How to remove HomeGroup icon from Windows 10 File Explorer

During setup, Windows 10 asks you which network type you want to set for the current network connection. Once you set it as private, Windows 10 automatically shows the HomeGroup icon in the navigation pane of File Explorer. If you have no use for the HomeGroup feature and don't wish to see its icon, here is how to disable it and remove HomeGroup from Windows 10 File Explorer.


The easiest way to get rid of the HomeGroup icon in Windows 10 File Explorer is to disable this feature. All you need to do is stop and disable the HomeGroup Provider service. Do the following:

1. Press Win + R shortcut keys to display the Run dialog. Tip: see the full list of all Windows keyboard shortcuts with Win keys. Type the following in the Run box:

   services.msc

   

2. In Services, disable the HomeGroup Provider service as shown below:
3. Now, re-open the File Explorer app. The HomeGroup icon will disappear:

However, if you want to keep using the HomeGroup feature, but get rid of the navigation pane icon only, here is how you can remove the HomeGroup icon from the navigation pane in Windows 10.

1. Open Registry Editor.
2. Go to the following Registry key:

   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93}\ShellFolder

   Tip: See how to jump to the desired Registry key with one click.
   You need to take ownership of this key as described HERE or using the RegOwnershipEx app (recommended).

3. Set the DWORD parameter Attributes to b094010c.
4. If you are running a 64-bit operating system, repeat the steps above for the following Registry key:

   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93}\ShellFolder

5. Restart Windows 10.
6. Open the File Explorer app. The icon will disappear, but HomeGroup will continue to work.You can still access it by typing this in the Run dialog:

   shell:::{B4FB3F98-C1EA-428d-A78A-D1F5659CBA93}

That's it.

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