How to Fix an Empty Network Connections Folder in Windows 11

2. Fix Network services that are not running

Network services required for network connections may not run, causing the folder to appear empty. You can check the status of network-related services such as “Network Connections”, “Network Location Awareness”, and “Plug and Play” services in Windows Service Manager. Make sure all those services are running.

network services list

Windows Service Manager you can open by:

  1. Press the keys (WIN + R) on the keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type “services.msc” (without quotes) in the Run dialog box and press the Enter key.
  3. A Service Manager window will open, displaying a list of all services installed on your computer.

3. Enable Disabled network adapters

If the network adapter is disabled, the Network Connections folder will not appear. You can enable the adapter through the  “Device Manager“.  Right-click on the disabled network adapter, then select “Enable device”.

enable network adapter
Other Interesting Articles

4. Turn on Windows Network Discovery

Windows Network Discovery is a feature that allows your computer to detect and connect with other devices on your network. If this feature is turned off, your computer will not be able to detect or connect with other devices on your network. Here are the steps to turn on Windows Network Discovery in Windows:

  1. Open the “Settings” of Windows 11 by pressing the keys (WIN + I) on the keyboard.
  2. Then navigate to “Network and Internet > Advanced network settings > Advanced sharing settings.
  3. In the Public and Private sections, make sure that the “Network discovery” option is turned on.
setting network discovery

Once you turn on Windows Network Discovery, your computer will now be able to detect and connect with other devices on your network. If the problem persists, make sure that the computer and other devices on your network are connected to the same network and don’t have connection problems. You can also try to restart your router to fix network problems.

5. Remove malware or viruses

Malware or virus infections can disrupt network connections and cause folders to appear empty. You should run a full system scan with antivirus software to check for any infections.

Latest Articles

Related Articles