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Windows 11 can request SMB compression to reduce the amount of data sent during a network file transfer. It does not permanently compress the source file, and there is no separate “Compress File Aggressively” switch required on updated systems: when compression is requested, supported Windows builds attempt it across the transfer without the older sampling test. Choose a client, share, mapped-drive, or one-copy setting based on how broadly you want compression applied.
What SMB compression changes—and what it does not
SMB compression operates while files are transferred over an SMB network connection. It can reduce network traffic and transfer time, but it uses additional CPU. Microsoft says it is most useful on lower-bandwidth links; on a fast, uncongested network, the benefit may be small. It does not change the file stored on disk.
Compression can be requested by the client, the server or share, a mapped drive, or an individual copy operation. Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022 or later support the feature. For the newer no-sampling behavior, Microsoft identifies Windows 11 KB5016691 (OS build 22000.918) and Windows Server 2022 KB5016693 (OS build 20348.946). See Microsoft’s SMB compression documentation for the supported configuration options.
Choose where to request compression
| Scope | Use it when | Configuration |
|---|---|---|
| Client-wide | You want this Windows client to request compression for SMB traffic broadly. | Group Policy or client PowerShell configuration |
| Server-wide | You administer the SMB server and want it to request compression for all shares. | Group Policy or server PowerShell configuration |
| One share | You administer the server and want the setting limited to a particular share. | Set the share’s CompressData property |
| One mapped drive | You want a particular mapped connection to request compression. | New-SmbMapping or NET USE |
| One copy job | You want compression only for a Robocopy or Xcopy transfer. | Use the tool’s /COMPRESS option |
Set a client-wide request
Use Group Policy
- Open the Local Group Policy Editor or the applicable Group Policy management console.
- Go to Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Network > Lanman Workstation.
- Enable Use SMB Compression by Default.
Use elevated PowerShell
Run PowerShell as an administrator and enter:
Set-SmbClientConfiguration -RequestCompression $trueTo stop the client from requesting compression, Microsoft documents this command:
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Set-SmbClientConfiguration -DisableCompression $trueThe related policy is named Disable SMB Compression. The client configuration reference documents the request and sampling parameters at Set-SmbClientConfiguration.
Request compression from the server or for one share
All shares on a server
On the SMB server, configure the policy at Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Network > Lanman Server, then enable Request traffic compression for all shares. Alternatively, run elevated PowerShell on the server:
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Set-SmbServerConfiguration -RequestCompression $trueOne share
To create a share that requests compression:
New-SmbShare -Name "Sales" -Path "C:sales" -CompressData $trueTo enable it on an existing share:
Set-SmbShare -Name "Sales" -CompressData $trueThese server and share settings are documented in Microsoft’s SMB compression guide. Microsoft says the changes take effect immediately without a reboot.
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Map a drive with compression requested
In PowerShell, use the actual share path for your environment:
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New-SmbMapping -LocalPath "Z:" -RemotePath "\fs1.corp.contoso.comsales" -CompressNetworkTraffic $trueFrom Command Prompt, Microsoft also documents:
NET USE * \fs1.corp.contoso.comsales /REQUESTCOMPRESSION:YESRequest compression for a Robocopy or Xcopy job
Add /COMPRESS to the particular copy command. For example:
robocopy C:Source \fs1SalesBackup /E /COMPRESSFile Explorer, third-party tools, and applications need a compressed mapping, a share configured for compression, or a client configured to request it by default. A copy tool’s option applies to that tool’s job; it does not permanently compress the files.
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What “aggressive” compression means on updated Windows
Earlier SMB compression behavior sampled the start of a file before deciding whether to continue. The original default examined the first 524,288,000 bytes (500 MiB); it continued if at least 104,857,600 bytes (100 MiB) compressed, and otherwise stopped trying for the remainder. Microsoft says that after Windows 11 KB5016691 and Windows Server 2022 KB5016693, compression requested by a client or server is attempted without sampling by default.
The client cmdlet exposes EnableCompressibilitySampling to re-enable sampling. When sampling is enabled without custom thresholds, Microsoft documents the same 500 MiB window and 100 MiB threshold. This option changes how compression is attempted, not whether a particular file is guaranteed to shrink or transfer faster. The cmdlet reference describes the parameter; do not lower thresholds on the assumption that doing so always improves performance.
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Which files and connections are likely to benefit?
Compression is more promising for data that has not already been compressed, such as some virtual-machine disks, ISO images, and dump files. It is unlikely to significantly improve transfers of ZIP, 7z, or RAR archives, common MP4 or MKV video, or MP3 and FLAC audio. Microsoft’s guidance on these cases is in its slow SMB file transfer troubleshooting article.
Compression also cannot fix a bottleneck elsewhere. Microsoft gives approximate storage throughput requirements of 110 MB/s per 1 Gbps, 1.1 GB/s per 10 Gbps, and 11 GB/s per 100 Gbps, assuming no other bottlenecks. These are troubleshooting estimates, not promised SMB copy speeds. If storage cannot supply data at the needed rate, requesting compression may not make the copy faster.
Compatibility limits to check
- SMB Direct over RDMA: SMB compression does not support SMB Direct over RDMA. Windows does not compress SMB messages over RDMA, as described in the MS-SMB2 protocol behavior reference.
- Other SMB features: Microsoft lists support for SMB signing, SMB encryption, SMB over QUIC, and SMB Multichannel alongside compression in its SMB compression documentation.
- Algorithms: Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022 or later list XPRESS (LZ77), XPRESS Huffman (LZ77 plus Huffman), LZNT1, and PATTERN_V1. LZ4 is listed for Windows 11 24H2 or later and Windows Server 2025 or later. Windows negotiates an available algorithm supported by both ends. See Microsoft’s SMB feature overview.
Check performance without confusing compression with a fix
- Confirm that both ends support SMB compression and that the connection is not using SMB Direct over RDMA.
- Use a file likely to compress, rather than an archive or already-compressed media file.
- Choose the narrowest request scope that fits your goal: one copy, one mapping, one share, or the whole client/server.
- Compare transfer time and CPU use under the same network and storage conditions. A faster result is not guaranteed, particularly when the network is already fast or storage is the limiting factor.
Because policy and cmdlet availability can vary with Windows build, check the installed system’s current settings and Microsoft documentation before applying a broad change across managed devices.
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