Windows 10: Add or Remove Homegroup from Navigation Pane in Windows 10

How to: Add or Remove Homegroup from Navigation Pane in Windows 10


Information A homegroup is a group of PCs on a home network that can share devices (such as printers), and libraries (such as your Documents, Pictures, Music, and Video libraries). Using a homegroup makes sharing easier. Your homegroup is protected with a password, which you can change at any time.

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove Homegroup in the navigation pane of File Explorer for only your user account without disabling homegroup in Windows 10.



Note If you set to Show all folders in the navigation pane, then Homegroup will still show even if you remove it.


If the PC is currently joined to a Homegroup, then the tutorial will work as is to remove Homegroup from the navigation pane without disabling Homegroup.

If the PC is not joined to a Homegroup, then in addition to the tutorial you will need to stop and disable the two services below. This of course will disable Homegroup though.

HomeGroup Listener

HomeGroup Provider


Warning Starting with Windows 10 build 17063, the HomeGroup service is no longer operational in Windows 10. The user profile used for sharing and the file/folder/printer shares will continue to work.

Here are recommended alternatives to HomeGroup for you to get the best file-sharing experience in Windows 10 going forward:

• File Storage:
  • OneDrive is a cloud-first, cross-device storage and collaboration platform for all of the pieces of data that matter most in your life – like your files, your photos, your videos, and more.
  • OneDrive Files On-Demand takes cloud file storage a step further, allowing you to access all your files in the cloud without having to download them and use storage space on your device.
• Share Functionality: For those who prefer not to use the Cloud to connect their devices, the Share functionality for folders and printers allows you to see the available devices and connect them to and from other PCs on your home network.
• Easier Connection: No more remembering cryptic HomeGroup passwords in order to connect to another PC. You can now simply connect through your Microsoft Account email address across devices.

EXAMPLE: Add or Remove "Homegroup" in navigation pane









Here's How:


Note The .reg files below will add and change the DWORD value in the registry key below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93}

System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree DWORD

0 = Remove
1 = Add


1. Do step 2 (on) or step 3 (off) below for what you would like to do.


2. To Remove Homegroup from Navigation Pane
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Remove_HomeGroup_from_Navigation_Pane.reg

Download

3. To Add Homegroup to Navigation Pane
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Add_HomeGroup_to_Navigation_Pane.reg

Download
4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7. Restart the computer to apply.

8. You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Create a Homegroup in Windows 10
• How to Join a Homegroup in Windows 10
• How to Leave a Homegroup in Windows 10
• How to Add HomeGroup to Context Menu in Windows 10
• How to Show or Hide Navigation Pane in File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off Navigation Pane 'Show all folders' in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Homegroup Desktop Icon in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Drives in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Dropbox in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Favorites in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Google Drive in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Libraries in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Network in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove This PC in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove OneDrive in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Quick access in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove Recycle Bin in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove User Folder in Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 10
• How to Reset Navigation Pane Expanded State in Windows 10 File Explorer

:)

 

Windows 10 and OneDrive integration

@AjdinAlibegovic: Perhaps you can try
removing OneDrive from the navigation pane and then adding it back? Or while in the registry check if there are duplicate entries somehow.

 

On a home network Can I remove all Homegroup connections

Hello

Here is how you delete a homegroup

Press Windows Key + S and enter homegroup. Choose Homegroup from the list of results.

When Homegroup window opens, scroll down to the Other homegroup actions section and click the Leave the homegroup option.

You’ll see three options available. Choose Leave the homegroup option to leave the Homegroup.

Wait for few seconds while you leave the Homegroup.

Leaving the Homegroup is simple, but even if you leave it, you’ll still have Homegroup icon available in Navigation Pane in File Explorer. This isn’t a major problem, but if you want to remove it you can do so by following these steps:

Press Windows Key + R and enter services.msc. Press Enter or click OK.

When Services window opens, locate HomeGroup Listener and double click it to open its properties.

Set the Startup type to Disabled and click the Stop button to stop the service.

Click Apply and OK to save changes. Repeat the same steps for HomeGroup Provider service.

After disabling HomeGroup services, the Homegroup icon will disappear from the from the Navigation Pane completely.

Solution 2 – Use Registry Editor

If you want to remove Homegroup icon from Navigation Pane, you can do so by using Registry Editor. We have to warn you that Registry Editor is a powerful tool, and if you’re not careful you can cause stability issues with your Windows 10 installation. If you
decide to use this method, it might be a good idea to export your your registry and use it as a backup in case anything goes wrong. To edit your registry, do the following:

Press Windows Key + R and enter regedit. Click OK or press Enter.

When Registry Editor opens, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93} key in the left pane.

In the right pane locate System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree DWORD and change its value to 0.

After that, close Registry Editor and check if Homegroup icon is removed.

If you have Homegroup icon appearing on your Desktop, you can also remove it by using Registry Editor. To do that, simply follow these steps:

Navigate to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel key in the left pane.

In right pane select the {B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93} DWORD and change its value to 1.

Close Registry Editor and check if Homegroup icon is removed from your Desktop.

Is that what you were looking for?

 

Odd, I didn't have to. *Confused

 

@Edwin,

To continue from another thread, please see if using OPTION TWO below will work for you to remove Homegroup from the navigation pane without disabling it. *Smile

The tutorial above still works for me in 64-bit build 10162 though.

Homegroup -Add or Remove from Navigation Pane in Windows 8

 

on an x86 with 10162 build
- option 2 above did not work > Remove_HomeGroup_from_Navigation_Pane.reg
Homegroup still present

 

Thank you for testing Kyhi.

Did you restart the computer afterwards?

Are you currently joined to a homegroup?

 

no restart - no homegroup created

be back at you in a sec

 

after restart homegroup still present in file explorer

 

Well, back to the drawing board then.

Stopping and disabling the two services below in addition will remove Homegroup from the navigation pane, but it will also disable Homegroup. This wouldn't matter if you don't use Homegroup though.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4...dows-10-a.html

HomeGroup Listener

HomeGroup Provider

 

Ok. After further testing here are the results.

If the PC is currently joined to a Homegroup, then the tutorial will work as is to remove Homegroup from the navigation pane without disabling Homegroup.

If the PC is not joined to a Homegroup, then in addition to the tutorial you will need to stop and disable the two services below. This of course will disable Homegroup though.

Services - Start, Stop, and Disable in Windows 10

HomeGroup Listener

HomeGroup Provider

 

so best off to create a homegroup first - then remove the folder ???

one can then leave the homegroup (through control panel) - without actually disabling the feature ??

 

Nar, if you leave the homegroup, it'll eventually just show back up.

If you don't plan on joining a homegroup, then it would be best to also stop and disable the services. You can always enable and start them again later if you should decide to join or create a homegroup.

 

x86 build 10162

created homegroup
ran reg file
rebooted
homegroup still present in file explorer

still joined to homegroup

Side Note - MSA login

 

Not sure why. It was consistent for me. Let's see how others do with it.