Wi-Fi & networking


Illustration of a homegroup

Use HomeGroup to share over a network

When you have several PCs on a home or work network, it's a lot easier to share your printer instead of getting a new one for each PC. Same thing goes for sharing your files. A homegroup is a group of PCs on a home or work network that can share devices (such as printers) and files (such as your Documents, Pictures, Music, and Video libraries). Using a homegroup makes sharing easier.

Be sure to create or join a homegroup on the PCs running Windows 8, Windows RT, or Windows 7. (Here's how to set up a network if you haven't yet.)

To create a homegroup

  • From the Settings charm, tap or click Change PC settings, and then tap or click HomeGroup.

  • Tap or click Create.

After you've created a homegroup, sign on to each of your other network PCs and join the homegroup.

To join a homegroup

  • From the Settings charm, tap or click Change PC settings, and then tap or click HomeGroup.

  • Tap or click Join. You can get the password from anyone else in the homegroup.

Note

Note

  • You can't create a homegroup from a Windows RT PC, but you can join one.

See more

Check the Web & networking section of Support for solutions.

Turn on network sharing to see other PCs on your network.

Solve problems with creating, joining, or accessing homegroup resources.

What to do when you can't find or connect to other PCs.