How to Change File Sharing Encryption Level in Windows 10


File and printer sharing is the ability of a computer running Windows to share a folder or attached printer with other computers on a network.

  • File sharing allows you to make files and folders in a shared folder accessible to others on the network to view, copy, or modify.
  • Printer sharing allows you to make an attached printer available to other computer users on the network.

Windows uses 128-bit encryption to help protect file sharing connections by default. Some devices do not support 128-bit encryption and must use 40- or 56-bit encryption.

This tutorial will show you how to change to use 128-bit or 40- or 56-bit encryption for file sharing on all networks in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to change the file sharing encryption level.



Contents

  • Option One: Change File Sharing Encryption Level in Network and Sharing Center
  • Option Two: Change File Sharing Encryption Level using a REG file






OPTION ONE

Change File Sharing Encryption Level in Network and Sharing Center


1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Network and Sharing Center icon.

2 Click/tap on the Change advanced sharing settings link on the left side. (see screenshot below)

Change File Sharing Encryption Level in Windows 10-file_sharing_encryption_network_and_sharing_center-1.png

3 Expand open Change File Sharing Encryption Level in Windows 10-chevron.png the All Networks network profile. (see screenshot below )

4 Under File sharing connections, select (dot) Use 128-bit encryption to help protect file sharing connections (default) or Enable file sharing for devices that use 40- or 56-bit encryption for what you want to do, and click/tap on Save changes. (see screenshot below)

5 When finished, you can close Network and Sharing Center if you like.

Change File Sharing Encryption Level in Windows 10-file_sharing_encryption_network_and_sharing_center-2.png






OPTION TWO

Change File Sharing Encryption Level using a REG file


The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD values in the registry key below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\MSV1_0

NtlmMinClientSec and NtlmMinServerSec DWORDs

0 = 40- or 56-bit
536870912 (decimal) = 128-bit


1 Do step 2 (128-bit) or step 3 (40- or 56-bit) below for what you would like to do.


2 To Use 128-bit Encryption for File Sharing

This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Use_128-bit_file_sharing_encryption.reg

Download


3 To Use 40- or 56-bit Encryption for File Sharing

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Use_40-56-bit_file_sharing_encryption.reg

Download


4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6 when prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7 If you like, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


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