What Is the Difference Between a Domain, a Workgroup and a Homegroup?

Part 1: The Difference between a Domain, a Workgroup and a Homegroup

The domain, work groups and home groups are different ways of arranging the computers in a network.

Workgroup

Below are 5 typical features of workgroup different from domains and homegroup.

• In a workgroup, all computers are peers; no computer has control over another.
• Each computer has a set of user accounts. To log on to any computer in the workgroup, you must have an account on that computer.
• Normally there are around 20 computers in a work group.
• A workgroup is not protected by a password.
• All computers must be on the same local network or subnet.

Homegroup

Below are 2 typical features of homegroup different from domains and workgroup.

• Computers on a home network must belong to a workgroup, but they can also belong to a homegroup.
• A homegroup is protected with a password, but you only need to type the password once, when adding your computer to the homegroup. (Forgot homegroup password? Click here to see how to find it.)

Domain

Below are 6 typical features of domain different from homegroup and workgroup.

• In a domain the computers are arranged in such a way that one or more computers are servers.
• The servers are used by administrators of the network to control the other computers.
• You can login to any computer in a domain if you just have a user account on the domain. There is no need to have a user account on each computer to login.
• You probably can make only limited changes to a computer's settings because network administrators often want to ensure consistency among computers.
• There can be thousands of computers in a domain.
• The computers can be on different local networks.

Part 2: The Affiliation between a Domain, a Workgroup and a Homegroup

Computers on home networks are usually part of a workgroup and possibly a homegroup, and computers on workplace networks are usually part of a domain.

Computers running Windows on a network must be part of a workgroup or a domain. Computers running Windows on home networks can also be part of a homegroup, but it's not required.

That's the difference between a domain, a workgroup and a homegroup. If you have any other questions, please be free to leave a message in the comment place.