How to Create and Join a HomeGroup in Windows 10

The Windows HomeGroup feature lets you share files, folders, and printers with other Windows computers connected to your local area network. Each computer connected to the HomeGroup can share its library of pictures, music, videos, documents and printers with other computers on the same HomeGroup. Any computer running Windows 7 or later can join a HomeGroup.

This tutorial is for setting up a Windows Homegroup in Windows 10, but the steps are also applicable for Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1. You can also check out our previous articles: Windows 7: How To Set Up Homegroup Sharing and Set Up Windows 8 HomeGroup Sharing with a Windows 7 PC.

Setting Up a HomeGroup in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10

To create your first HomeGroup, click Start > Settings > Networking & Internet > Status > HomeGroup. This will open the HomeGroups control panel.

Click Create a homegroup to begin.

Click in the list box under Permissions then choose the items you would like to share with other computers on your home network. These items are your libraries for your Windows user account. Read our article on how libraries work in Windows if you’re not sure what’s in these.

Wait while Windows configures your selections.

A password will be generated. Write this down; you’ll need to enter this when joining other computers to this homegroup.

Joining a Homegroup

Next, open File Explorer, click Homegroup in the Navigation pane then click Join now. If you don’t see HomeGroups in File Explorer, open Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Homegroup and click Join now. If you still don’t see Homegroups, read the Troubleshooting Homegroups section below.

Choose what you want to share and then click Next.

Enter the password generated earlier then click Next. This might take a while, so hang tight while Windows configures your homegroups permissions. If Windows no longer detects a homegroup, close the wizard then try again.

Browse Homegroups

To view the contents of a homeGroup, open File Explorer, expand homegroup then choose one of the available homegroups listed.

Troubleshooting HomeGroups

Before you can get HomeGroups up and running, your network environment must be set to Private. To do this, right-click the network icon in the Notification Area, click Open Network and Sharing Center, click HomeGroup in the left-hand corner of the window. Click the Start the HomeGroup troubleshooter link to begin troubleshooting then follow the on-screen instructions. You might also need to run the HomeGroup troubleshooter on the computer where you created the HomeGroup.

There’s another way you can configure your network as private: open Network and Sharing Center and click Change advanced sharing settings. Expand Private, select Turn off network discovery then click Save changes.

Open Network Explorer, then click the Network discovery is turned off banner then choose Private.

Another issue I discovered that can prevent HomeGroups from being detected is the date and time. You should ensure computers connecting to HomeGroups have synchronized clocks. Check out our article for instructions on how to adjust your date and time.

If you still experience problems connecting to HomeGroup, Windows Firewall might be blocking it. Click Start, type: Windows Firewall and hit Enter. Click Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall, click Change settings, make sure HomeGroup is checked, then click OK. Repeat these steps on each computer.

Managing Your HomeGroups

If at any time you would like to modify or change the settings of your HomeGroups, open Settings > Network & Internet > Status > HomeGroups. There you can update your HomeGroups password, change what type of media gets shared with other computers or leave the HomeGroup.

Conclusion

As you can see, getting all your Windows computers on the same page with HomeGroups can sometimes be a tricky process. But once you’ve set up your HomeGroup, sharing libraries and printers among your connected computers is incredibly easy and convenient. This is a great way to share photos with all your computers from your main PC or access a music library from a centralized location.

Do you use HomeGroups? Let us know in the comments.

Windows 10 HomeGroup removed / missing [Get it back]

• When Windows gets new features, you will certain hear about it. Less so when a feature is removed. Users found out that Homegroup is missing the hard way.
• While the concept of Homegroup is gone, following the instructions in this article will help you achieve the same functionality as if Homegroup is up and running.
• This article is part of our Windows 10 Guides Hub where you can learn about different things you can do with Windows.
• If you want to read more guides and tips, please follow the How-To section on our website.

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HomeGroup is a feature released by Microsoft within Windows 7 operating system in order to allow users to share files and folders easily. A HomeGroup is actually a virtual network set up between a series of PCs connected to a single home network.

