Projects and tasks are done easier when you collaborate with other individuals. Microsoft understands this need, which is why the tech giant developed a feature called ‘Shared Experiences’. So, you might ask, “What is the Shared Experiences feature on Windows 10?” Well, this is useful when you want to quickly transfer files to a nearby device. However, it is a bit different from the Bluetooth technology, in the sense that you can restart app activities that you launched on another computer.

People who do collaborative work or those who use multiple devices find this feature beneficial. However, you might be a network administrator who needs to block cross-device experiences in your virtual environment. Since you need to ensure that devices are not discoverable in your network, you must learn how to disable Shared Experiences. There are two ways to do this, and we will show them to you in this article.

Using Group Policy Editor to Disable Shared Experiences

You can disable Shared Experiences through the Local Group Policy Editor. Keep in mind that this feature is only available on Pro and Enterprise editions of Windows 10. If you’re using other versions of the operating system, we recommend proceeding to our next solution. To disable Shared Experiences on the Local Group Policy Editor, follow the instructions below:

  1. Launch the Run dialog box by pressing Windows Key+R on your keyboard.
  2. Type “gpedit.msc” (no quotes), then hit Enter.
  3. Navigate to this path: Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System -> Group Policy
  4. Go to the right pane, then double-click the ‘Continue experiences on this device’ policy. Double-click ‘Continue experiences on this device’.
  5. Choose Disabled from the options.
  6. Save the changes by clicking Apply and OK.

Once you’ve completed those steps, no one in your network will be able to use Nearby sharing through the Share feature. Moreover, when you check out Shared Experiences in the Settings app, it will be grayed out. Other devices won’t be able to discover your computer within the same network. Of course, you are free to revert the changes. You simply need to repeat the steps above, but on the fifth step, remember to choose the Not Configured option.

Using the Registry Editor to Disable Shared Experiences

If you’re using Windows 10 Home and you do not have the Group Policy feature, fret not. You can still disable Shared Experiences, using the Registry Editor. However, before you proceed, remember that editing the Registry can be risky. If you make even the smallest mistake, you can cause irreversible damage to your system. So, before you follow the instructions below, please remember to create a full backup of your computer’s registry.

  1. On your keyboard, press Windows Key+R. This will open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type “regedit” (no quotes), then hit Enter.
  3. Navigate to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
  4. On the left-pane menu, right-click Windows, then choose New and click Key.
  5. Change the name of the new key to System, then press Enter.
  6. Right-click the newly created System key.
  7. Select New, then click DWORD (32-bit) Value.
  8. Use “EnableCdp” (no quotes) as the name of the new key. Press Enter. Input “EnableCdp” in Value name.
  9. Double-click the new DWORD key, then change the value from 0 to 1.
  10. Click OK.

After completing the steps above, your PC will no longer have the Shared Experiences feature. Moreover, it will not be discoverable by other devices in the same network. If you wish to revert the changes you made, you can follow the same steps. However, on the fourth step, remember to right-click the System (folder) key, then choose Delete.

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