UPnP - what is it?

UPnP is short for Universal Plug and Play. Connect and get started, that's what we automatically expect today when we want to work with a new device. When Microsoft developed the standard a few years ago, it was not so easy.

UPnP - a standard that makes life easier

Thanks to the UPnP process, which has been further developed by the Open Connectivity Foundation since 2016, the adjustment of the system components is usually automatic.

• You no longer have to worry about how to connect a USB stick or external hard drive to your computer.
• You simply insert the USB stick into the corresponding port of your computer and with the automatic device detection you can use the USB stick immediately.
• If your USB stick is not recognized, you will find a few tips on how to solve the problem in a separate article.
• The universal plug and play process works without any problems under Windows 7 as well as Windows 8 and Windows 10. Windows automatically recognizes almost any new hardware within a few seconds.

Set media streaming options

The cross-vendor plug and play process has since been expanded by Microsoft to include network devices.

• If the devices are network-compatible, you can use UPnP to integrate a television into your network as well as a stereo system, a lamp or the radiator thermostats. In this way it is possible for you to set up your own SmartHome and comfortably set the heating temperature a little higher on the go or to switch on the light shortly before you arrive.
• However, the prerequisite for this is that each device to be integrated has its own IP address. Normally, modern devices automatically integrate into the home network and then receive their own IP address, via which they are addressed. The Universal Media Server acts as the UPnP server under Windows.
• If a UPnP-compatible device is not automatically integrated, help manually.
• Right-click on the Windows start icon and under "Search" enter the term media streaming options. Click on "Media streaming options" and then on the button "Activate media streaming".
• Note: As convenient as the home network is, it is also dangerous. For this reason, the Federal Office for Information Security already recommended in October 2016 to deactivate the UPnP function on routers for safety reasons.

If you have a problem with your home network, we will show you how to fix the DNS conflict.