Information

A Homegroup makes it easy to share pictures, music, documents, videos, and printers with other Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 computers on your local home network. You can also stream media to devices.

When a PC creates a homegroup, the homegroup is protected with a password. To join a homegroup, you will need the homegroup password, which you can get from the PC that created the homegroup or any PC already joined to the homegroup.

When a PC joins a homegroup, all user accounts (except guest account) on the PC become members of the homegroup. Each user on the PC will always be able to choose what libraries and devices to share with the homegroup.

This tutorial will show you how to join a homegroup in Windows 10 to share files and printers with other Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 computers on your home network.

   Note

Homegroup Notes and Requirements:

• You will need at least two computers running Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and/or Windows 10 on your home network to set up a homegroup.
• Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, and Windows RT PCs cannot create a homegroup. They are only able to join a homegroup.
• If you are already part of a homegroup on a separate network, you must leave that homegroup to join another homegroup.
• You can join computers to a homegroup whether they connect by using wired and wireless networking.
• If your PC is joined to a domain, you can join a homegroup but you cannot create a homegroup. You can access files and resources on other homegroup PCs, but you cannot share your own files and resources with the homegroup.
• All homegroup PCs must be synced or set with the correct time and date.
• Each homegroup PC muse have a different computer name than the other homegroup PCs.
• All homegroup PCs must be members of the same workgroup.
• All homegroup PCs must be set to use a private (aka: home) network location.
• All homegroup PCs must have network discovery turned on for the private network profile.
• All homegroup PCs must have file and printer sharing turned on for the private network profile.
• All homegroup PCs must have the services below enabled and running.
  
  • DNS Client
  • Function Discovery Provider Host
  • Function Discovery Resource Publication
  • HomeGroup Listener
  • HomeGroup Provider
  • Network List Service
  • Peer Networking Grouping
  • Server
  • SSDP Discovery
  • UPnP Device Host
• All homegroup PCs must have the items below turned on in the network connection properties of their network adapter. (see screenshot below)
  
  • File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
  • Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)
  
  

   Warning

Starting with Windows 10 build 17063, the HomeGroup service is no longer operational in Windows 10. The user profile used for sharing and the file/folder/printer shares will continue to work.

Here are recommended alternatives to HomeGroup for you to get the best file-sharing experience in Windows 10 going forward:

• File Storage:
  
  • OneDrive is a cloud-first, cross-device storage and collaboration platform for all of the pieces of data that matter most in your life – like your files, your photos, your videos, and more.
  • OneDrive Files On-Demand takes cloud file storage a step further, allowing you to access all your files in the cloud without having to download them and use storage space on your device.
• Share Functionality: For those who prefer not to use the Cloud to connect their devices, the Share functionality for folders and printers allows you to see the available devices and connect them to and from other PCs on your home network.
• Easier Connection: No more remembering cryptic HomeGroup passwords in order to connect to another PC. You can now simply connect through your Microsoft Account email address across devices.

Here's How:

1. Make sure at least one PC that has created the homegroup or already joined to the homegroup is turned on and awake for you to be able to join the homegroup.

2. Do step 3 or step 4 below for how you would like to open the Create a Homegroup wizard.

3. Open File Explorer, click/tap on Homegroup in the navigation pane, click/tap on Join now (button) or Join homegroup (ribbon), and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)

   Note

If you don't see the Join now button, there might not be a homegroup available. Make sure that someone has created a homegroup first. Or you can choose to create a homegroup yourself.

4. Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on the Homegroup icon, click/tap on Join now, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)

   Note

If you don't see the Join now button, there might not be a homegroup available. Make sure that someone has created a homegroup first. Or you can choose to create a homegroup yourself.

5. Click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

6. Set permissions to either Shared or Not shared for the files and devices you want to share from your account, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

7. Type the homegroup password, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

   Note

If you had ever previously joined this homegroup and left it, then you will not be prompted to enter the homegroup password unless the password has been changed after leaving the homegroup.

8. You have joined the homegroup. Click/tap on Finish. (see screenshots below)

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Create a Homegroup in Windows 10
• How to Leave a Homegroup in Windows 10
• How to View or Print Homegroup Password in Windows 10
• How to Change Homegroup Password in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Homegroup in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Add HomeGroup to Context Menu in Windows 10

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