How to Enable and Disable Microsoft Computer Browser Service in Windows?

Question

Hi,

As I have learn that Browser service related with Network File Sharing and found out that it depended on SMBv1 Protocol, is it right?

How can I enable / disable that Computer Browser service? 

Does Windows 10 Support Browser service by default? Does Computer Browser service still working whenever my PC is connecting to private network or public network? Is there any differences for network type security?

Thank you for any help here.

Answer 1

Hi Bunseang,

The purpose of this forum is to support Microsoft open specifications, the technical documents that describe our on-the-wire protocols, including SMB and SMB2, for third parties creating their own protocol implementations.

You might find a better answer at either of the following two forums:

TechNet Windows 10 Networking forum:

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/home?forum=win10itpronetworking&filter=alltypes&sort=lastpostdesc

TechNet Windows Server File Sharing forum

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/home?forum=winserverfiles&filter=alltypes&sort=lastpostdesc

While the Bowser Service (not "Browser") does affect SMBv1, you should search on "How to disable SMB1".  Also, the relationship is inverse to what you cite: SMBv1 (and SMBv2) is dependent on the Bowser Service.  A quick search yielded https://www.thewindowsclub.com/disable-smb1-windows.  However, instead of relying on older posts, I would suggest reaching out to the forums I cited to get up-to-date information.

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Bryan S. Burgin Senior Escalation Engineer Microsoft Protocol Open Specifications Team

Answer 2

Here is Microsoft's guidance on how to enable/disable SMBv1 --

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2696547/detect-enable-disable-smbv1-smbv2-smbv3-in-windows-and-windows-server