How to Hide Network in File Explorer Navigation Pane

Windows 11 is the operating system of choice for the personal computers of millions of people all over the world. It comes with all the features and tools that may be needed by users from all walks of life. It can be used by engineers, scientists, store owners, students and office workers in the same manner. However, some features might not be needed by a group of users while others might use those features exclusively. For example, some people might use the Networks feature available on Windows 10 or 11, whiles others don’t need to access the local networks at all.

If you are also one of those users who do not use or access the networked computers from your Windows PC, then you can make your Windows File Explorer much cleaner by removing the Networks icon from the left side navigational pane.

Here is how you can hide Network in the navigation pane of Windows File Explorer:

  1. Open File Explorer by opening any folder on your storage drives.
  2. Click on the small down-arrow icon in the File Explorer top-right corner to make the ribbon bar visible.
  3. In the ribbon bar, first select the View tab and then click on the Options button.Hide Network Icon in File Explorer
  4. In the Options window, select the View tab and uncheck the checkbox labeled Show Network under the Advanced Settings list.Hide Network Icon in File Explorer
  5. Click on the OK button to save the settings. As soon as you save the settings, the Network icon disappears from the navigation pane of File Explorer.

At any later time, if you want to make this Network icon reappear, you can repeat the same steps except in the step 4 above, you have to place a checkmark in the “Show Network” checkbox. Apart from this link, you can also access the network from the old Control Panel and the new Windows settings.