Homegroup - Leave

How to Leave a Homegroup in Windows 7​

   Information

If you decide that you no longer want your computer joined to a Homegroup, then this will show you how to leave the homegroup to remove your computer from it.

   Note

• After you leave a homegroup, you will no longer be able to access files and printers other people have shared with that homegroup. They will also no longer be able to access files and printers that you had set to share with the homegroup.
• When you leave a homegroup, all user accounts on your computer also leave the homegroup.
• If every joined computer leaves a homegroup, it will no longer exist.

Here's How:
1. If you have not already, make sure that all PCs that are already in the homegroup you want to leave are turned on and not asleep.

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

3. Click on the Choose homegroup and sharing options link. (see screenshot below)

4. Click on the Leave the homegroup link. (see screenshot below)

5. Select Leave the homegroup. (see screenshot below)

6. After a moment, your computer will no longer be joined to the homegroup. Click on Finish. (see screenshot below)

   Tip

If you can't leave the homegroup, then:

1) Delete all files in the hidden C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Roaming\PeerNetworking folder on the PC you want to leave the homegroup.

2) Restart the PC.

3) Try the tutorial again to see if you are able to leave the homegroup now.


If you are still unable to leave the homegroup, then see: http://www.sevenforums.com/network-sharing/62176-homegroup-not-working.html#post557185

7. Close the HomeGroup window. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If a homegroup still exists (already created) on your home network, then Windows 7 will ask if you would like to Join Now instead of Create a homegroup.





That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Leave a Homegroup in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Remove Currently Unavailable PC you no longer have from Homegroup in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Link your Live ID and Share Files in Windows 7 HomeGroup
• How to Change the Default HomeGroup Icon in Windows 7
• How to Add or Remove Homegroup from the Windows 7 Navigation Pane
• How to Add or Remove the HomeGroup Desktop Icon in Windows 7
• How to View or Print Your Windows 7 Homegroup Password
• How to Change the Windows 7 Homegroup Password
• How to Create a Homegroup in Windows 7
• How to Join or Add a Computer to a Windows 7 Homegroup
• How to Change Windows 7 Homegroup File and Folder Sharing Settings
• How to Create a HomeGroup Troubleshoot Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Create a HomeGroup Settings Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Create a HomeGroup Folder Shortcut in Windows 7

 

[nalbe]

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\HomeGroup]
"DisableHomeGroup"=dword:00000001

 

[Brink]

Hello Nalbe,

Thank you, but that would disable HomeGroup completely instead of just having the computer leave a HomeGroup that it previously joined or was added to. That would be just a bit of an overkill if one just wanted to leave a HomeGroup.

 

[smarteyeball]

I really don't know which Homegroup section to ask this one in.

But how do you remove computers or installations (that no longer exist) from the homegroup?

I created a homegroup years ago on a machine that now no longer exists. I kept using the same password for each subsequent installation , most of which now no longer exist either.

Is it possible to remove these old non-existing OS entries? via gpedit or some such? It's become quite cluttered and flat out silly.

Or would it be simpler to leave the current homegroup and simply create a new one altogether for the existing machines?

(I'm in interested in on how to remove defunct entries since I tend to build them up quite often)

 

[Brink]

Hello Patrick,

You should be able to start over by having all computers still around to leave the homegroup, create a new homegroup with a different password, and have the other computers join it.

I haven't found a way to just remove one PC like that yet.

 

[smarteyeball]

Cheers Shaun - I thought as much.

Thanks mate.

 

[Brink]

Anytime mate.