Cannot connect digital camera to computer

Re-enable Windows Firewall, configure Windows 11 network discovery and its supporting services, and then delete and recreate the camera’s saved computer connection rather than using Add device.

1. Restore Windows network discovery

Turning off the firewall and enabling Media Streaming did not resolve this, and neither setting pairs the camera with its transfer destination.

1. Turn Windows Firewall back on.
2. Open Settings → Network & internet → Wi‑Fi → your connected network.
3. Set Network profile type to Private.
4. Go to Settings → Network & internet → Advanced network settings → Advanced sharing settings.
5. Under Private networks, turn on:
   • Network discovery
   • File and printer sharing

These are the Windows settings required for File Explorer to discover devices on a private local network.^1^

Then configure the discovery services:

1. Press Windows+R, enter services.msc, and select OK.
2. Open each service below, set Startup type to Automatic, and select Start if it is stopped:
   • Function Discovery Provider Host
   • Function Discovery Resource Publication
   • SSDP Discovery
   • UPnP Device Host
3. Restart Windows.

File Explorer’s Network view uses Windows discovery components to enumerate network devices; discovery then uses HTTP or HTTPS to obtain device information.^2^

2. Verify that the camera and PC can communicate locally

Before recreating the connection:

• Connect the computer and camera to the same router and Wi‑Fi network.
• Do not use a guest Wi‑Fi network.
• In the router’s settings, check that client/AP isolation is not enabled for that network. Isolation can allow internet access while preventing wireless devices from communicating with each other.^3^
• If the router has separate network names for its Wi‑Fi bands, temporarily connect both devices to the same one.

The camera message “cannot connect to server” does not by itself establish that Windows is rejecting device pairing; it can also occur before the camera reaches the PC destination.

3. Recreate the camera’s saved computer destination

The Add device pages in Windows are not a replacement for Canon’s own Wi‑Fi transfer setup.

1. On the camera, open its wireless/Wi‑Fi connection settings.
2. Remove the existing saved connection or computer destination.
3. Restart the camera.
4. Recreate the computer destination using the Canon wireless setup sequence for the exact camera model.
5. On Windows, open File Explorer → Network while completing the camera-side connection.

Canon documents computer transfer as a camera-specific setup in which the computer is configured as a destination, rather than as ordinary Windows Bluetooth/device pairing.^4^

Check the label on the camera before downloading software: Canon’s published support page here is for the PowerShot ELPH 360 HS, while the question identifies a 360A. Use only software and instructions listed for the exact model.^5^

If it is specifically an ELPH 360 HS A and the computer destination has disappeared from the camera menu, reports indicate that some “A” units may not expose the same direct-computer workflow. That is community-reported rather than an official specification, so confirm the supported transfer methods with Canon for the camera’s exact model/serial variant.^6^

Reliable transfer fallback

To retrieve the photos without further wireless troubleshooting:

1. Connect the camera with a data-capable USB cable, or insert its SD card into the computer.
2. Open Photos.
3. Select Import → From a connected device.
4. Choose the pictures and destination folder.

Microsoft documents USB and SD-card import as supported camera-transfer methods.^7^

Avoid enabling insecure SMB guest logons or disabling SMB signing: the available error does not show that this camera transfer uses an SMB share, and those changes weaken Windows network security.

References

1. Windows 11
2. Troubleshooting the Network Explorer
3. Network cameras
4. Canon FAQ
5. Canon Support for PowerShot ELPH 360 HS | Canon U.S.A., Inc.
6. PowerShot ELPH 360 HS A Unable to connect wireless... - Canon Community
7. What is Photos Legacy? | Microsoft Support