Samba lets Linux provide Windows-compatible SMB file shares, while Windows already includes its own SMB client and server components. On a typical network, you install and configure Samba on Ubuntu or another Linux server, then connect from Windows with a UNC path such as \192.168.1.10share.
This guide covers a practical Ubuntu setup, configuration validation, Windows connection problems, SMB protocol compatibility, and the security issues behind common advice such as “enable SMB1.”
What Samba does—and what Windows does not need
Samba is the Linux/Unix implementation of SMB, the protocol used by Windows file sharing. You do not install the Linux Samba package on Windows. Windows already includes SMB client functionality for opening Linux shares and SMB server functionality for sharing Windows folders.
Install Samba on the Linux machine that will host the files. The current Samba project page labels Samba 4.24.5 as the current stable release. Samba 4.23.0 was released on September 12, 2025; the 4.23 series enables SMB3 UNIX Extensions by default. Windows clients that do not support those extensions continue to use standard SMB3 behavior.
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Install Samba on Ubuntu
On Ubuntu, install the server package with:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install sambaThe primary configuration file is:
/etc/samba/smb.confUbuntu’s default file contains many commented settings, but it is not a complete list of Samba options. For an unfamiliar directive, consult the smb.conf manual page rather than guessing its spelling or behavior.
Before editing, make a backup:
sudo cp /etc/samba/smb.conf /etc/samba/smb.conf.backupConfigure a simple Samba share
The following example creates a guest-accessible share named share. It is suitable for a trusted home or test network, not for confidential data or an untrusted network.
-
Create the directory:
sudo mkdir -p /srv/samba/share -
Assign it to Ubuntu’s guest account and group:
sudo chown nobody:nogroup /srv/samba/share/ -
Open the Samba configuration:
sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf -
In the
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Add this share section at the end of the file:
[share] comment = Ubuntu File Server Share path = /srv/samba/share browsable = yes guest ok = yes read only = no create mask = 0755
| Directive | Purpose |
|---|---|
comment |
Description shown to clients. |
path |
Linux directory exported by Samba. |
browsable = yes |
Allows the share to be displayed when browsing the server in Windows Explorer. |
guest ok = yes |
Allows connections without entering a Samba password. |
read only = no |
Allows clients to create and change files. |
create mask = 0755 |
Controls permissions assigned to newly created files. |
This configuration gives any client on the local network read and write access without a password. Both Samba’s access rules and the Linux filesystem permissions must allow the requested operation. Guest access is convenient, but a named-user share is safer for anything important.
Validate and apply the configuration
Check the file before restarting services:
testparmRead the reported settings and fix any syntax error it identifies. In Active Directory server mode, Samba documentation specifies samba-tool testparm instead.
Apply a valid configuration by restarting the documented Ubuntu services:
sudo systemctl restart smbd.service nmbd.serviceCheck whether they started successfully:
systemctl status smbd.service nmbd.serviceIf Ubuntu’s firewall is enabled, permit Samba traffic:
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sudo ufw allow SambaOnly do this when the firewall rule is appropriate for the machine’s network. A firewall exception should not expose a guest-writeable share to the internet.
Connect from Windows
- Open File Explorer.
- Click the address bar.
- Enter the server address, for example
\192.168.1.10. - Open
share.
If network discovery does not list the Linux machine, enter its IP address directly. To open the share in one step, use:
\192.168.1.10shareReplace the address with the Linux server’s actual IP address or hostname. If a hostname fails but the IP works, investigate name resolution or network discovery; that does not necessarily indicate a Samba configuration error.
Add another share
Each additional share gets its own section in /etc/samba/smb.conf. For example:
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path = /srv/samba/qaCreate the directory, set suitable Linux ownership and permissions, validate the file, and restart Samba:
sudo mkdir -p /srv/samba/qa
sudo testparm
sudo systemctl restart smbd.service nmbd.serviceThe short example above inherits broader settings from [global]. For production use, define access explicitly rather than relying on inherited or permissive defaults.
Use named Samba users instead of guest access
A password-protected share normally requires three things: a Linux account, a Samba password for that account, and a share that permits that user or group. Add an existing Linux user to Samba with:
sudo smbpasswd -a usernameThe smbpasswd command sets passwords for local Samba users. Create the Linux account first if necessary, then assign ownership and filesystem permissions to the directories it should access. A share can then use settings such as:
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[private]
path = /srv/samba/private
browsable = yes
read only = no
valid users = usernameAfter editing, run testparm and restart smbd.service and nmbd.service. Windows may retain an old connection using different credentials. Disconnect that connection before retrying, or use:
net use * /deleteRun that command in Windows Command Prompt, then reconnect and enter the intended username and password.
Do not enable SMB1 as a routine fix
SMBv1 is obsolete and insecure. It is no longer installed by default beginning with Windows 10 Fall Creators Update and Windows Server 2019. Modern Samba and Windows clients should use SMB2 or SMB3.
On Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11, the optional-feature path is:
Control Panel → Programs and Features → Turn Windows features on or off → SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support
Clear that feature and restart if it is enabled. Microsoft also provides these elevated PowerShell commands:
Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName SMB1Protocol
Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName SMB1Protocol
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName SMB1ProtocolEnabling or disabling the optional SMB1 feature causes a restart. To check the Windows SMB server’s SMB1 status without elevation:
Get-SmbServerConfiguration | Format-List EnableSMB1ProtocolFor the Windows SMB server, SMB1 can be changed without a restart with:
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Set-SmbServerConfiguration -EnableSMB1Protocol $false
Set-SmbServerConfiguration -EnableSMB1Protocol $trueThese commands affect Windows’ own SMB server configuration, not the Linux Samba server. They are not a substitute for fixing Samba authentication, permissions, firewall rules, or protocol settings.
Windows 11 24H2 compatibility considerations
Windows 11 24H2 and Windows Server 2025 require SMB encryption by default for outbound SMB client connections. A connection can fail when the destination supports neither SMB 3.x nor the required encryption capability. This is a capability and policy issue, not an indication that SMB1 should be enabled.
Those Windows releases also add controls for SMB client and server dialects, SMB NTLM blocking for remote outbound connections, and an SMB authentication rate limiter. Repeated incorrect-password attempts can therefore result in progressively longer delays. NTLM blocking can prevent connections that depend on NTLM when a more secure authentication method, such as Kerberos, is required.
When diagnosing a current Windows client, check the Windows SMB policy and the Samba server’s supported protocol and authentication configuration before changing legacy settings.
Samba 4.23 features that may affect deployments
Samba 4.23 enables SMB3 UNIX Extensions by default. A compatible client can receive better Unix metadata behavior, while clients without support continue with ordinary SMB3 behavior.
File write timestamps also changed in Samba 4.23. They are updated immediately, matching modern Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016-or-newer behavior rather than the older delayed-update behavior. Applications that compare timestamps closely may therefore behave differently after an upgrade.
Samba 4.23 adds SMB over QUIC configuration through client smb transports and server smb transport. A server-side example is:
server smb transports = +quicServer-side QUIC requires the quic.ko Linux kernel module. The client can fall back to the userspace ngtcp2 library. Samba’s client-side QUIC mode requires a name-based UNC path; an IP-address-based path is not supported. In other words, use a path based on a resolvable server name rather than \192.168.1.10share when using that client transport.
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Useful Samba diagnostics
| Command | Use |
|---|---|
testparm |
Checks the syntax and displays the effective smb.conf configuration. |
smbstatus |
Shows current connections to smbd. |
smbtree |
Lists visible SMB workgroups, servers, and shares from the command line. |
smbpasswd |
Adds or changes passwords for local Samba users. |
For service failures, inspect the journal:
sudo journalctl -u smbd.service -u nmbd.service --no-pager -bA useful troubleshooting order is: test the configuration, confirm the services are running, verify the share directory and Linux permissions, check the firewall, connect by IP address, and then investigate Windows authentication or SMB policy. This order avoids changing protocol versions when the actual problem is a missing directory or a rejected password.
Security checklist
- Do not expose a guest-writeable share outside a trusted local network.
- Prefer named users, groups, and explicit
valid usersrules for private data. - Keep Samba and Ubuntu updated.
- Do not enable SMB1 unless a genuinely incompatible legacy device requires it and you understand the risk.
- Check both Samba permissions and Linux filesystem permissions.
- Restrict firewall access to the networks that need the share.
- Use SMB encryption and stronger authentication where the client and server policies require or support them.
FAQ
Do I install Samba on Windows?
No. Install Samba on the Linux machine providing the share. Windows already includes SMB client and server components; connect from File Explorer with a UNC path such as \servershare.
Why can Windows not see my Samba server?
Try the server’s IP address directly, such as \192.168.1.10. Then check that smbd is running, the share passes testparm, the firewall permits Samba, and the share directory exists. A discovery problem and a file-sharing problem are not always the same issue.
Should I enable SMB1 to connect to Samba?
Usually no. SMB1 is not installed by default on current Windows releases and is obsolete. Use SMB2 or SMB3 and investigate authentication, permissions, firewall rules, encryption requirements, and server capability instead.
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Run testparm, then restart the documented Ubuntu services with sudo systemctl restart smbd.service nmbd.service.
Why does a guest share fail on Windows 11 24H2?
A valid guest ok = yes setting does not override Windows security policy. Windows 11 24H2 can require SMB encryption for outbound connections and can restrict authentication methods. Use an authenticated share and ensure the Samba server supports the required SMB3 and encryption capabilities.
The Bottom Line
For a dependable setup, install Samba on Ubuntu, define shares in /etc/samba/smb.conf, validate with testparm, restart smbd and nmbd, and connect from Windows with a UNC path. Guest access is useful for a controlled test network, but named users and explicit permissions are the better default for real files. Modern Windows and Samba use SMB2/SMB3; enabling SMB1 should be an exceptional compatibility decision, not the first troubleshooting step.
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