Windows 7 - Homegroup - Allow or Prevent Adding or Joining Your Computer

   Information

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

This will show you how to allow or prevent all users from being able to add or join this (your) computer to a homegroup in Windows 7.

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

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.

Allow_Computer_Joining_HomeGroup.reg

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Prevent the Computer from Joining a Homegroup

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Prevent_Computer_Joining_HomeGroup.reg

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

4. Right click the downloaded .reg file on the Desktop and click on Merge.

5. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

6. Restart the computer to apply.

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

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. In the left pane, click on to expand Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and HomeGroup. (see screenshot below)

3. In the right pane, right click on Prevent the computer from joining a homegroup and click on Edit. (see screenshot above)

4. To Allow the Computer to Join a Homegroup

A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled. (see screenshot below step 6)
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Prevent the Computer from Joining a Homegroup

A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below step 6)

6. Click on OK. (see screenshot below)

7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.

8. Restart the computer to apply.