The simplest way to quickly transfer files from one computer to another is to create a local area network and exchange data within it. It allows various PCs in the network to exchange files, music, photos, films and other important things, in essence, and is a combination of computers in an invisible chain.
Network types
There are two main network architectures: they are client-server, in which one of the computers performs the server work, and peer-to-peer, where there is no centralized management and everyone is equal. The second type also includes the so-called home groups specializing in small rooms and houses with a small number of devices. Basically, it's just a mechanism to simplify sharing. It was home groups (now disabled) that were the basic tool for file sharing in Windows 7.
But, as with any firmware, there are difficulties with Homegroup when you first contact, so let's figure out how to set up a Windows 10 homegroup.
Update problem
Home groups work with any OS of the generation of Windows 7 and older, but, unfortunately, do not support Windows XP and Vista. Until recently, the function worked on the "top ten", but after the April update to version 1803, its support was discontinued. After that, in new versions of Windows 10, you will no longer find Homegroup in Explorer, in the control panel, or in the settings. Apparently, Microsoft wants their users to use more up-to-date tools, such as OneDrive and the built-in “share” function, even if it is voluntary-forced.
Despite everything, in older versions of the OS, the function is still active. How to set up Windows 10 Homegroup on earlier versions? Very simple.
Set up a homegroup in earlier versions of Windows 10 (before upgrading)
So, how to set up a homegroup in Windows 10 through a router? You must complete the following steps:
- Initially, look if there is a connection of devices with a router and whether there is a network at all, and also make sure that all PCs have the same name for the workgroup (go to "System Properties", click "Change" and put down the name WORKGROUP, which the system should have in a good way set automatically).
- Next, enter the Network Control Center and commonly. access (CU) and see if there is an inscription "Home network" under your connection? If instead of it is "Public network", then you need to click on it, go to the settings for network location and switch to the home network.
- Now that everything is in order, go to the “Settings”, to the “Network and Internet” section, to the “Home group” subsection on the left side of the screen. Create your group, check off the checkboxes for which you provide access, and continue.
Password creation (before update)
Windows will generate a unique character set that will become your password for the first session (and maybe for all subsequent ones if you do not change it). You will need to write down this ten-digit password - it consists of a set of numbers and Latin letters in different registers. Nevertheless, in the control center, you can change the password to a more convenient one.
But the question arises: how to set up a Windows 10 homegroup without a password if you left the group and forgot to write even the first generated code? No problem: you can always remember the password in the control center by clicking on the "Show or print password from home group" item. In this case, the password must be entered only once, all subsequent times the input will be automatic.
In any case, on this you have completed the formation of a home group and are ready to connect computers to the network.
But the problems did not end there.
Configure IPv6 (before upgrade)
For normal operation of Homegroup, you must configure and connect the Internet Protocol IPv6. How to configure IPv6 in a Windows 10 homegroup?
First of all, go to the Control Center already familiar to us and find the item “Change adapter settings” there. Going through it, select the properties of the adapter that is used for the Internet connection, find the Internet Protocol of the sixth version (TCP / IPv6) and check the corresponding box if it was not installed there.
Settings for Android (before update)
Now we’ll learn how to set up a Windows 10 homegroup for your phone:
- First of all, you need to click on the link "Change advanced sharing settings" in the "Home group" section (located through a search) and enable network discovery there, and also check the box for auto-tuning on network devices.
- At the same time, in the "Private" subsection, access to files and printers must be enabled and home connection management must be enabled. groups in the Guest section, network discovery remains connected, and access to files and printers should work; Well, in the "All Networks" - connecting the shared access and turning off the password system.
- Now you need to prepare a folder for your phone and give it access. Select the appropriate folder, in the properties go to "Access" - "Sharing". In the window that appears, select the client and click "Share."
- Again, go to "Properties", already in "Security", and click "Add." In the new window for selecting a user or group, proceed as follows: "Advanced"> (window opens) "Search". Among the search results, find "All" and click "OK."
The computer is ready, you can connect the phone.
Now you need to decide how to configure the home group of Windows 10 1803.
Windows 10 version 1803
The 1803 update on Windows 10 excludes the homegroup from the system as a function. Thus, after the update, you will find that the navigation panel and the control panel do not show the workgroup, and you cannot work with this function and provide access to files. But this does not mean that sharing is impossible in principle, it will simply work on a completely different principle.
So, how to set up the Windows 10 Homegroup after the upgrade?
Firstly, for the full operation of the PC server, you need to carry out network configuration (on all devices):
- After starting, go to "Network and Internet", from the Enthernet submenu on the left side of the screen open "Change advanced sharing settings."
- Next, go to the "Private" subsection and check the boxes to enable network discovery and making files available for all devices on the local network.
- In the "All networks" subsection, turn off passwords (of course, if you are sure that strangers will not be able to join your network).
Network settings must comply with all of the following requirements:
- All PCs have their own unique names and IP addresses for identification.
- The network can only be private.
- Sometimes there are devices on the network with old OCs (XP, Vista). So that they can work with the "top ten", you need to connect SMBv1 and allow network access to guests in the settings.
All the same is carried out and configured on the second (client) device with W10, and it will be it that will subsequently gain access to the shared data.
Sharing folders and files (1803)
We continue to figure out how to set up a Windows 10 homegroup.
Now let's find out how to make (share) your folders and files for client devices on this network:
- On the server computer, find the directories that you are going to share and give access to other users.
- Right-click on a specific directory, and in the pop-up form, configure access to individuals.
- In order to allow only individual accounts to interact with PC data, you need to select a specific user from the list in the network access menu. At the same time, if passwords work, then these users will be required to enter them at each login. And you can give all users access to files, even anonymous ones - for this, the Everyone group is on the list. At the same time, there will no longer be a password request when entering folders and files on the network.
- When choosing user groups, the system will offer several access modes that can be selected by clicking on the arrow and selecting the appropriate item from the drop-down menu: read, read / write, read ban.
- The "Network Discovery" option is not enabled by default, and if you have not previously connected it, a dialog box will appear asking you to make the system make files available for all networks. You have two options:
- Refuse - as a result, this network will become private, and all local data and network discovery will be available for work or home networks.
- Agree - then access to your data will not be limited by anything.
- Since we are looking for an alternative to the classic home group, in this case we need to leave a private network.
Opening Folders (1803)
The screen will display information that this directory is now available for devices, and also shows the network address of a folder such as: UNC: \\ Dektop // J0f9 / Distr.
Thus, from one computer you can manipulate the local directories of another computer on a shared network. To do this, simply enter the directory address into the address bar of the explorer by type: Unc: \\ desktop // J0pf9 / Distr. To provide greater convenience and utility, you can make a shortcut to this folder and in the future go through it.