Windows 8 guide: Set up a Home Group

If you have several computers with Windows on your home network, Home Groups make it easy to share files between them.

Read more: Windows 8 video guides

Windows 8 will automatically create a HomeGroup so all you need to do on your first computer is find the Home Group password. From the Start Screen type Home Group. Click on Settings and then on Home Group.

Scroll down the main part of the screen on the right to see the Home Group password. You will probably need to write it down as it will be a random collection of letters and numbers.

Move to the new computer on the network. Type Home Group on the Start Screen, click on Settings and then on Home Group. Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

This computer also has a Home Group password but we're not going to use it so click on Leave. Windows should then automatically detect the presence of the other Home Group and prompt you to enter the password. Enter it exactly as it was displayed on the other computer and click on Join.

Once your password has been confirmed, the Home Group screen will appear again. Use this opportunity to mark anything that you want to share from that computer.

To see the files or devices stored on the first computer, return to the Start Screen and click on Desktop. Click on the Windows Explorer icon in the Taskbar. The Home Group will be listed on the left. Click on the Home Group to see all the folders and devices shared arranged by the computer that hosts them.