Homegroup Password - Change in Windows 8

How to Change Homegroup Password in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

A homegroup is a group of PCs on a home network that can share devices (such as printers), and libraries (such as your Documents, Pictures, Music, and Video libraries). Using a homegroup makes sharing easier. Your homegroup is protected with a password, which you can change at any time.

This tutorial will show you how to change your homegroup password in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to change the homegroup password.

Here's How:

1. If you have not already, make sure that all PCs that are already in the homegroup are turned on and not asleep.

2. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the HomeGroup icon.

3. Click/tap on the Change the password link. (see screenshot below)

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4. If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.

5. If you have not already, all computers joined to this homegroup need to be turned on and are not asleep or hibernating when you change the password below.

6. Click/tap on Change the password. (see screenshot below)

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7. Either type in your own password, use the new one given, or click/tap on the refresh arrows to generate a new random password. When finished, click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

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8. Write down and/or print this homegroup password, and click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)

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9. You will now need to immediately go to each computer joined to this homegroup and type the new password to change it on them as well.

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Change the Homegroup password in Windows 7
• How to View the Homegroup Password in Windows 8
• How to Create a Homegroup in Windows 8
• How to Join a Homegroup in Windows 8
• How to Leave a Homegroup in Windows 8
• How to Change Homegroup Sharing Settings in Windows 8
• How to Create a "HomeGroup Settings" Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add or Remove Homegroup Desktop Icon in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[johnpombrio]

Shawn, Windows 8.1 seems to take the verbiage about having all the other computers on the HOMEGROUP network on and running seriously when you are joining the homegroup or changing the password. Lots of reports of auto-sleep failing when HOMEGROUPS are enabled possibly because the other machines are not on at the time (I am still working on it). Please change a bit of the wording to comply with the new reality.

Have all computers up and running when changing the password. Immediately go around to the other computers and change them to the new password.

 

[Brink]

Thank you John. Tutorial updated.