Even though Windows hides your device from others if it recognizes that you are using a public network, this protection sometimes isn’t enough.

Of course, there are other situations when it doesn’t recognize the WiFi network, and it will ask you how it should handle security. In some cases, it won’t even ask you the question and which means that you will have to manually adjust the settings.

For this question to be answered appropriately, one has to check their version of Windows first.

#1: Windows 7

For this version, Windows will throw up a dialog box asking whether it is a Home, Work or Public network. If this dialog box doesn’t open up, that means Windows knows that it is a public network.

To make sure of this, go to the Start Menu’s Search field and type “network” and then select “Network and Sharing Center”. Now you can look for the network as well as its type. When you click that link, the very same dialog box opens up

#2: Windows 8

For Windows 8, when you log into a new network, you’ll find that a panel opens up on the right side of the screen which will ask you whether it should find PCs, devices and content on this network. If it’s a public network, make sure you select “No”.

To make sure that you’ve picked the right setting, then go to the Search Charm and type network as well as select Network Connection Settings. If the “Find devices and content” switch is off, then Windows recognizes it to be a public network. If it is on, make sure you turn it on.