The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →To enable SMB 1.0 in Windows 10, turn on SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support in Windows Features, or use an elevated PowerShell command. SMBv1 has significant security vulnerabilities, so only enable it when a legacy device or share requires it—and disable it again when it is no longer needed.
Enable SMB 1.0 in Windows Features
- Open Control Panel.
- Select Programs > Programs and Features.
- Select Turn Windows features on or off.
- Find and select SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support. If Windows shows separate components, select only the client or server component needed for your situation.
- Select OK to apply the change. If Windows asks you to restart, do so before testing the share.
Microsoft documents this feature path in its Windows 10 shared-folder troubleshooting guidance.
Enable SMB 1.0 with PowerShell
Use this method if you prefer the command line. Open PowerShell as an administrator. You can check the current optional-feature state and then enable it:
Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName SMB1Protocol
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName SMB1ProtocolThe feature identifier is SMB1Protocol. Microsoft says the computer restarts after this optional-feature enablement operation. Save your work first and allow the restart to complete before trying the share again. See Microsoft’s SMBv1 management instructions.
#1 Best Overall
Why SMB 1.0 should be a last resort
SMB 1.0, also called SMBv1, is an older file-sharing protocol; Windows exposes it as the optional feature SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support. Microsoft warns that “SMBv1 has significant security vulnerabilities, and we strongly encourage you not to use it.” If a device or server still requires SMBv1, Microsoft recommends updating that system to SMB 2.0 or later as soon as possible, then removing or disabling SMBv1 on Windows when it is no longer needed.
If the shared folder still will not open
Enabling SMBv1 can address a protocol-compatibility problem, but it does not resolve every cause of a failed connection. Microsoft’s Windows 10 troubleshooting guidance also addresses network-path errors, access permissions, and guest authentication. Check those issues if the share remains unavailable rather than assuming SMBv1 was the only problem.
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