files-community / files-community/Files

Bug: Network Folder: Raw UPnP/WCN broadcasts rendered as nameless 0B items instead of media devices

Open
#18,822 2 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
area - network drives
Dominant language
C#
Stars
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Forks
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PR merge metrics
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Description

### Description

The Files app misinterprets raw UPnP/DLNA and Windows Connect Now (WCN) device broadcasts, rendering them as broken, nameless `0 B` file entries in the Network folder rather than proper media server or network device objects.

The app leaks the raw Shell Item ID List (PIDL). When attempting to inspect the items on initial runs, they expose raw system paths structured like this:
`\\SHELL\FAAfWA0aLPAhvlBDiLBzZ_yW7zwAAA==\KgIAACQCu6+TOxYCBAAAAAAAkQAAADFTUFN+B8VPhra+RJPjhsr+NozNdQAAAAMAAAAAHxAAAAEAAAAwAAAAdQByAG4AOgBzAGMAaABlAG0AYQBzAC0AdwBpAGYAaQBhAGwAbABpAGEAbgBjAGUALQBvAHIAZwA6AGQAZQB2AGkAYwBlADoAVwBGAEEARABlAHYAaQBjAGUAOgAyAAAAAAAAAEkAAAAxU1BTAtXN1ZwuGxCTlwgAKyz5ri0AAAACAAAAAB8AAAAOAAAATwB0AGgAZQByACAARABlAHYAaQBjAGUAcwAAAAAAAADOAAAAMVNQU3ND5Qq+Q61PheRp3IYzmG4RAAAACwAAAAALAAAAAAAAAKEAAAAHAAAAAB8AAABIAAAAUAByAG8AdgBpAGQAZQByAFwATQBpAGMAcrosoft.Networking.WCN...`

The decoded path explicitly points to: `urn:schemas-wifialliance-org:device:WFADevice:2` via the `Provider\Microsoft.Networking.WCN` framework.

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/050ec007-9485-4464-a88c-6fc0e8906368

### Steps To Reproduce

1. Open Files App and navigate to the `Network` folder.
2. Ensure a media server application like MediaMonkey 2024 (v2024.2.2.3222) is actively running with UPnP/DLNA library sharing enabled.
3. Observe the blank, nameless file items with a size of `0 B` appearing in the main list view.

### Files Version

4.2.3.0

### Windows Version

10.0.19045.6466

### User ID

ac5276ea-1bdd-4daa-a10f-20c2daa0322a

### Log File

[debug.log](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/31101664/debug.log)

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start in the Files app's Network folder handling and inspect debug.log alongside the raw Shell Item ID List (PIDL) data described in the report. Trace how UPnP/DLNA and Windows Connect Now broadcasts are classified, then verify that media servers and network devices appear as named objects rather than nameless 0 B entries.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
csharp
Domain
desktop, networking, operating-systems
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
45/100

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