Microsoft has removed this feature from Windows 10, as they consider that it is not useful anymore. The sharing features that were covered by the HomeGroup feature can be performed by using OneDrive or the Share function found in your OS.

Even though there are alternatives to using this feature, removing it caused a lot of people to be confused about how to share files as they normally did in previous versions of Windows.

What to do if you can’t find HomeGroup Windows 10?

Windows 10 HomeGroup replacement

1. Open This PC.
2. Check the left pane if the Homegroup is available. If it is, right-click the HomeGroup and choose Change HomeGroup settings.
3. In a new window, click Leave the homegroup.

Now check your Network and discovery settings by doing the following:

1. Click on Cortana search box > type in Control Panel > select first option in results.
2. Select the Networking and Sharing center.
3. Choose the Advanced sharing settings option.
4. In the Private tab, turn on Network discovery, and also File and printer sharing.
5. In the All networks tab, turn on Public folder sharing.
6. Click on Save changes.

Can’t ping other PCs on your network? Fix this problem right now!

Now change Services settings:

1. Click on Cortana search box > type in Services > select the first option from the results.
2. Locate the following services in the list: Function Discovery Provider Host, Function Discovery Resource Publication, SSDP Discovery, and UPnP Device Host.
3. Right-click on each of them > select Properties > set the Startup type to Automatic.
4. After doing this for each of the services mentioned above, click OK to save the settings.

Now check available shares:

1. Open File Explorer and type localhost in the address bar.
2. Create a new folder, and right-click it, choose Properties.
3. Go to Sharing >Advanced Sharing.
4. Check Share this folder option and click on Permissions.
   
5. Select Full Control in Allow column and click Apply and OK.
   
6. You should now be able to access the folder on the PCNAMEFolder_name address.
7. Bear in mind that this method isn’t the safest, so you might want to adjust your settings and only share files with specific users.

In this article we explored the best way to re-activate the Homegroup sharing capabilities on Windows 10. Please make sure to follow the steps we provided in the order that they were written, in order to avoid any complications.

We would love to know if this article helped you get back to sharing your files with your network of computers. Please feel free to let us know by using the comment section below.

For the following cases, the same instructions apply:

HomeGroup removed from Windows 10 (Version 1803)

HomeGroup has been removed from Windows 10 (Version 1803). However, even though it has been removed, you can still share printers and files by using features that are built into Windows 10.

To learn how to share printers in Windows 10, see Share your network printer.

To learn how to share files, see Share files in File Explorer.

Here’s more info about what’s changed and what hasn’t.

What’s changed?

After you update your PC to Windows 10 (Version 1803):

HomeGroup won’t appear in File Explorer.

HomeGroup won’t appear in Control Panel, which means that you can’t create, join, or leave a homegroup.

HomeGroup won’t appear on the Troubleshoot screen when you go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot .

You won’t be able to share new files and printers using HomeGroup.

Note: The HomeGroup (view) and HomeGroup (view and edit) options still appear in Windows 10 (Version 1803 or later) when you right-click a folder in File Explorer and then point to Give access to. However, neither option does anything. To share a file or folder, select Specific people from the same shortcut menu instead.

What hasn’t changed?

Any folders, files, or printers that you previously shared using HomeGroup will continue to be shared. This means that:

Shared network folders will still be available. You can open them in File Explorer by typing the name of the PC and the shared folder name in this format: \\homePC\SharedFolderName

If one user account was set up on a PC for sharing, you can continue using that one account for sharing.

You can still get to any shared printers through the Print dialog box.

How to set up and manage Windows 10 HomeGroup on a local network

HomeGroup is a network sharing feature that has been part of Windows for a long time, and it’s also part of Windows 10. Microsoft included HomeGroup to allow Windows devices to share resources with other PCs on a local network with an easy to set up approach that anyone can use.

HomeGroup is a feature best suited for small home networks to share files and printers with devices running Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7. Also, you can also configure media streaming for other devices, such as Xbox One, to play music and video from your computer on the biggest screen in the house.

