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 50-bit encryption for file sharing on all networks in Windows 10.
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to change the file sharing encryption level.
CONTENTS:
- Option One: To Change File Sharing Encryption Level in Network and Sharing Center
- Option Two: To Change File Sharing Encryption Level using a REG file

OPTION ONE

To 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)
3. Expand open

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.

OPTION TWO

To 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

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

4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6. If 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