What if you can't join a homegroup?

Resolve this issue

Click Run, and then follow the steps in the wizard.

If running the Fix It Wizard does not resolve the issue, refer to the following list:

There are no family groups available on your network. To create a homegroup, see Creating family groups.

You may not be connected to the network where the homegroup resides. To connect to a network, follow these steps:

Click the Network icon in the notification area of the taskbar

Click the network that you want to connect to, and then click Connect. You may be asked to enter a network security key.

After you connect to the network, if a homegroup exists on the network, you can join the homegroup.

You must be a computer running Windows 7 to join a homegroup. Family groups are available for all versions of Windows 7. In the Windows 7 Easy Edition and Windows 7 Home Edition, you can join a homegroup, but you cannot create a homegroup.

The network location may not be set to "home". The homegroup runs only on the home (private) network. To change the network location, follow these steps:

Open Network and Sharing Center by Clicking the Start button, and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type the network, and then click Network and Sharing Center.

Click Work network or public network, and then click Home Networking.

　　Network and Sharing Center

Other computers in the homegroup may not be at home, may have left the homegroup, or are in a closed, sleep, or hibernate state. For information about changing power-saving options, see Change, create, or delete a power Plan (scenario).

The computer where the homegroup was created may have been restarted and no one has logged on to the computer. Some of the services required by the homegroup are logged in to start. Make sure that someone is logged on to the computer where this homegroup was originally created.

Network discovery is not enabled. To enable network discovery, follow these steps:

Open advanced sharing settings by clicking the Start button, and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type the network, click Network and Sharing Center, and then in the left pane, click Change advanced sharing settings. Click the chevron icon to expand the home or work network configuration file. Click Enable Network Discovery, and then click Save Changes.

If you are prompted to enter an administrator password or confirm, type the password or provide confirmation.

For more information about network discovery, see what is Network Discovery?

One or more of the required services are not running. The peer network grouping and homegroup providers services must all be running ... Here is the check step:

Open Administrative Tools by clicking the Start button, and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type the administrative Tools, and then click Administrative Tools.

If you are prompted to enter an administrator password or confirm, type the password or provide confirmation. Double-click Services.

If you are prompted to enter an administrator password or confirm, type the password or provide confirmation.

In the Status column next to the peer network grouping and homegroup providers services, you should see the word started. If you don't see the typeface, double-click the name of the service, and then click Start.

The peer network Idstore.sst file is corrupted. If you see the message Windows cannot set up a homegroup on this computer. Error code 0x80630801. , and you cannot start the Peer Network Grouping service using the procedure above, follow these steps to remove the corrupted file:

Click the Start button

In the search box, type a command prompt.

In the results list, right-click Command prompt, and then click Run as Administrator.

If you are prompted to enter an administrator password or confirm, type the password or provide confirmation.

Deletes the Idstore.sset file located in the Windowsserviceprofileslocalserviceappdataroamingpeernetworking folder on the system drive (for example, drive C).

Restart the computer, and then try to join the homegroup again.

Your computer already belongs to a homegroup. You can only belong to one homegroup at a time.

Your system administrator has shut down a homegroup on a computer that is joined to a domain.