Opening the Registry Editor is the first step to changing system settings like device discovery on Windows 11. Click the Start button, type 'regedit' into the search bar, then right-click 'Registry Editor' and select 'Run as administrator' to open it.
- Click the Start button.
- Type
regeditinto the search bar. - Right-click on Registry Editor in the search results and choose Run as administrator.
- If a User Account Control (UAC) window appears, click Yes to allow it to make changes.
Step 2Go to the Correct Registry Location
To change the device discovery setting in Windows 11, you need to find the right spot in the Registry Editor. Navigate to the exact path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\debugregsvc\Parameters in the left pane, or copy and paste it into the address bar.
In the Registry Editor window, examine the left pane. Carefully navigate to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\debugregsvc\Parameters
Alternatively, you can copy this path and paste it into the address bar at the top of the Registry Editor window, then press Enter.
Step 3Change the 'DebugState' Value
After finding the correct registry location, you'll change the 'DebugState' value to turn device discovery on or off in Windows 11. To turn it on, double-click 'DebugState', type '1' in the 'Value data' box, and ensure the 'Base' is Hexadecimal. To turn it off, type '0' instead.
- To Turn ON Device Discovery:
- Double-click on DebugState.
- In the "Value data" box, type
1. - Make sure the "Base" is set to Hexadecimal.
- Click OK.
- To turn Device Discovery OFF:
- Double-click on DebugState.
- In the "Value data" box, type
0. - Make sure the "Base" is set to Hexadecimal.
- Click OK.
Explanation of Values:
A value of 1 for DebugState indicates that Device Discovery is currently enabled.
A value of 0 for DebugState signifies that Device Discovery is disabled.
Step 4Close the Registry Editor
After making your adjustments, you can close the Registry Editor.
Step 5Restart Your PC (Recommended)
For changes made within the Registry to take full effect, restarting your computer is generally recommended. This ensures all system components adopt the new setting.
Summary
Device discovery in Windows 11 lets other devices on your network find your PC, useful for app development. For most users, keeping device discovery off is safer. You can easily toggle device discovery on or off through Windows Settings under System > Advanced, or by editing the registry for more control.
How to fix Network discovery is turned off in 🪟 Windows 11?
Click the [Start] icon on the taskbar①, then select [Settings] ②. Select [Network & Internet]③, then select [Advanced network settings]④. On More settings, select [Advanced sharing settings]⑤. You can create a separate network profile for each network type you use, to turn on or off the Network Discovery feature⑥.
Was this guide helpful?
About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
This article does not tell how to open or close the Device Discovery app using the Settings App
Thank you! Fixed the post.