# Enable and disable SMB1 in Windows 10: A step-by-step guide

**File access** and **communication** between devices and computer processes have been regulated by the network protocol [SMB (Server Message Block)](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/know-how/server-message-block-smb/ "Server Message Block (SMB)") in Windows systems for decades. Current operating system editions like Windows 10, for example, still support **SMBv1** – the first version of this standard. However, this version has received attention in the recent past due to **security vulnerabilities**, which is why it’s best to avoid this outdated protocol edition. Find out in this article how to **disable** support for certain variants of SMB in Windows 10, and how to **reactivate** it if needed.

## Activate and deactivate SMBv1 in Windows 10 – how it works

In current Windows 10 installations, SMBv1 is no longer automatically installed as standard. But if you activate the protocol manually (or using external software) or have upgraded an older Windows edition, it’s advisable to **disable support for the outdated protocol version**. You can perform this step via the Control Panel, [PowerShell](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/know-how/windows-powershell/ "Windows PowerShell") or the Windows Registry. The extent to which each approach for activating and deactivating the protocol varies can be seen in the following step-by-step guide.

### Adjust SMB1 support via the Windows 10 Control Panel

If you want to enable or disable SMB/CFIS support without using PowerShell in Windows, you can carry out this step via the operating system’s **software manager**.

**Step 1: Open “Programs and Features”**

First, open the “Programs and Features” section which allows you to manage installed software and protocols like SMBv1 in Microsoft systems. To do so, open the **Start menu** (Windows icon) and then **Control Panel**. There you’ll find the button “**Programs and Features**”.

[![Image: Windows 10 Control Panel: “Programs and Features”](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/9/6/csm_windows-10-control-panel-programs-and-features_46bf9b02cd.webp "Windows 10 Control Panel: “Programs and Features”")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2020/windows-10-control-panel-programs-and-features.jpg) Windows 10 Control Panel: “Programs and Features” **Step 2: Open menu for Windows features**

In the left menu, click on “**Turn Windows features on or off**” to access the menu for managing protocols:

[![Image: “Programs and Features” menu in Windows 10](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/d/c/csm_programs-and-features-menu-in-windows-10_c56bb360c1.webp "“Programs and Features” menu in Windows 10")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2020/programs-and-features-menu-in-windows-10.jpg) “Programs and Features” menu in Windows 10 **Step 3: Disable support for SMB 1.0/CFIS file sharing**

Look for the entry on SMB Windows 10 support and remove the checkmark from the corresponding box. The three sub-options will also be deactivated; they refer to an SMB client, an SMB server and an **automatic removal function**. The latter option ensures that SMBv1 is automatically deactivated when the old protocol version is not used – which is no longer necessary in this case.

[![Image: Activating Windows SMB support](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/9/0/csm_activating-windows-smb-support_3a2f5b733b.webp "Activating Windows SMB support")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2020/activating-windows-smb-support.jpg) Activating Windows SMB support **Step 4: Confirm changes and restart device**

Finally, click “**OK**” to disable SMB1 in Windows 10. This process will take some time, during which you shouldn’t close the open window. As soon as the process has finished, you’ll receive the prompt to restart the system. You can do so by clicking on “**Restart now**”:

[![Image: Windows 10: Restart dialog](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/6/e/csm_windows-10-restart-dialog_a3830e2924.webp "Windows 10: Restart dialog")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2020/windows-10-restart-dialog.jpg) Windows 10: Restart dialog  Note If you want to **turn on SMBv1** at a later time or in general, you can also follow our guide. Instead of deselecting the option “Support for SMB 1.0/CFIS file sharing” in the third step, simply place a checkmark in the box. However, activating this setting is only recommended in absolutely exceptional cases.

### Disable or enable SMB in Windows 10 via PowerShell

You can also manage protocols like Server Message Block in Windows 10 using PowerShell – with the right command. Just like adjusting the settings via Control Panel, you’ll need administrator rights since Windows will otherwise deny you access to the necessary options.