In this Windows 10 guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to set up and manage a HomeGroup to share resources with other users on your local network.

Before you begin

HomeGroup is very particular on the network configurations you use and if your computer was previously part of another HomeGroup. To make sure you will be able to configure everything correctly, shut down all other the computers on the network, leaving only the computer you’ll use to create the new HomeGroup turned on.

Additionally, you want to make sure all your devices are running Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6). Otherwise, you won’t be able to join any computers to HomeGroup.

1. Use the Windows key + X keyboard shortcut to open the Power User menu, and click Network Connections.
2. Right-click the network adapter you use to connect to the internet and select Properties.

Make sure to check the Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) option.

How to create a HomeGroup on Windows 10

HomeGroup hasn’t changed much from previous versions, as such we’ll be using Control Panel to make the configuration.

Open the Start menu, do a search for HomeGroup and press Enter.

Click Create a homegroup.

Choose what to share on the network. By default Windows sets Pictures, Videos, Music, Printers & Devices as Shared. However, the Documents folder is marked as Not shared.

Note: The sharing options you choose will only apply to devices connecting with different accounts. If you sign-in with the same user account on another computer, you will have access to all files regardless of what you chose to share.

The wizard will complete the setup, and you’ll be presented with a HomeGroup password, which is needed to allow other computers to access files and printers. Write down or click the link to print the password.

Click Finish to complete the task.

How to change which content is shared with your HomeGroup

If at any time, you want to change the folders you share with other computers do the following:

Click the Change what you’re sharing with the homegroup link.

Click Finish to complete the task.

How to change your HomeGroup media streaming options

HomeGroup also allows you to control which media devices, including TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PlayStation can access and stream the content shared on your computer.

On the HomeGroup settings page in Control Panel, click the Allow all devices on this network such as TVs and game console to play my shared content link.

The first thing you want to do is to pick a name for the media library, as Windows 10 by default uses your account’s email address.

Then you can click the Choose default settings link to change a few streaming settings, including star rating and parental control settings allowed to stream from another media device.

You can also change on which networks you will let devices stream shared content by using the Show devices on drop down menu.

In addition, you can configure which devices are allowed to play remote content. You can block or allow each device individually, or you can click the Allow All or Block All buttons.

Remember that shared content will be available to other devices as long the device sharing the content is turned on and when it’s not in sleep mode. If you need to change the power settings, click the Choose power options link.

How to change your HomeGroup password

If for security reasons you need to change the HomeGroup password, Windows gives you the option to change it at any time.

Click the Change the password link.

Click Change the password.

Click Finish.

Immediately after getting the password go to each computer’s HomeGroup settings in Control Panel, and click the Type new password button.

Type the new password and click Next.

Click Finish to complete the task.

How to add computers to a HomeGroup

Now it’s the time to turn on all the computers around the house and join them to the HomeGroup.

To join devices do the following:

Open the Start menu, do a search for HomeGroup and press Enter.

Click the Join now button.

Note: If you don’t see the Join now button, there is something wrong, make sure you’re connected to the network and restart your computer.

Select the content you want to share on the network by using the drop down menu for each folder and click Next.

Enter your HomeGroup password and click Next.

Note: If you’re signed into another computer, but you’re using your Microsoft Account, then you won’t be prompted to enter a password.

Click Finish to complete the task.

If you’re prompted to choose network privacy settings, make sure to select the Private option.

In the same way, you’ve done after configuring a new HomeGroup steps, for each machine you join, you’ll need to specify manually the media devices that will be allowed to stream shared content.

How to share additional folders with your HomeGroup on Windows 10

While setting up or joining a new computer to a HomeGroup you’re given the choice to share only your Pictures, Videos, Music, and Documents folders, but you can always share more folders.

You can share more content in two different ways, including adding new locations to the libraries currently being shared, or you can also share a new folder as you would normally do in Windows.

