How to Add or Remove the Network Item in the Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 11

The Network section in File Explorer sits in the navigation pane and shows nearby devices and shared resources. In many environments, that visibility adds little value, especially on shared systems or managed devices where network browsing isn’t part of the workflow.

Windows 11 allows you to show or hide the Network entry, giving you control over the File Explorer layout without affecting network access. This guide shows you how to add or remove “Network” from File Explorer in Windows 11 and verify the change directly.

📌 Recommended deployment strategies:

Methods to add or remove “Network” from File Explorer in Windows 11

Before you start, confirm that your system meets the following requirements.

📌 General prerequisites:

• A Windows 11 device

• Administrator rights for registry edits

• File Explorer set to show Navigation Pane items

Pre-check: Confirm navigation pane visibility

Before you start, check whether the Network item already appears in File Explorer. Windows 11 doesn’t offer a direct GUI toggle for Network visibility, but the Network entry will not appear if the navigation pane is disabled. This pre-check helps you avoid unnecessary registry edits later on.

Steps:

1. Press Win + E to open the File Explorer.
2. Click the View menu in the toolbar.
3. Select Show.
4. Confirm the Navigation Pane is checked.
5. Look at the left pane:

• • If Network appears under This PC, no further action is needed.
  • If Network is missing, continue to Method 1.

Method 1: Remove or restore the Network item using Registry Editor (System-wide)

The Registry Editor provides direct control over whether the Network item appears in File Explorer. Use this method when File Explorer doesn’t offer a toggle, and you need a reliable, system-wide change.

⚠️ Editing the registry can cause system issues if done incorrectly. Back up the registry before making changes.

📌 Use Cases:

• Hide the Network item for a cleaner Navigation Pane.
• Restore the Network item after it was removed.

Steps:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and click Enter to open the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to the CLSID key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}

3. To hide the Network item:

• • In the right pane, right-click an empty area, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
  • Name it System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree and click Enter to save.
  • Set its value to 0.

4. To restore the Network item:

• • Delete the System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree value or set its value to 1.

5. Close Registry Editor.
6. Restart File Explorer to apply changes:

• • Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, find Windows Explorer, right-click on it, and select Restart.

Method 2: Use secondary Registry path for current user control

Use this method when you want to hide or restore the Network item for the currently signed-in user only. It relies on a user-specific registry path under HKEY_CURRENT_USER and works well on shared PCs or systems where system-wide changes can’t be applied.

⚠️ Editing the registry can cause system issues if done incorrectly. Back up the registry before making changes.

📌 Use Cases: Customize the Navigation Pane for your account only.

Steps:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and click Enter to open the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to the user-specific CLSID key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}

💡 If the {F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C} key doesn’t exist, create it manually.

3. In the right pane, create or edit the DWORD Value: System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree
4. Set its value to:

• • 0 = Hide the Network item
  • 1 = Show the Network item

4. Close Registry Editor.
5. Restart File Explorer to apply changes:

• • Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, find Windows Explorer, right-click on it, and select Restart.

Validation: Verify navigation pane behavior

After you apply the registry changes, confirm that the Network item appears or is hidden as expected.

Steps:

1. Press Win + E to open the File Explorer.
2. Confirm whether Network appears or is hidden in the navigation pane.
3. Expand Home, This PC, and Libraries to verify that there are no UI inconsistencies.
4. (Optional) Test access to a network resource using a direct UNC path.

• • Press Win + R to open the Run dialog, type a UNC path (e.g., \\server\share), and click Enter.

Network discovery and browsing dependencies

Hiding the Network item in File Explorer affects visibility only. If the Network node appears but shows no devices, the behavior usually points to network discovery services or protocol support rather than navigation pane settings.

The components below influence what appears inside the Network node. They don’t control whether the Network item itself is shown or hidden.

SMB protocol considerations

Legacy network discovery relies on SMB-related components. SMB 1.0/CIFS is deprecated and disabled by default in many environments.

To review or change SMB 1.0 status:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog, type optionalfeatures, and click Enter to open Windows Features.
2. Scroll down to SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support.
3. Disable it only if legacy devices or applications do not require it.
4. Restart your device to apply changes.

💡 Disabling SMB 1.0 may reduce the visibility of legacy devices. It doesn’t hide the Network item.

Network discovery services

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog, type services.msc, and click Enter to open Network Discovery Services.
2. Locate the following services and confirm they are running:

• • Function Discovery Provider Host
  • Function Discovery Resource Publication

These services affect device discovery under Network.

3. Set their Startup Type to Automatic if discovery is required.

💡 These services affect device discovery under Network. They don’t control navigation pane visibility.

Additional considerations

The points below clarify what changes affect Network visibility and what they don’t when you hide or restore the Network item in File Explorer.

UNC path access remains available

Hiding the Network item doesn’t block access to shared resources. You can still open network locations using a UNC path such as \\server\share unless firewall rules or Group Policy restrict access.

Group policy vs Registry

Group Policy can limit network browsing and discovery behavior, but the registry remains the primary method for hiding or restoring the Network entry in File Explorer.

Roaming profile behavior

On systems that use roaming profiles, navigation pane visibility may not apply consistently across devices. The Network item may reappear on another system even after you hide it locally.

Third-party file managers

Some third-party file managers don’t follow Windows Explorer navigation pane settings and may continue to display network nodes.

Enterprise-level restrictions

In enterprise environments, administrators often pair Network visibility changes with firewall rules or SMB policy controls. This approach manages both UI visibility and functional access separately.

Troubleshooting

Here are common issues that you may encounter when changing Network item visibility, along with their resolutions.

Network entry still visible

If the Network item remains visible after you apply registry changes, confirm that you edited the correct CLSID key: {F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}

Network appears twice

Duplicate Network entries usually point to conflicting registry values. Check for overlapping CLSID entries under both:

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID

Per-user values can override system defaults and cause duplicates when both exist.

Cannot browse network after removing item

Hiding the Network item doesn’t block access to network resources. If browsing fails, check whether SMB features, firewall rules, or network discovery settings changed during troubleshooting or hardening. Test access using a direct UNC path to confirm connectivity.

Navigation pane empty

If the navigation pane appears empty, confirm it is enabled in File Explorer. Select View, then Show, and check the Navigation pane.

Registry key not saving

If registry changes don’t persist, run Registry Editor with administrative privileges or review permissions on the CLSID key.

NinjaOne integration

When you manage multiple Windows 11 devices, applying registry changes manually doesn’t scale. NinjaOne lets you deploy and validate Network visibility settings consistently across endpoints using built-in automation and scripting features.

Practical steps to add or remove “Network” from File Explorer in Windows 11

Controlling how the Network item appears in File Explorer allows you to determine what users see when working in Windows 11. You manage this setting through the registry and confirm the result directly in File Explorer, which allows you to hide or restore the Network entry without changing network connectivity. This approach also helps keep the File Explorer layout consistent across devices.

Related topics:

• How to View All Network Shares on a Windows PC
• How to Turn “Expand to Open Folder” On or Off in File Explorer’s Navigation Pane in Windows 11
• How to Add or Remove Home in the Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 11
• How to Add or Remove Gallery in File Explorer Navigation Pane in Windows 11
• How to Manage Libraries’ Position in Windows 11 File Explorer Navigation Pane