Computer Browser Service Defaults in Windows 11

Maintains an updated list of computers on the network and supplies this list to computers designated as browsers. If this service is stopped, this list will not be updated or maintained. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.

The Computer Browser service exists only in:

Default Settings

Startup type: Manual
Display name:Computer Browser
Service name:Browser
Service type:share
Error control:normal
Group:NetworkProvider
Object:LocalSystem
Path:%SystemRoot%\System32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs -p
File:%SystemRoot%\System32\browser.dll
Registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser

Default Behavior

Computer Browser is a Win32 service. In Windows 11 it starts only if the user, an application or another service starts it. When the Computer Browser service is started, it logs on as LocalSystem and running in a shared process of svchost.exe. If Computer Browser fails to start, the failure details will be recorded into Event Log. Then Windows 11 should boot up and notify the user about the Browser service startup failure.

Dependencies

Computer Browser cannot be started, if the following services won't start:

Restore Default Startup Configuration of Computer Browser

Before you begin doing this, make sure that all the services on which Computer Browser depends are configured by default and function properly. See the list of dependencies above.

1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.

2. Copy the command below, paste it into the command window and press ENTER:

sc config Browser start= demand

3. Close the command window and restart the computer.

The Browser service is using the browser.dll file that is located in the C:\Windows\System32 directory. If the file is removed or corrupted, read this article to restore its original version from Windows 11 installation media.