Create HomeGroup on Windows 8 / 8.1 and Set HomeGroup Sharing Settings

HomeGroup is really useful option by Microsoft available in Windows 8 / 8.1, Windows RT, or Windows 7 that you can use at your home PCs network for password protected sharing. Create HomeGroup on Windows 8 or join if already exist and you can share Files and devices between PCs, devices such as Printers and files like your Pictures, Music, Documents files and more. You can also stream music to device using HomeGroup Windows 8. HomeGroup is very customizable where you can select or deselect devices and files that you want to share and also set permissions for others to edit shared files.

See also: Share Printer without HomeGroup

Create HomeGroup on Windows 8 / 8.1

Note: You can’t create but join HomeGroup on Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic , Windows RT and Windows RT 8.1 editions.

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To create HomeGroup on Windows 8 Right-Click on the left-botton side of the screen and select Control Panel from the menu.

On Control Panel windows, under the Network and  Internet section click on “Choose HomeGroup and sharing option”.

homegroup-and-sharing-windows-8

On this window click on “Create HomeGroup” button to start setup HomeGroup wizard.  If HomeGroup is already available on your network then you will see “Join Now” button instead of Create HomeGroup.

create-homegroup-windows-8-81

Once you click on “Create a homegroup” button, you will see this wizard to Create HomeGroup on Windows 8. Click on Next button and choose what you want to share.

share-file-and-printer-homegroup-windows-8

Here, select files and devices that you want to share with other homegroup members. As you can see in screenshot everything Pictures, Videos, Music and Printer/Devices are shared but Documents are not shared. After setting homegroup sharing permissions click on Next button.

share-with-other-homegroup-members

This will take few seconds to settings things up and show you a password that you can give someone to join your homegroup on Windows 8 / 8.1. Remember this password and don’t share with anyone until you want them to join. If you forgot you can change HomeGroup password any time. Click on Finish button to complete the HomeGroup setup.

homegroup-password

You will see HomeGroup settings windows where you can see all libraries and devices that you are sharing from your Windows 8 / 8.1 PC. There are few more option on this window that you can use to change HomeGroup password, Leave a HomeGroup, HomeGroup Advance settings and troubleshooter.

homegroup-settings-windows-8

Join HomeGroup problems: PCs that want to join HomeGroup must have

  • Correct date and time of the computer.
  • HomeGroup PCs must have Different PC names.
  • Must have same Workgroup name.

Tell us if you successfully create HomeGroup on Windows 8 / 8.1 or having any problem, discuss below in comments.

2 comments… add one
JTM001 October 27, 2016, 3:22 pm

I currently own a Samsung E6500 Blu Ray player. Usually, I connect/stream media wirelessly via Samsung Link. However, whenever I restart my computer, this connection is lost. I always thought that it was Samsung’s fault, until I looked at my network and that the Windows Media Player Sharing is what I’ve been watching, for the past several years. Now, however, its not coming back on, no matter what I try to do in the “Network and Sharing” pages, which usually reinstalled te gizmo onto my Samsung AllShare/Link, until today. Please help.

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