Sharing your files in Microsoft Windows 7 HomeGroup

The Knowhow

There are three ways you can share your files:

1. Public folders - accessible by anybody connected to your network
2. Individual folder sharing - if you would like more control over how your files are shared
3. HomeGroup - the easiest way to share files, but all the computers must be running Windows 7 to join

This article will focus on HomeGroup.

Creating a Homegroup

• Click on the Start button at the bottom left of your screen and then type HomeGroup into the search box. Left-click on HomeGroup from the list that appears (as shown in red below):
  
  


• Select create a homegroup
• Tick the boxes for the types of files you want to share then press Next
  
  


• You now need to create a password for other users to access your homegroup

Joining a homegroup

• Click on the Start button at the bottom left of your screen and then type HomeGroup into the search box. Left-click on HomeGroup from the list that appears.
• Choose Join HomeGroup
• Tick the boxes for the types of files you want to share then press Next
• You now need to enter the homegroup password

Sharing files

Now choose one of the following:

• Right-click the file or folder you want to share and then select Share with
  
  

• (Read) - People in your homegroup can only open the file; they can’t modify or delete them
• (Read/Write) - This option shares the item with your entire homegroup and lets them open, modify, or delete it
• Specific people... - This option opens the File Sharing wizard, which allows you to select individual people to share items with:
  
  

Note: If you don’t see the Share with menu, you might be trying to share an item that’s in an unsupported location such as the personal documents, music or pictures folder specific to that user account.

Updated On:

Jun 29, 2012

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