A Windows feature starting with Windows 7 and ending with Version 1803 of Windows 10. Lasting for nine years, the HomeGroup simplified file sharing on a local network, and it could co-exist with workgroups (see
workgroup-based network). Although Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic users could join a HomeGroup, they could not create one. The HomeGroup control panel was used to select which folders were shared, and it also generated a password for other machines to connect.