Finder Sidebar Locations: How to make Macs show up here

[Anuba]

I have a MBP and a Mac Mini both running Big Sur. I did everything I can think of to set them up exactly the same (where possible) for maximum consistency.

There's one difference that I can't seem to crack though: The MBP announces itself as a Location on the home network by showing up under Locations in the Sidebar in Finder windows on the Mini. But the Mini doesn't return the favor; it's not listed directly under Locations on the MBP, I have to click the "Network" item and then the Mini is listed there.

How do I make the Mini appear at the 'root level' of the Sidebar locations? Granted, the Mini is just a couple extra clicks away compared to the MBP... but they are highly annoying clicks!

 

[Dave Braine]

On the MBP, have a look in Finder Prefs>Sidebar and make sure that "Bonjour Computers" in the Locations section is ticked.

 

[Anuba]

Thanks, yeah I've tried that a few times to no avail. When I do it on the Mini, the MBP appears/reappears on the Sidebar within milliseconds. When I do the same on the MBP - bupkis.

When I introduce my third Mac (an old iMac), the plot thickens:

iMac's Sidebar:
MBP
Mini
(no Network item)

Mini's Sidebar:
MBP
(no iMac)
Network > MBP + iMac

MBP's Sidebar:
(no Mini)
(no iMac)
Network > Mini + iMac

All three Macs have ALL options ticked under "Show these items in the Sidebar"

No biggie, just annoyed by the inconsistency and the fact something that takes a single click on the iMac takes three on the MBP. Oh well.