How to add new folders to shared HomeGroup libraries

1. Use the Windows key + E keyboard shortcut to open File Explorer.
2. On the left pane, expand your computer’s libraries on HomeGroup.
3. Right-click Documents.

Click Properties.

Click Add.

Select the folder you want to share and click Include folder.

Click Apply.

Click OK.

Now the folder will be accessible by anyone joined in the HomeGroup when they browse the Documents folder.

How to add new folder via Windows network share to your HomeGroup

Right-click the folder you want to share.

Select Share with and click the Homegroup (view) option.

Users can access the newly shared folder by:

1. Using the Windows key + E keyboard shortcut to open File Explorer.
2. Clicking Network on the left pane.

Double-clicking the computer name with shared content, and browsing the folder location.

By default, every HomeGroup folder shared on the network are set with read only permissions. It has to be this way to prevent accidental deletions and modification to your files by other users. However, if you’re using your same Microsoft account to access content from another computer, then you will have read and write permissions.

If you need other users to be able to access, modify, and delete content, the best solution is to share another folder and granting users view and edit permissions.

You can do this with the following instructions:

Right-click the folder you want to share.

Select Share with and click the Homegroup (view and edit) option.

How to remove a PC from your HomeGroup in Windows 10

When you no longer want a computer to be part of the HomeGroup, Microsoft makes it very easy remove a device without complicated configurations.

Click the Leave the homegroup link.

Click Leave the homegroup.

Click Finish to complete the task.

At any time, if you want to rejoin a computer, you can easily do this by using the join a computer to a HomeGroup instructions.

What to do when your HomeGroup isn’t working right

While Microsoft tried to design HomeGroup to be a feature that works effortlessly, at times things may not work as expected. Consider the following tips to troubleshoot and fix HomeGroup problems on Windows 10.

The first thing you always want to do is to make sure all the computer are connected to the network. You can verify by going to Settings > Network & internet. Depending on your connection, check Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

Often rebooting and trying to create or join a computer to a HomeGroup again will solve the problem.

Temporarily disable the firewall on your computer. If you’re using the Windows Firewall go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Windows Firewall\Customize Settings, and turn off the firewall. If this is the problem, make sure to configure the firewall correctly, and don’t forget to re-enable the firewall after everything is working properly.

Having the incorrect time can also cause problems trying to set up a HomeGroup. Make sure every computer has the correct time. On Windows 10, go to Settings > Time & language and adjust time as needed.

You can’t have two computers on the network with the same name. Names must be unique on a HomeGroup. You can use our previous Windows 10 guide to rename your PC.

Make sure Network discovery, File and printer sharing, and HomeGroup connections are enabled on your private network. Simply go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Network and Sharing Center\Advanced sharing settings and turn on all these options.

Your computer can only belong to one HomeGroup, if the it’s connected to a different one, make sure to follow the steps to leave the HomeGroup before trying to join.

If you still can’t create or join a new computer to a HomeGroup, Microsoft is also including a diagnostic tool to fix common problems. On Windows 10, go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\HomeGroup, and click the Start the HomeGroup troubleshooter link and follow the on-screen directions to fix the problem.

Other things you need to know about HomeGroups

• HomeGroup is only available on Windows 7, Windows 8.x, and Windows 10, which means that you won’t be able to connect any Windows XP and Windows Vista machines.
• There can be only one HomeGroup per network.
• A HomeGroup does not create a hub and spoken network, where a central device has to be up and running for HomeGroup to work. However, the computer with shared content must be running for you to access its files and resources.
• Only computers joined with a HomeGroup password can use the resources on the local network.
• While HomeGroup has to be configured once per computer, each user must specify what content is accessible through the network.
• Once you set up a HomeGroup on a local network, users also have full access to view and edit content in the Public user folders.

Although we focus on configuring and managing HomeGroup on Windows 10, you can also connect Windows 7 and Windows 8.x computers to the network and share content.

How do you share files and other resources on your local network? Do you use HomeGroup? Let us know in the comments below.

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