Enable or Disable NTFS File Compression in Windows  

    Enable or Disable NTFS File Compression in Windows

    Enable or Disable NTFS File Compression in Windows

    How to Enable or Disable NTFS File Compression in Windows
    Published by Category: General Tips
    03 May 2020
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Enable or Disable NTFS File Compression in Windows


    Windows supports compression for individual files and folders on NTFS volumes using NTFS compression.

    While NTFS file system compression can save disk space, compressing data can adversely affect performance. NTFS compression has the following performance characteristics. When you copy or move a compressed NTFS file to a different folder, NTFS decompresses the file, copies or moves the file to the new location, and then recompresses the file. This behavior occurs even when the file is copied or moved between folders on the same computer. Compressed files are also expanded before copying over the network, so NTFS compression does not save network bandwidth.

    Files or folders saved into an existing compressed folder will automatically be compressed.

    This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable NTFS file compression for all users in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

    You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable NTFS file compression.

    If you disable NTFS file compression, any currently compressed files will still remain compressed. You will also still be able to uncompress any currently compressed files, but you will not be able to compress them again until NTFS compression is enabled.



    Contents

    • Option One: Enable or Disable NTFS File Compression in Command Prompt
    • Option Two: Enable or Disable NTFS File Compression in Local Group Policy Editor
    • Option Three: Enable or Disable NTFS File Compression using a REG file



    EXAMPLE: NTFS file compression disabled
    Enable or Disable NTFS File Compression in Windows-ntfs_compression_disabled.png






    OPTION ONE

    Enable or Disable NTFS File Compression in Command Prompt


    For more fsutil behavior command usage details, see: Fsutil behavior | Microsoft Docs


    1 Open an elevated command prompt.

    2 Copy and paste the command below you want into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter.

    (Enable NTFS file compression - default)
    fsutil behavior set disablecompression 0

    OR

    (Disable NTFS file compression)
    fsutil behavior set disablecompression 1

    3 Close the elevated command prompt.

    4 Restart the computer to apply.






    OPTION TWO

    Enable or Disable NTFS File Compression in Local Group Policy Editor


    The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 7/8/10 Pro, Windows 7/8/10 Enterprise, and Windows 10 Education editions.

    All editions can use Option Three below.


    1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

    2 In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

    Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Filesystem\NTFS

    Enable or Disable NTFS File Compression in Windows-ntfs_compression_gpedit-1.jpg

    3 In the right pane of NTFS in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Do not allow compression on all NTFS volumes policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

    4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


    5 To Enable NTFS File Compression

    A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

    Not Configured is the default setting.


    6 To Disable NTFS File Compression

    A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

    Enable or Disable NTFS File Compression in Windows-ntfs_compression_gpedit-2.png


    7 When finished, close the Local Group Policy Editor.

    8 Restart the computer to apply.






    OPTION THREE

    Enable or Disable NTFS File Compression using a REG file


    The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Policies

    NtfsDisableCompression DWORD

    (delete) = Enable
    1 = Disable


    1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


    2 To Enable NTFS File Compression

    This is the default setting.

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

    Enable_NTFS_file_compression.reg

    Download


    3 To Disable NTFS File Compression

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

    Disable_NTFS_file_compression.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 Restart the computer to apply.

    8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 8
    Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit Build 22H2
       #1

    Hi Brink ,if I disable NTFS File Compression first,does Compact OS disabled too?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello Arief, :)

    It will have no affect on Compact OS.

    Compress or Uncompress Windows 10 with Compact OS General Tips Tutorials
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 8
    Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit Build 22H2
       #3

    Thanks Brink .
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    You're most welcome.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 174
    Windows 10 Enterprise x64 1709
       #5

    Better choice is:
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem]
    What would be the difference?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    The method in the tutorial is to set this via policy instead.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 5,442
    Windows 11 Home
       #7

    Command:
    Code:
    fsutil behavior set disablecompression 1
    In case someone disables it, he might also want to decompress the disk:
    Code:
    compact /CompactOs:never
    Compress or Uncompress Windows 10 with Compact OS
    Last edited by Brink; 05 Apr 2019 at 15:25. Reason: updated link
      My Computer


 

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