Applies to Windows 8, Windows RT

Why can't I connect to other PCs?

There could be a number of reasons why you can't connect to other PCs on your home network, or you can't share files and printers with them. Look for a specific problem and possible solutions in the following table. For more info about sharing files and folders on a network, see Share files and folders on a network or a shared PC.

ProblemPossible solutions

You haven't created or joined a homegroup.

A homegroup links PCs on your home network so that you can share pictures, music, videos, and printers. Creating or joining a homegroup is the easiest way to share files and printers on a network.

Note

Note

  • HomeGroup is available in Windows 8, Windows RT, and Windows 7. You can join a homegroup on a PC running Windows RT, but you can't create a homegroup or share content with the homegroup. In Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic, you can join a homegroup, but you can’t create one. HomeGroup is unavailable in Windows Server 2008 R2.

To create or join a homegroup

  1. Open HomeGroup by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Settings (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Settings), tapping or clicking Change PC settings, and then tapping or clicking HomeGroup.

  2. Tap or click Create, or enter the homegroup password, and then tap or click Join.

You're not using a homegroup, and the folder or printer you're trying to get to hasn't been shared.

We recommend that you use a homegroup to share files and printers on your network, because it's much easier to set up. File and printer sharing without using a homegroup is a two-part process. First, you need to turn on sharing as described below. Second, you need to set sharing properties on the item itself or move it to one of the Public folders so that other people can get to it.

Network sharing is turned off.

To turn on network sharing

  1. View a list of available networks by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Settings (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Settings), and then tapping or clicking the network icon (Wireless network icon or Wired network icon).

  2. Press and hold or right-click the network you're connected to, and then tap or click Turn sharing on or off.

    The network sharing setting is only available for Wi‑Fi, Ethernet, VPN (non-domain), and dial-up (non-domain) connections. It's unavailable for domain networks. On VPN or dial-up connections, you must connect to the network first, then press and hold or right-click the network name to change the network sharing setting.

  3. Tap or click Yes, turn on sharing and connect to devices.

Network discovery is turned off.

Follow the steps in the previous section to turn on network sharing.

Password-protected sharing is turned on.

Password-protected sharing is on by default for PCs in workgroups. When password-protected sharing is turned on, people using other PCs on your network can't get to your shared folders or printers unless they have a user account on your PC. There are two ways to turn on file or printer sharing:

  • Create identical user accounts on all PCs in the workgroup (recommended). For more info, see Create a user account.

  • Turn off password-protected sharing. To turn off password-protected sharing, follow these steps:

  1. Open Advanced sharing settings by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Search (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Search), entering advanced sharing in the search box, tapping or clicking Settings, and then tapping or clicking Manage advanced sharing settings.

  2. Click the chevron The chevron icon to expand the current network profile.

  3. Under Password protected sharing, click Turn off password protected sharing, and then click Save changes. Administrator permission required You might be asked for an admin password or to confirm your choice.

Note

Note

  • Password-protected sharing is unavailable on PCs that are on a domain.

  • PCs running Windows RT or Windows 8 can't join a domain. You can only join a domain if your PC is running Windows 8 Pro or Windows 8 Enterprise.

The PCs aren't in the same workgroup.

For info about joining a workgroup, see Join or create a workgroup.

You don't have access permissions for the file or folder you're trying to get to.

Contact the owner of the file or folder to ask for permission. For info about setting permissions to a file or folder, see Share files and folders on a network or a shared PC.

If you're on a corporate network, you'll need to contact your network administrator.

Group Policy might be blocking the connection.

If the PC you're trying to connect to belongs to a domain (for example, on a corporate network), it's possible that the network administrator has enabled a policy that blocks connections to domain-joined PCs. Contact your network administrator for assistance.

Your PC doesn't have the latest updates for your router.

To make sure you have the latest updates, check with the router manufacturer.