How to Change Homegroup Sharing Settings in Windows 8 and 8.1

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.
When you create or join a homegroup, you select the libraries and devices you want to share with other people in the homegroup. Libraries are initially shared with Read access, which means that other people can look at or listen to what's in the library, but they can't change the files in it. You can adjust the level of access at any time, and you can exclude specific files and folders from sharing.
Only those people who belong to the homegroup can see shared libraries and devices. You can choose to share libraries, devices, or individual files and folders with specific people in your homegroup or with everyone.
In Windows RT and Windows RT 8.1, you can join a homegroup, but you can’t create a homegroup or share content with the homegroup.
This tutorial will show you how to change the homegroup sharing settings for how you choose to share or not share your libraries and printers & devices with your homegroup in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.
When you create or join a homegroup, you select the libraries and devices you want to share with other people in the homegroup. Libraries are initially shared with Read access, which means that other people can look at or listen to what's in the library, but they can't change the files in it. You can adjust the level of access at any time, and you can exclude specific files and folders from sharing.
Only those people who belong to the homegroup can see shared libraries and devices. You can choose to share libraries, devices, or individual files and folders with specific people in your homegroup or with everyone.
In Windows RT and Windows RT 8.1, you can join a homegroup, but you can’t create a homegroup or share content with the homegroup.
This tutorial will show you how to change the homegroup sharing settings for how you choose to share or not share your libraries and printers & devices with your homegroup in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.
OPTION ONE
To Share Individual Files or Folders with your Homegroup
1. Using the tutorial at the link below, you can set to "Share with" or "Stop Sharing" your files and folders with your Homegroup (view), Homegroup (view and edit), or Specific people. If you need to share a location such as a drive or system folder, use the Advanced sharing option.
OPTION TWO
To Share Devices and Entire Libraries with Homegroup in Control Panel
NOTE: This sets the same thing in OPTION THREE below, but through the "HomeGroup" Control Panel instead.
1. Do step 2 or 3 below for how you would like to open the Change Homegroup Sharing Settings wizard.
2. While in File Explorer, right click on Homegroup in the navigation pane. In the HomeGroup tab on the ribbon, click/tap on Share libraries and devices, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)
3. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the HomeGroup icon. In HomeGroup, click/tap on the Change what you're sharing with the homegroup link, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)
4. Change the permissions of each listed item under Library or Folder to be either shared or not shared for what you want. Click/tap on Next when finished. (see screenshot below)
5. Click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)
OPTION THREE
To Share Devices and Entire Libraries with Homegroup in PC settings
NOTE: This sets the same thing in OPTION Two above, but through "HomeGroup" PC settings instead.
1. Open PC settings, and do step 2 or 3 below depending on what Windows 8 you have.
2. If you have Windows 8 or Windows RT, click/tap on HomeGroup on the left side. (see screenshot below)
A) On the right side under Libraries and devices, move the sliders to be either shared (right) or not shared (left) for what you want, and go to step 4 below.
3. If you have Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1, click/tap on Network on the left side. (see screenshot below)
A) Click/tap on HomeGroup on the left side. (see screenshot below)
B) On the right side under HomeGroup, move the sliders to be either shared/on (right) or not shared/off (left) for what you want, and go to step 4 below.
4. When finished, you can close PC settings if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Create a "HomeGroup Settings" Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Recommend your File History Drive to Homegroup in Windows 8
- How to "Share with" and "Stop Sharing" Files and Folders on a Network or Shared PC in Windows 8
- How to Allow or Deny Access Permisions to Users and Groups in Windows 8
- How to Turn "File and Printer Sharing" On or Off for Networks in Windows 8
- How to Turn "Public Folder Sharing" On or Off for Networks in Windows 8
- How to Turn "Password Protected Sharing" On or Off in Windows 8
- How to Change the File Sharing Connections Encryption Settings in Windows 8
- How to Share Files and Folders and Change Permissions in your SkyDrive
- How to Join a Homegroup in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Create a Homegroup in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Allow or Prevent your PC to Join a Homegroup in Windows 7 and Windows 8
- How to View the Homegroup Password in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Change the Homegroup Password in Windows 8
- How to Leave a Homegroup in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Create a Shared Folders Shortcut in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
- How to Add or Remove Homegroup Desktop Icon in Windows 8 and 8.1
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