**Step 1: Start PowerShell as an administrator**

For the first step, open PowerShell with administrator rights. There are two ways to do this: If it’s available in your Windows 10 installation, you’ll find the menu item “**Windows PowerShell (administrator)**” in the quick-start menu (right-click on the Windows icon). Simply clicking on this option will start the practical configuration framework. Alternatively, enter “PowerShell” in the Windows search bar, select the search result with a right-click and then click on “**Run as administrator**”:

[![Image: Windows search: Result for the search term “powershell”](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/c/7/csm_windows-search-result-for-the-search-term-powershell_cfe45aa16f.webp "Windows search: Result for the search term “powershell”")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2020/windows-search-result-for-the-search-term-powershell.jpg) Windows search: Result for the search term “powershell” **Step 2: Access the current status of SMB1 in Windows 10**

After starting PowerShell, check whether or not your Windows installation currently supports communication via the old protocol version. You can do this by typing the following command and confirming it with the \[Enter\] key:

```none
Get-SmbServerConfiguration | Format-List EnableSMB1Protocol
```

Following a short processing time, you’ll receive one of two possible output values: If PowerShell displays the value “**False**” for “EnableSMB1Protocol”, SMBv1 is disabled. If support is active, the value displayed will be “**True**”.

[![Image: Windows PowerShell: SMB status check](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/8/d/csm_windows-powershell-smb-status-check_f96f9d3db9.webp "Windows PowerShell: SMB status check")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2020/windows-powershell-smb-status-check.jpg) Windows PowerShell: SMB status check **Step 3: Enable or disable SMBv1**

If the outdated SMB version is currently supported by your system, you should deactivate it. The **command** to do this is shown below:

```none
Set-SmbServerConfiguration -EnableSMB1Protocol 0
```

PowerShell will then ask if you really want to perform this action. To confirm, type “**Y**” and press the \[Enter\] key:

[![Image: PowerShell: Deactivating SMBv1](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/4/0/csm_powershell-deactivating-smbv1_d7e7042715.webp "PowerShell: Deactivating SMBv1")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2020/powershell-deactivating-smbv1.jpg) PowerShell: Deactivating SMBv1 Then, restart Windows 10 to apply the system changes.

Note To activate the outdated protocol version in PowerShell, add the value “1” to the command “Set-SmbServerConfiguration -EnableSMB1Protocol”.

### Deactivate or activate SMB1 in the Windows 10 Registry

The third option for adjusting the support of SMB1 in Windows 10 is accessed via the registry database of the system – or simply the “Registry”. Using the standard editor [Regedit](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/regedit/ "Regedit"), you can modify the **entry** for the communication protocol here. As in the previous two cases, you’ll need administrator rights again.

**Step 1: Start Windows 10 Registry as administrator**

The easiest way to open the Windows 10 Registry Editor as an administrator is via the Windows search feature. Open the service – for instance, via “**Search**” in the quick-start menu (right-click on the Windows icon) – and enter the search term “**regedit**”. Select the search result shown using the right mouse button and then click on “**Run as administrator**”:

[![Image: Windows 10 search: result for “regedit”](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/d/a/csm_windows-10-search-result-for-regedit_bb1a3111ce.webp "Windows 10 search: result for “regedit”")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2020/windows-10-search-result-for-regedit.jpg) Windows 10 search: result for “regedit” **Step 2: Open registry key**

Once you’ve opened the editor, the next step is to access the correct registry key. To do so, enter the following path in the **address bar** or click through the folder structure until you reach the right location:

```none
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters
```

[![Image: Registry Editor in Windows 10](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/5/1/csm_registry-editor-in-windows-10_86a3214bc5.webp "Registry Editor in Windows 10")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2020/registry-editor-in-windows-10.jpg) Registry Editor in Windows 10 **Step 3: Change value for “SMB1”**

Double click on “SMB1” in the opened key and enter the value “0” to disable SMB1 in Windows 10. Next, confirm the new value with “**OK**”:

[![Image: SMB1 entry in the Windows 10 Registry](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/a/3/csm_smb1-entry-in-the-windows-10-registry_0376942d7f.webp "SMB1 entry in the Windows 10 Registry")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2020/smb1-entry-in-the-windows-10-registry.jpg) SMB1 entry in the Windows 10 Registry Close the editor and then restart Windows 10 to apply the changes regarding Server Message Block.

Note To activate SMB1, enter the value “1” in the field shown.


This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/configuration/windows-smb/](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/configuration/windows-smb/) for AI/LLM consumption.