Homegroup Icon Suddenly Appeared on Desktop (Why and How To Remove?)

[thegoodway]

As the title says, Windows 8.1 updated today and after restarted I have the Homegroup icon on my desktop.

How do I remove this?

Also, why did it get activated?

I Googled it but I trust you guys here at Tom's Hardware more than other sources so please enlighten me.

Thanks.

 

[basroil]

You probably did one of a few things:

1) You switched from an untrusted network to a trusted one
2) You enabled homegroup on another computer
3) You stopped using a domain
4) You changed share settings for something

To get rid of it, just change the advanced sharing settings (network and sharing control panel) and tell it to use windows accounts and passwords

 

[thegoodway]

You probably did one of a few things:

1) You switched from an untrusted network to a trusted one
2) You enabled homegroup on another computer
3) You stopped using a domain
4) You changed share settings for something

To get rid of it, just change the advanced sharing settings (network and sharing control panel) and tell it to use windows accounts and passwords

Thank you, your solution worked. However, I'm still curious as to why it was enabled in the first place. I have not switched networks at all. The PC is the only PC in my house and the only one with access to my router. I don't think I've stopped using any domain, although I'm not entirely clear on what that means, sorry for my noobishness. And I haven't changed share settings.

Is it possible the recent update turned it on somehow? Or should I be worried about a virus? Again, I'm not all that computer literate, I know enough to get by but not much past that. So if this query sounds silly I apologize. But your feedback is much appreciated.

 

[basroil]

More likely you just pressed something by accident or a driver was updated. Nothing to really worry about.

 

[thegoodway]

More likely you just pressed something by accident or a driver was updated. Nothing to really worry about.

Cheers, thanks again.