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HomeGroup
is a local network sharing feature that was built in and first introduced in Windows 7. To learn more about what HomeGroup is and how to use HomeGroup, read the rest of this article below
The HomeGroup feature is used on Windows 7 and later versions (such as Windows 10). It sets up a HomeGroup network connection (a home network, a local network) to share resources, including printers and data, between the computers on the local network. The HomeGroup network connection is set up right when you install Windows or set up the device on the network in the computer system
HomeGroup Is Different From Windows Workgroup and Domain
HomeGroup is different from Windows Workgroup and Domain. Windows 7 and later versions support HomeGroup, Workgroup and Domain for organizing devices and resources on a computer network.
How HomeGroup Differs From Workgroup and Domain
– HomeGroup is optional. Windows computers must be assigned to a Workgroup (usually Workgroup by default) or a domain, but a local network is not required to use HomeGroup.
– HomeGroup is password protected. HomeGroup requires each computer joining the group to provide the right sharing password, while a Workgroup has no password (and network administrators, not users, add computers to a domain).
– Unlike a Workgroup, HomeGroup does not require users to have separate accounts on the computers. Instead, HomeGroup uses a shared account on the system (called HOMEGROUPUSER$) so users can connect to any computer in the group.
– Unlike a domain, it does not configure some computers as servers and does not extend beyond the local network. HomeGroup computers communicate with each other over a peer-to-peer network (also called P2P), similar to a Workgroup but using different network protocols.
Create a HomeGroup
Follow the steps below to create a new HomeGroup:
Step 1: Open Control Panel, then find the HomeGroup icon.
Step 2: Double-click the HomeGroup icon to open the Share with other home computers running Windows 7 window.
Step 3: Here, click the Create a homegroup button to open the next window.
Step 4: Choose the types of resources on This PC to share in the HomeGroup, with several available options such as Pictures, Music, Videos, Documents and Printers (you can change these options later).
Step 5: Click Next6. Save the automatically generated password (made up of letters and numbers) shown in the last wizard window, then click Finish to complete the process.
Windows 7 computers running the Home Basic or Starter edition are designed with the ability to create a HomeGroup disabled. Setting up a HomeGroup requires the Home Network to have at least one computer running a higher edition of Windows 7, such as Home Premium or Professional.
Also, users cannot create a HomeGroup on a computer that already belongs to a Windows domain.
Join or Leave a HomeGroup
HomeGroup is only useful when 2 or more computers join it. To add more Windows 7 computers to the HomeGroup, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the HomeGroup sharing window from Control Panel (follow step 1 and step 2 above).
Step 2: Confirm that the listed HomeGroup name is correct, then click the Join Now button.
Step 3: Choose the resources (Pictures, Movies, Videos, Documents and Printers) on This PC to share in the HomeGroup, then click Next4.
Enter the HomeGroup password, then click Next to complete the process. Finally, click Finish to close the window.
You can also add a computer to a HomeGroup while installing Windows 7. If the computer is connected to the local network and the O/S detects a HomeGroup during installation, the user is asked whether they want to join the HomeGroup.
To remove a computer from a HomeGroup, open the HomeGroup sharing window, then click the Leave the homegroup… link near the bottom of the window.
A computer can join only one HomeGroup. To join a different HomeGroup, you must first leave the current HomeGroup, then follow the steps above to join the new HomeGroup.
Use HomeGroup
Windows organizes the files shared in a HomeGroup into a special view in Windows Explorer. To access the files shared on a HomeGroup, open Windows Explorer and navigate to the HomeGroup item in the left pane, between the Libraries and Computer items.
Expand the HomeGroup icon to show a list of the devices currently connected to the group, then expand each device icon in turn to access the folder tree and files that computer is currently sharing (in Documents, Music, Pictures and Video).
Files shared in a HomeGroup can be accessed from any member computer. When the host computer is turned off, its files and folders are not available and are not listed in Windows Explorer.
By default, HomeGroup shares files as read-only. There are a few options for managing folder sharing and setting permissions for individual files:
– To change the types of resources being shared, right-click the HomeGroup icon in Windows Explorer and choose Change HomeGroup settings.
– To manage access permissions for local files being shared with the HomeGroup, open Libraries in Windows Explorer, navigate to the folders or files you want, and use the Share with button on the toolbar to change the permissions for those specific resources.
HomeGroup also automatically adds shared printers to Devices and Printers on each computer connected to the group.
Change the HomeGroup Password
Although Windows automatically generates a HomeGroup password when the group is created, the Admin can replace the default password with a new one that is easier to remember. You should also change this password when you want to permanently remove a computer from the HomeGroup.
To change the HomeGroup password:
Step 1: On any computer in the HomeGroup, open the HomeGroup sharing window in Control Panel.
Step 2: Scroll down to find and click the Change the password… link near the bottom of the window. Click View or print the homegroup password to see the password currently in use.
Step 3: Enter the new password, then click Next and then Finish.
Repeat steps 1-3 on each computer in the HomeGroup.
To keep the computers on the network from getting out of sync, Microsoft recommends doing these steps on all devices in the group right away.
Troubleshoot HomeGroup Problems
Although Microsoft designed HomeGroup as a reliable service, users sometimes still run into problems connecting to a HomeGroup or sharing resources. Below are some common problems:
– Windows computers (usually laptops used in offices) cannot share files or printers with the HomeGroup, even though these computers can join and access the shared resources of other computers.
– IPv6 must be running on the local network for HomeGroup to work. (Windows 7 enables IPv6 by default.)
– Computers that use the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) to encrypt the hard drive cannot join a HomeGroup.
HomeGroup also includes an automatic troubleshooting utility designed to diagnose technical problems in real time. To open this utility:
Step 1: Open the HomeGroup sharing window in Control Panel.
Step 2: Scroll down to find and click the Start the HomeGroup troubleshooter link in the bottom corner of the window.
Extend HomeGroup to Non-Windows Computers
HomeGroup officially supports Windows computers starting from Windows 7. Some tech enthusiasts have developed methods to extend the HomeGroup protocol to work on older versions of Windows or on other operating systems such as Mac OS X. However, these methods are usually very hard to configure and have many technical limitations, unlike on Windows 7.
Above is the information on what HomeGroup is and how to use HomeGroup, so you can take advantage of what HomeGroup can do on your home or local network and know how to fix problems related to HomeGroup.
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Hoang Ngoc Quang Anh
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