If the SQL Server Browser service isn’t running, it won’t find it (which you have disabled). You should still be able to connect to it even though it isn’t “discoverable”. Try connecting with (local)\SQLEXPRESS.
If the SQL Server Browser service isn’t running, it won’t find it (which you have disabled). You should still be able to connect to it even though it isn’t “discoverable”. Try connecting with (local)\SQLEXPRESS.