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FA_E_HOMEGROUP_NOT_AVAILABLE
The legacy Windows HomeGroup is not available
FA_E_HOMEGROUP_NOT_AVAILABLE is HRESULT 0x80270222 (signed decimal -2144927198, unsigned decimal 2150040098). AllStat, using winerror.h, describes it as “Cannot access Homegroup. Homegroup may not be set up or may have encountered an error.” The value has failure severity, facility 0x27, and code field 0x0222.
Interpret the code in the operating-system timeline
HomeGroup was the consumer peer-to-peer sharing feature introduced for older Windows releases. Microsoft removed HomeGroup from Windows 10 version 1803. On that version and later Windows clients, users cannot create, join, or leave a HomeGroup, and the HomeGroup entry no longer appears in File Explorer or Control Panel. Therefore, the first diagnostic question is not whether the network cable works; it is whether the operating system still supports the feature that produced the HRESULT.
On a supported legacy installation, the code can mean that no HomeGroup is configured, the computer is no longer joined, or the HomeGroup infrastructure cannot supply the requested resource. On a modern installation, it usually indicates that legacy application or shell code is still trying to invoke a removed feature. It should not be treated as proof that ordinary SMB file sharing or printer sharing is unavailable.
Legacy-system causes
- No HomeGroup has been created on the local network, or the computer has not joined the existing group.
- The machine retained stale HomeGroup membership or credentials after another member was rebuilt, removed, or changed networks.
- The network is classified or configured in a way that prevents the former HomeGroup discovery and sharing workflow.
- The peer that published the requested library or printer is offline, has left the group, or no longer shares that resource.
- A legacy service or shell component required by HomeGroup is stopped or damaged on an operating system that still includes it.
- An application assumes HomeGroup availability without checking Windows version and feature support.
Evidence that identifies the correct branch
- Record the exact Windows edition, version, build, and whether the failure occurred before or after an upgrade to version 1803 or later.
- Identify the caller: legacy Control Panel integration, File Explorer extension, application sharing wizard, saved shell location, or a direct network path.
- Log whether the requested target is a HomeGroup library, a printer, or a normal UNC share such as
\\server\share. - On a legacy system, capture HomeGroup membership state, network profile, peer visibility, resource owner, and nearby service or event-log failures.
- Test ordinary name resolution and SMB access separately. A successful UNC connection alongside this HRESULT points to obsolete HomeGroup discovery rather than a general network outage.
Diagnostic sequence
- If Windows 10 version 1803 or a later Windows client is running, stop trying to repair HomeGroup. Remove or bypass the legacy feature path.
- Replace HomeGroup-specific navigation with supported file sharing in File Explorer, explicit SMB shares, or network-printer sharing as appropriate.
- If the system is an older supported release, confirm that a HomeGroup exists and that the computer is joined before changing permissions or restarting services.
- Verify the publishing computer and the specific library or printer, rather than assuming every peer resource failed.
- Clear stale application state that stores a HomeGroup shell item only after preserving any independent UNC path or user configuration.
- Do not weaken firewall, authentication, or share permissions merely to make an obsolete HomeGroup probe succeed.
What not to conclude from the result
FA_E_HOMEGROUP_NOT_AVAILABLE is not equivalent to ERROR_BAD_NETPATH, access denied, DNS failure, or a missing local file. It does not mean the PC has left its Windows workgroup or domain, and it has no relation to a Microsoft Family Safety group. The code names the legacy HomeGroup feature boundary; network sharing can continue through supported mechanisms after that feature has been removed.
Retry and recovery
On Windows 10 version 1803 and later, retrying the same HomeGroup operation cannot restore a removed platform feature. Recovery means selecting a supported sharing mechanism and updating the application or workflow. On an older Windows release, a bounded retry is reasonable only after membership, peer availability, and the specific shared resource have changed. Repeated polling while no HomeGroup exists adds noise and does not create one.
Migration should preserve the user’s intent instead of the obsolete implementation. For file access, create an explicit share with appropriate users and permissions; for printers, use current network-printer sharing. Validate both share permissions and NTFS permissions, and document the replacement path rather than silently redirecting users to an unrelated resource.
Practical scenario
A desktop utility saved a HomeGroup shell location on Windows 8.1. The machine is upgraded to a current Windows release, and the utility later tries to enumerate the saved location. It receives FA_E_HOMEGROUP_NOT_AVAILABLE, while \\NAS\Photos remains accessible. The correct fix is to migrate the saved location to the UNC share and remove the HomeGroup-specific code, not to troubleshoot the NAS or reinstall networking.
References
- Microsoft Support: HomeGroup removed from Windows 10 version 1803
- Microsoft: Features removed from Windows client
- Microsoft Support: File sharing over a network in Windows
- Microsoft Support: Share a network printer
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