Find Network Profiles and Categories in Regedit

Windows stores all saved and active network connection details—including whether a network is set to Public, Private, or Domain—directly inside the Windows Registry. This article details the exact registry keys used by Windows to manage network profiles, explains how to interpret their connection category values, and outlines the steps to view or modify these settings using the Registry Editor (Regedit).

The Registry Path for Network Profiles

To locate all network profiles stored on a Windows system, open the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and navigate to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Profiles

Under the Profiles key, you will see a list of subkeys represented as unique GUIDs (e.g., {A1B2C3D4-E5F6-...}). Each GUID corresponds to a specific network that the device has connected to in the past or is currently using.

Identifying Network Details

Select any GUID subkey under Profiles to view its registry values in the right pane:

• ProfileName: A string value showing the display name or SSID of the network (e.g., “Network 1”, “Home-WiFi”).
• Description: Provides additional details or defaults to the adapter name.
• DateCreated / DateLastConnected: Binary timestamps indicating when the profile was created and when it was last active.
• Category: A DWORD (32-bit) value that specifies the network’s connection type.

Understanding Connection Categories

The Category DWORD value determines the firewall and sharing rules applied to the network profile:

• 0 = Public: The network is treated as untrusted. Device discovery and local file sharing are disabled.
• 1 = Private: The network is treated as trusted (such as a home or work network). File sharing and network discovery are permitted.
• 2 = DomainAuthenticated: The network is authenticated against an Active Directory domain controller.

Locating Currently Active Networks

While the Profiles key lists all saved profiles (both past and present), Windows identifies currently active network connections using the Signatures key located nearby:

• Unmanaged Networks:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Signatures\Unmanaged
• Managed Networks (Domain):
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Signatures\Managed

Inside the Signatures subkeys, check the ProfileGuid string value to find which profile GUID from the Profiles folder is currently in active use.

How to Change a Network Category via Regedit

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Profiles.
3. Click on each GUID subkey until you find the matching network name in the ProfileName string.
4. Double-click the Category DWORD value in the right pane.
5. Change the Value data field to 0 (Public), 1 (Private), or 2 (Domain).
6. Click OK and restart the network adapter or reboot the computer for changes to take effect.