The home group is a feature of Windows, that It is widely used todayalthough the latest version of no longer incorporates the option of create the groupbut despite this it still uses file sharing between computers connected to the same network.
It is a very interesting feature, since without the need to use an external disk drive we can share it with the connected equipment, all the documents and files we want.
Activate this function It is not complicated at all, but for those who do not know, it is something totally strange. That’s why today we will show you in this post a well illustrated step by step so you can activate the home group as many times as you want.
What is a Home Group and what is it for in computing?
The home groupis a feature that gives us Windows, whose function is to facilitate the sharing of files and printers through a Local network, known as LAN. Thanks to this function we can share any file, be it music, images, videos, drives, documents or files to print.
We can take as an example, the illustration of an environment, where we have different computers, and to avoid sending documents by mail or using an external drive, we can use the Home Group.
To access and sharethis would be through a shared folder that we manage together thanks to the network. These compartments become real thanks to the fact that the different equipment is connected to the same network, be it Wifi or by wired connection. Although it seems that we redound, it is necessary to understand that if our computer is not connected to the network, it will not be able to access shared folders.
What kind of devices can I include in my local network to expand it and make it more complete?
The HomeGroup is extensive and is a feature that is compatible with many computers, so much so that we can connect laptops, desktop PCs, Tablets, and phones to it, but with the Windows OS.
It has a wide variety of uses, although it is well known as if it were only for the home, It is mostly used in companies. By simply activating this feature, all computers that have accepted permission for information sharing by connecting to the same network can upload and download files. as many times as you want
Steps to create and configure a Home Group in Windows 10 from scratch easy and fast
In this section we will explain the step by step to create a homegroup, without any complications. Although it is not a complex process, it can be a bit messy. Each windows has different characteristicshowever today we will explain the version of Windows 10Although the process is not very different with the minor versions of this operating system.
Let’s see next:
We connect to the network
The first thing we should know is that the connections are through networks, can be wireless or wiredHowever, if we have a single network at home we will not have problems with that. But if we have different networks in our home, or we simply do not have a personal Internet connection, but we use our neighbors’, we must select a specific network to create the homegroup.
We created the home group
Already being connected to the network, we go to the icon of networks that is located at the bottom of our desktop, and we right click, then two options will be displayed and we select Center network and sharing. Then we will see that a window opens, and in the left sidebar, there is an option that says Home Groupwe select it.
Homegroup Settings
It will instantly open a window, which tells us that there is no home group created, and we select where it says Create a homegroup. In a box it will load the configuration options and we click on Next to continue.
Now we set the permissions, in them we select what we want to be shared and click on Next.
We save the password
We keep the passwords that the same system establishes for us, with this is that other computers can connect to the group, since theoretically if another person enters the created home group, it is because is on the same network and the creator has shared the password with the person.
Note: The password is to prevent other people connected to the same network from connecting and extracting documents or files without permission.
we finished
Now for the documents or files to be shared, we right click on them, from the drop-down list that opens, we go to the option to share with and we choose Homegroup (View and edit).
How to add new devices to the local network of my HomeGroup?
To add new devices we must first connect them to the network where we created the home group, and from the other computer, we enter the folder Equipmentin the left sidebar we will see an option called Home group, and we select it.
After selecting it, we will see that in the same window it indicates which home group was created and who created it. Then we click on join now to be able to connect.
We must enter the password that was automatically generated when we created the home group in the field that requests it, since without this no other device will be able to access the . After having entered the password correctly, we click on next and wait for access, then simply by entering the network, we can see the different computers connected and the files they share.
Access files on the home network How can I see the data shared by my computers?
Before it is more than obvious for many, it is our duty to emphasize that in order to see a shared file, the sharer must give access to all users, or at least within the specific users this our PC. Understanding the above, we only go to the folder of Equipmentand look in the left sidebar the option that says Redthere we will find the different computers that are connected to it, and allow access to shared folders and files.
Then we must choose the connected device or equipmentand when clicking on it, we will see a window with folders and everything that it has shared, depending on the permissions granted we can open, copy or edit the files and documents, and if we want to add a new one to the folder we can also do it.
Tips to improve the security of my HomeGroup to keep my computers safe
Although it seems that keeping a home group is the safest way to share our fileslet us tell you that there is always a weakness, although it may well be that this detail is more human than that of the system.
To improve the security of our home group, we leave you the following tips that will surely help prevent other people from accessing the files you share:
Let’s save our password
We know that system-generated homegroup passwords are very complicated and difficult to learn. and therefore we must print or write them to be able to remember them. The truth is that this is not bad, what we should not do is keep our password to public access, in other words we must guard it well.
We are used to writing passwords in the most visible places, but if we create a home group it is to maintain a more secure connection and file sharing. If everyone who wants to, with or without our consent, accesses our home group, they also access everything we share and our other computers, being something unsafe for us.
Let’s not share everything to all teams
In Windows we can find the share option, and in it choose if you are granted the power to edit and view or just view. What we mean by this is that if we only want to send a file so that can only be viewed we should not grant editing permission.
From another point of view, also apply this advice to the number of computers which are connected to the homegroupsince in Windows we can find the option to share files only to specific computers or users, with this we prevent some people from viewing everything.
We only grant the necessary permissions
When we go to create the home group, we do not grant all the permissions, only the ones we need. Remember that if we have a printer connected to the net or other equipment and there is the permission of the printers all those who are within the home group They can access it whenever they want. For this reason, before creating a home group, we must know what its objective is, in order to know what permissions to grant.
Let’s keep our network safe
As long as look for some information to strengthen security of your computer, you will see this tip. For this we must have a strong Wi-Fi password, since it is because of the wireless connection where attacks are seen the most.
Let’s avoid sharing game software
We know that most of the game software we share are free distribution, or were obtained illegally, and especially those of illegal distribution, is where a greater amount of viruses are housed. Viruses have the main function of sharing our information and files with their creators, so we must understand that access by one of them is a total danger to our computer and the files that are on it.
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