Some Basics You Should Know about Windows 10 HomeGroup

What Is HomeGroup

A HomeGroup is a group of PCs that you can share files and printer on the home network. You can share pictures, music, files and other materials more easily through the HomeGroup.

To protect your HomeGroup, you can set passwords that are not easy to be guessed by others. Of course, you are allowed to change your passwords at any time. In HomeGroup, others cannot change files shared by you unless you give them the permission to act that.  Besiides, MiniTool will tell you some other  basic but important information about HomeGroup.

After creating or participating in the HomeGroup, you are able to choose the libraries such as “My documents”, “My music” that you would like to share. You can prevent certain files or folders from being shared, but you are allowed to share additional libraries later.

HomeGroup can be used on Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1 and Windows 10. However, you need to notice that on a computer that runs Windows RT 8.1 you can join in HomeGroup, but you are unable to create a HomeGroup or share the content in the HomeGroup.

In Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic, you can join in a HomeGroup but cannot create one.     

So, do you know how to create a HomeGroup? How to find HomeGroup files? If you are unaware of answers, just keep reading the following content.

How to Create HomeGroup Windows 10

Creating a HomeGroup is very convenient to share pictures, documents, music and etc. Hence, the question that how to create HomeGroup Windows 10 becomes an important issue. Here, I will offer you specific steps to create a Windows 10 HomeGroup.

Step 1: Type HomeGroup in the search box on the taskbar and then select the HomeGroup option from the search results list.

Step 2: After selecting the Create a HomeGroup option, click Next.

Step 3: Choose libraries and devices that you want to share through the HomeGroup, and then click Next to continue.

Step 4: Remember (print or write it down) the password shown on the computer, because you will need this password to add other computers to the HomeGroup you created right now.

Step 5: Choose Finish to complete the operation.

How to Share Libraries and Other Devices Through HomeGroup

As soon as you finish creating the HomeGroup, you can share files with your family members in the HomeGroup. You can share libraries and devices (that have been decided when you create the HomeGroup) or stop sharing them as you like.

Libraries are shared with read access at the very beginning, which means others are allowed to check out the contents in the libraries but they cannot change any file in the libraries. But you can adjust access level at any time and preclude certain files and folders from being shared.

Shared libraries and devices can only be seen by people belonging to the family group. You can choose to share libraries, devices, or individual files and folders with specific people or everyone in your family group.

Here are steps to share libraries and devices.

Step 1: Open the HomeGroup from the search box.

Step 2: Select the Change what you’re sharing with the HomeGroup option.

Step 3: Choose the libraries and devices you would like to share, and then select Next>Finish.

How to Find a HomeGroup File

If you want to find a certain HomeGroup file, please follow this guide. In most cases, the IP addresses of PCs (belong to your HomeGroup) will show up on File Explorer.

Step 1: Type File Explorer in the search box on the taskbar, and then select the File Explorer option from the search results list.

Step 2: select the user account name of the person whose library you want to access.

Step 3: Double click the library that you would like to visit among the file list, and then double click the file or folder that you need.

The Deletion of HomeGroup

You may have learned that HomeGroup has been deleted from Windows 10 (1803 version). Indeed, there are some changes after updating PCs to Windows 10 (1803 version).

• HomeGroup will not appear in File Explorer.
• HomeGroup will not show up in Control Panel, which means you cannot create, join in or leave HomeGroup.
• HomeGroup will not appear on the Troubleshoot screen when you enter the Settings.
• You are unable to share new folders or files with HomeGroup.

However, there are something still exist in Windows 10 HomeGroup.

• Any file, folder, printer that you shared before with HomeGroup will continue to be shared. This means that shared network folders are still available. You can open them by typing the PC’s name and the shared folder name: \\homePC\SharedFolderName
• If there’s a user account set up for sharing, it still can be used to share.
• You can visit any sharable printer through the Print dialog box.

Even the HomeGroup has been deleted on Windows 10 (1803 version), you can still share printer and files with others built-in sharable function in Windows 10.