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Microsoft Intune can deploy Windows Firewall policies and inbound rules that allow SMB file sharing, but it is not a universal switch for every SMB, network-discovery, or printer-browsing behavior. Start by identifying the managed Windows versions, intended network scopes, and sharing features, then deploy and test the relevant policies separately.
What Intune can configure for SMB sharing
Intune’s documented role here is centrally deploying Windows Firewall settings and rules to managed devices. For the file-and-printer-sharing issue described in Microsoft’s SMB file and printer sharing ports guidance, administrators should define equivalent inbound firewall rules in an endpoint security firewall policy. Intune does not run the Best Practices Analyzer or automatically turn its findings into policy.
That distinction matters: permitting traffic through Windows Firewall does not itself enable every sharing feature, make a device discoverable, configure SMB dialects, or guarantee that a network printer appears in a browse list.
Deploy inbound file and printer sharing rules
Choose an Intune firewall policy
Microsoft documents two relevant policy workflows. The endpoint protection workflow uses a Windows 10 and later Endpoint protection profile and adds rules under Windows Firewall. The endpoint security Firewall policy workflow for Windows includes a Windows Firewall rules profile for granular port, protocol, application, and network choices. Profile names and workflows may change, so use the current Intune admin center and select the policy type applicable to the managed devices.
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In the Intune admin center, create the appropriate Windows firewall policy. For the endpoint protection workflow, use a Windows 10 and later Endpoint protection profile and add the rules under Windows Firewall. See Microsoft’s Endpoint protection configuration guidance.
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Define inbound rules that match the required sharing traffic and the organization’s network design. Microsoft’s troubleshooting guidance identifies File and Printer Sharing (SMB-In) and File and Printer Sharing (NB-Session-In), and discusses ports 445 and 139. Do not treat that as a requirement to open both ports on every endpoint; account for OS version and whether legacy NetBIOS traffic is actually needed.
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Limit each rule to the necessary network profiles, address scopes, and devices. Avoid enabling broad access on public networks unless the organization’s design specifically calls for it.
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Assign the policy to a limited pilot device group, review the profile, and verify file and printer-sharing behavior before expanding assignment. This staged rollout is operational guidance, not an automatic Intune requirement.
Microsoft documents a limit of 150 custom firewall rules per profile. If a rule fails, Microsoft says all rules in that profile are reported as failed and none are applied. Separate profiles can help isolate configuration failures, but still require deliberate rule and assignment design. See the Endpoint protection guidance and Intune endpoint security firewall policy documentation.
Which ports should Windows file and printer sharing use?
Microsoft’s cited troubleshooting article identifies SMB-In and NB-Session-In inbound rules and ports 445 and 139. The right rule set depends on Windows version and the protocols in use, rather than on the phrase “file and printer sharing” alone.
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In Windows 11 version 24H2 and Windows Server 2025, built-in firewall rules no longer include SMB NetBIOS ports 137–139. Microsoft notes that SMB2 or later shares do not use those ports. A legacy SMB1 requirement should be assessed separately; do not enable legacy ports simply because an older troubleshooting page mentions port 139. See Microsoft’s SMB traffic security guidance.
Why can I access a share but not browse for it?
Connecting directly to a known share and discovering devices or browsing for a printer are different tasks. A firewall rule can allow SMB traffic without making a device visible in network discovery or a printer visible in the Add Printer Wizard’s network search.
Network discovery
Microsoft describes network discovery as helping devices find one another. Its status can be On, Off, or Custom; Custom can mean discovery is only partly enabled because firewall conditions are not met. Check the discovery configuration and its firewall conditions separately from the inbound SMB rule. See Microsoft’s network setup guidance.
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Printer browsing
The Windows Add Printer Wizard’s network search is separately associated with the ADMX Printing DownlevelBrowse policy. Microsoft’s Policy CSP documentation describes behavior with Windows-version and printer-type details, so confirm that the policy applies to the managed OS and printer scenario rather than assuming an SMB rule controls browsing. See the ADMX_Printing Policy CSP.
SMB dialect settings are separate from firewall rules
SMB normally negotiates the highest dialect supported by both endpoints, within the documented range from SMB 2.0.2 through SMB 3.1.1. Minimum and maximum dialect controls are documented for Windows 11 version 24H2 and Windows Server 2025 through Group Policy or PowerShell. The reviewed Microsoft documentation does not establish a universal equivalent Intune setting across all Windows releases. Consult Microsoft’s SMB dialect management guidance for the applicable OS and management method.
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SMB encryption requirements can affect connections
Beginning with Windows 11 version 24H2 and Windows Server 2025, the SMB client can require encryption for outbound SMB connections. A client enforcing that requirement cannot connect to a destination that lacks support for SMB 3.0 or later and encryption. This is an OS capability described in Microsoft’s procedure; it does not establish universal Intune configuration support. Check destination compatibility before applying a requirement. See Microsoft’s guidance for requiring SMB client encryption.
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Plan the rollout around compatibility and failure scope
Before assigning a policy broadly, verify the managed Windows versions, the selected Intune profile type, and whether traffic is inbound or outbound. Then confirm the required SMB destinations and ports, the network profiles and address scopes that should be allowed, and whether users need discovery or printer search in addition to direct sharing.
Keep security controls distinct: firewall access governs traffic, dialect settings govern negotiated SMB versions, and encryption requirements can rule out incompatible destinations. Finally, consider assignment blast radius: a failed rule can cause every rule in its custom firewall profile to be reported as failed and unapplied, so test the actual profile and affected device group before expanding deployment.
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