3 How to change workgroup on Windows 10

If your PC is on a large network at work or school, it probably belongs to a domain. If your PC is on your home network, it belongs to a workgroup or homegroup.

When you set up the network, Windows automatically creates a workgroup and names it WORKGROUP. You can join an existing workgroup on the network or create a new one. Workgroups provide facilities for sharing files and printers, but do not actually set up sharing for you.

This tutorial will show you how to change the workgroup on a Windows 10 PC to join an existing workgroup on the network or create a new workgroup.

Note:

If your network includes PCs running Windows XP, you may need to change the workgroup name on those PCs to match the workgroup name on PCs running newer versions of Windows so you can view and connect to all of them. PC on my network.

You should only use standard Internet characters in the workgroup name. The standard characters are numbers 0 through 9, uppercase letters, lowercase letters A through Z, and a hyphen (-) character. The PC name must not contain an entire number, nor must there be spaces. The name must also not contain special characters, such as:

`~ @ # $% ^ & () = + [] {} | ; :, ''. <> /?

1. How to Change the workgroup in System Properties

Step 1. Open Control Panel (Large icon view)> click System. On Windows 10 build 20161, open Settings> click the System icon and click About on the left side.

Faster, can press Win + R , type sysdm.cpl > press Enter and go to step 3 below to open System Properties.

Step 2. Click the Advanced system settings link on the left side or click the Change settings link on the right side.

3 How to change workgroup on Windows 10 Picture 1

Step 3. If prompted by UAC, click Yes.

Step 4. Click the Computer Name tab and click the Change button .

3 How to change workgroup on Windows 10 Picture 2

Step 5. Select Workgroup in Member of at the bottom, and then do one of the following:

To join an existing workgroup, enter the name of the domain you want to join, then click OK.

To create a new workgroup, enter the name of the workgroup you want to create, then click OK.

3 How to change workgroup on Windows 10 Picture 3 Select Workgroup in Member of at the bottom

Step 6. Click OK to close the message window.

3 How to change workgroup on Windows 10 Picture 4

Step 7. Click OK.

3 How to change workgroup on Windows 10 Picture 5 The computer will not restart at this step

Note : This has not yet restarted the computer.

Step 8. Verify the new workgroup name and click Close.

3 How to change workgroup on Windows 10 Picture 6

Step 9. Click Restart now to restart your PC and apply the workgroup name.

This will immediately restart your PC. Make sure to save and close anything that you have open before doing this.

2. How to Change the workgroup in Command Prompt

Step 1. Open Command Prompt with admin rights.

Step 2. Enter the command below into the Command Prompt and press Enter.

wmic computersystem where name="%computername%" call joindomainorworkgroup name="Workgroup-Name"

Replace Workgroup-Name in the command above with the actual name of the workgroup you want to join, or create in quotes.

For example:

wmic computersystem where name="%computername%" call joindomainorworkgroup name="BrinkGroup"

Step 3. When done, close the Command Prompt and restart the computer to apply the changes.

3. How to Change the workgroup in PowerShell

Step 1. Open PowerShell as admin.

Step 2. Type the command below into PowerShell and press Enter.

Add-Computer -WorkGroupName "Name"

Replace Name in the command above with the actual name of the workgroup you want to join, or create in quotes.

For example:

Add-Computer -WorkGroupName "BRINKGROUP"

Step 3. When done, close PowerShell and restart your computer to apply changes.

David Pac

Update 17 August 2020