Hello everyone. I have a problem setting up a homegroup. When I have the firewall in the default configuration everything works flawlessly but If I enable the outbound protection it stops working. Would you mind telling me which rules should I create in order to make homegroup work again?. I've tried enabling the default rules called "HomeGroup Out" and"HomeGroup Out (PNRP)" but it's still not working. What I don't undestand is why Microsoft didn't create the default (working) outbound rules for homegroup. I've even had to create a rule for Windows Update!!. Well, I hope somebody can help me with this. Thanks in advance.

Hi, Please refer to the firewall settings in the following document: Settings to Allow Computers that are Members of a Domain to Join a Homegroup Hope this helps. Thanks. Nicholas Li - MSFT

I've checked all the rules mentioned in that document one by one and I have them all and the are active. Something is wrong with the default configuration. In other forum I asked about this and someone told me he was having the same problem. The this is that he sort of worked it out (but he has to reverse engineer). This is what he found out: Create this rule: 1) Create an Outgoing rule for svchost. 2) Set Profile to Private. 3) Ports and Protocols to TCP Port 5357. 4) Scope to Remote IP Local Subnet. 1) Create Outgoing rule for svchost. 2) Set Profile to Private. 3) Protocol and Ports to UDP Any. 4) Local IP to fe80::791f:4357:10a:xxxx (check your log for the correct IP). 5) Remote IP to fe80::11a3:645a:66c:xxxx (check your log for all your PC's in your Network and add the different IP's). If you are using more than 1 Router in your Network than you have to input the correct IP's for both Local and Remote too. I have 3 Wireless Routers and 1 Switch so making it harder to configure. I had to add my Local IP and the IP of the Remote PC (along with the fe:80's) which is using another Router but still connected to my Network and using the same IP range and Subnet Mask. Why I cannot get the HomeGroup to refresh I do not know. Logging off does not do it either. I must restart the PC. So, one needs to create BOTH of these rules to be able to have all PC's in the HomeGroup to recognize each other. As you can see, what he found out is far from perfect but it prooves that the default firewall configuration DOES NOT WORK with homegroups. Please, could you please take a look at this matter?. I don't know what else to try.

Nobody knows?. Nobody cares?. I thought I was in a Microsoft forum...

i was having problems with windows update 3 months ago and i had a rule created specific for windows update but it was still refusing the connection!!!what i did was testing every single outbound tule to see what was preventing my windows update to search for updates,then i noticed that ISCI and WMI rule needed to be allowed in order to make windows update work ,dont ask me why cuz i cant answer ya... then a week ago i decided to block those rules again and now WU is working fine with those rules blocked!!weird but i d suggest u to try one by one and see what is blocking it...i know it sucks but thats the best troubleshooting i found ...Regards,RR

Thanks man but that's not really an answer. I don't want to reverse engineer homegroups. Thats why I'm asking in a Microsoft forum.

Hi Dude,u can export ur current firewall settings and then start blocking one by one,till u find the one which is blocking homegroup...but thats ok ,i was just trying to help ya :DRegards,RR

Hi, I am sorry for delay in response. I just get the following and would like to share with you: HomeGroup and Firewall Interaction Please refer to the document to check your firewall rules and settings and see if there are some items improper. Thanks.Nicholas Li - MSFT