Leave Homegroup in Windows 10  

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    Leave Homegroup in Windows 10

    Leave Homegroup in Windows 10

    How to Leave a Homegroup in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Network & Sharing
    19 Dec 2017
    Designer Media Ltd

    information   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.

    If you decide that you no longer want to belong to a homegroup, you can leave it by removing your computer from it. After you leave a homegroup, you will no longer be able to access files and printers other people have shared with that homegroup. If all computers joined to the same homegroup leave the homegroup, then the homegroup will no longer exist.

    When you leave a homegroup, all user accounts on your computer also leave the homegroup.

    This tutorial will show you how to leave a homegroup in Windows 10 to stop sharing files and printers with other Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 PCs joined to the homegroup.
    warning   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. Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on the Homegroup icon, and click/tap on the Leave the homegroup link. (see screenshot below)

    Leave Homegroup in Windows 10-leave_homegroup-1.png

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

    Leave Homegroup in Windows 10-leave_homegroup-2.png

    3. You have left the homegroup. Click/tap on Finish. (see screenshots below)
    Tip   Tip
    If you are not able to successfully leave the homegroup, then:

    1) Turn off all PCs on your home network.

    2) Delete only the contents inside the hidden PeerNetworking folder located below.

    C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Roaming\PeerNetworking

    3) Restart the computer.

    4) Try to leave the homegroup again.

    Leave Homegroup in Windows 10-leave_homegroup-3.png
    Leave Homegroup in Windows 10-leave_homegroup-4.png


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 429
    Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
       #1

    When I click on Home Group in CP, I don't have Leave option.
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 68,672
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello Clint, :)

    What do you see instead?
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 429
    Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
       #3

    I have deleted the all the files in C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Roaming\PeerNetworking.
    What I'm trying to do is remove the Media player icon in my network. I'm not connected to HomeGroup and neither is my wife's
    The last 2 pic are from my wife's PC on the network.
    Leave Homegroup in Windows 10-hg1.pngLeave Homegroup in Windows 10-hg2.pngLeave Homegroup in Windows 10-hg3.png

    Leave Homegroup in Windows 10-hg4.pngLeave Homegroup in Windows 10-hg5.png
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 68,672
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Ah, ok. You're wanting to remove a media device from Networks instead.

    It would probably be best to start a new thread for that issue.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 1
    windows 10
       #5

    Same issue


    I am having the same issue. I have removed the files you spoke of but when I go back in to leave the group there is no link for it. If I try to login to the homegroup that I am invited to join, it tells me there are no homegroups detected.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,672
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Hello Sean, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

    See if doing what's in the yellow tip box on all computers that were/are in your homegroup to see if that may be able to help afterwards.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 27,166
    Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro N, Win10 Home, Windows 8.1 Pro, Ubuntu
       #7

    For some reason I couldn't see my new PC's folders in Network on that machine or any other, since I had it:
    Leave Homegroup in Windows 10-image.png

    Today I figured out what to do.Leave Homegroup in Windows 10-idea-idea-animated-animation-smiley.gif

    I joined Homegroup which is a "one stop" network setup, then immediately left it, and I was able to see all my folders on my other Windows systems(which I realize now, were at one time in a Homegroup setup, but I later decided to get rid of it).

    Most home users will not need a Homegroup just to transfer files between PC's and Virtual Machines, but you can then use Network in File Explorer to do it safely & securely through your router.

    Leave Homegroup in Windows 10-image-010.png
    from File Explorer Desktop

    Leave Homegroup in Windows 10-image-001.png
    from File Explorer Hyper-V Insider build
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 27,166
    Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro N, Win10 Home, Windows 8.1 Pro, Ubuntu
       #8

    One additional thing:
    This was so important to me, because, I wanted to use my Libraries, specially Music and Pictures on my host(Desktop) in my Insider VM.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 47
    Win10 Pro
       #9

    I had an issue, where I had upgraded a Win7 machine to Win10, and then upgraded my main machine. When i went to create my homegroup on my main machine, it said, i7 2600k (the machine that was already upgraded to Win10 and no longer on Win7, was already running the homegroup) Which it wasn't. Anyway after posting this, i got an excellent response from Eagle51, which fixed my issue. So without further adhue I'll repost his fix, as in to help others.

    thedoc46, Give this a try.

    1. Make sure all PC's have left the HomeGroup or are NOT joined to a HomeGroup
    2. Turn off all PC's
    3. Reboot PC that originally had HomeGroup and now has the phantom HomeGroup
    4. After reboot, you should be able to create a new HomeGroup on that PC replacing the phantom HomeGroup. Print or write down new HomeGroup password.
    5. Boot other PCs and attempt to join HomeGroup with new password.

    Note: Make sure you use the ORIGINAL PC that had the HomeGroup ! (step 3)
    Note: Once you have fixed the phantom HomeGroup, you should be able to have all the PC's leave the HomeGroup, then create a new HomeGroup on the PC of your choice.
      My Computer


 

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