How to Allow or Prevent your PC to Join a Homegroup in Windows 7 and Windows 8

   Information
A homegroup makes it easy to share pictures, music, documents, videos, and printers with other people on your home network.

This tutorial will show you how to allow or prevent your PC from being able to join a homegroup in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this tutorial.


EXAMPLE: Join PC to a Homegroup Allowed and Prevented
Homegroup - Allow or Prevent Computer to Join in Windows-allowed.jpg
Homegroup - Allow or Prevent Computer to Join in Windows-prevented.jpg




OPTION ONE

To Allow or Prevent PC to Join a Homegroup using a REG File


1. To Allow the Computer to Join a Homegroup
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Allow_Computer_to_Join_Homegroup.reg
2. To Prevent the Computer from Joining a Homegroup
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Prevent_Computer_to_Join_Homegroup.reg
3. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

4. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merged it.

5. Click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted.

6. Restart the computer to apply.

7. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.



OPTION TWO

To Allow or Prevent PC to Join a Homegroup using Group Policy


2. In the left pane, double click/tap on to expand Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and HomeGroup. (see screenshot below)
Homegroup - Allow or Prevent Computer to Join in Windows-gpedit-1.jpg
3. In the right pane of HomeGroup, double click/tap on Prevent the computer from joining a homegroup to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4. To Allow the Computer to Join a Homegroup
A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below step 6)
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.
5. To Prevent the Computer from Joining a Homegroup
A) Select (dot) Enabled, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below step 6)
6. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
Homegroup - Allow or Prevent Computer to Join in Windows-gpedit-2.jpg
7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.

8. Restart the computer to apply.
That's it,
Shawn







Related Tutorials