Learning how to enable and disable SMB1 and SMB2 protocol in Windows 10 is important as it is a built-in network file sharing protocol.
This provides the ability to read and write files and make other service requests to network devices.
Typically, you’ll use SMB to connect to devices that aren’t running Windows, such as a file-sharing-capable router, network-attached storage (NAS), or other computers running some version of Linux.
SMB1 and SMB2 protocol
Although three major versions of the protocol have been released before, there is a high probability that devices running the original version still exist.
Such as SMB version 1 (v1), which may be insecure as well as old, and the version of Windows 10 no longer installs by default after the updates that were made in the fall and the one in April of the year 2018.
However, if you have a network device that you can no longer access due to this issue, you can still temporarily enable the protocol to retrieve files.
In this Windows 10 guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to enable and disable the SMB1 and SMB2 protocol to regain access to files stored on the network.
How to temporarily activate the SMBv1 protocol in Windows 10
If you don’t have direct access to the device running the SMB service, you can temporarily enable the SMBv1 protocol in order to recover your files by following these steps:
- Open Control Panel.
- Click Programs.
- Click the Turn Windows features on or off link.
- Expand the SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support option.
- Check the SMB 1.0/CIFS Client option.
- Click the OK button.
- Click the Restart Now button.
After completing these steps, you will be able to see and connect to network devices running the old protocol on your local network from your Windows 10 computer again.
Of course, you should only use these steps as a temporary solution to regain access to your network stored files.
Ideally, if you keep your data on a drive connected to a router with file sharing capabilities or NAS.
It’s best to contact the device manufacturer for specific instructions on upgrading your device to a version that supports SMBv2.02 or later.
If the manufacturer cannot provide an update, you should consider getting a network device that includes support for the most secure version of the network protocol.
After migrating data off the network or updating software that supports the more secure version of the protocol, it is recommended that you disable SMBv1 on your computer.
Methods with PowerShell
Using the PowerShell program, you can enable and disable the SMB1 and SMB2 protocol in Windows 10. Sometimes, various users choose to replace the cmd prompt with PowerShell in Windows.
If your computer has the Windows Server 2012 R2 and 2016 service, you must use these parameters that we will indicate below to deactivate or activate SMB v1.
- To deactivate:
Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName smb1protocol
- To enable:
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName smb1protocol
To carry out the same procedure of activating and deactivating the protocol but in the version of SMB v2/v3, you use these parameters again:
- To deactivate:
Set-SmbServerConfiguration -EnableSMB2Protocol $false
- To enable:
Set-SmbServerConfiguration -EnableSMB2Protocol $true
server system
You can also enable and disable the SMB1 and SMB2 protocol in Windows 10 with server system.
In case you are using Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2016 server operating system, you should use the following parameters for SMB v1.
- To deactivate:
Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName SMB1Protocol
- To enable:
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName SMB1Protocol
Carrying out the same procedure but with the SMB v2/v3 protocol, you must use these parameters:
- To deactivate:
Set-SmbServerConfiguration -EnableSMB2Protocol $false
- To enable:
Set-SmbServerConfiguration -EnableSMB2Protocol $true
You will copy and paste all these parameters into the PowerShell program, which will allow you to activate and deactivate the SMB1 and SMB2 protocol in Windows 10.
