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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11To change the Windows 11 file sharing encryption level, open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Advanced sharing settings, expand All networks, and use the File sharing connections control. Windows uses 128-bit encryption to help protect file-sharing connections. Keep that 128-bit option unless a device on your local network cannot support it, in which case Microsoft’s guidance allows the 40- or 56-bit setting as a compatibility fallback.
Steps to change the File sharing connections setting
- Open Settings.
- Select Network & internet.
- Select Advanced network settings.
- Select Advanced sharing settings.
- Expand All networks.
- Under File sharing connections, choose the encryption option that matches the devices you need to reach. Click the option, then close the window. The change applies to the file-sharing connections that Windows makes with other devices on your network.
Menu wording can shift between Windows builds. If you do not see these labels, check whether your PC is running a newer or older build, since the layout of the Settings pages is the element most likely to differ.
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If you are on an older Control Panel layout
Older Microsoft guidance and many screenshots show the same control under the classic path Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings. The option you need is the same, and it is labeled File sharing connections under the All networks section.
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The choice is a trade-off between protection and compatibility, not a set of equivalent security levels. Microsoft’s support article Troubleshoot transferring files using Bluetooth states that “Windows uses 128-bit encryption to help protect file-sharing connections” and that “some devices don’t support 128-bit encryption and must use 40 or 56-bit encryption.”
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| Option | When to use it | Security posture | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| 128-bit | Default choice when every device on the network supports it | Windows’ standard file-sharing encryption | May fail to connect with an older device that lacks support |
| 40- or 56-bit | Only when a specific device does not support 128-bit encryption | Weaker than 128-bit; Microsoft presents it as a compatibility setting | Keeps an incompatible device working at the cost of a lower encryption level |
| 40-bit versus 56-bit | Use whichever value the device requires | Relative strength not stated in the cited Microsoft guidance | Microsoft lists them together as compatibility options |
If you change the setting to accommodate one device, it applies to the connections you make from this PC. Revisit the setting once that device is replaced or updated.
What this control does not change
The File sharing connections option is not the master switch for SMB (Server Message Block) encryption. Microsoft documents SMB encryption separately in its Microsoft Learn SMB feature documentation, and its default behavior depends on the Windows version. Changing this dropdown does not set every SMB encryption property, and it does not fix every connection failure.
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SMB encryption behavior by Windows version
| Windows version | Outbound SMB client connections |
|---|---|
| Windows 11 24H2 | Encryption required by default |
| Windows 11 23H2 and earlier | Encryption optional |
These defaults are as stated in Microsoft’s SMB documentation at the time of writing (October 2026). Check that page if you manage a mix of Windows versions, because protocol behavior is set by the release and can change in later builds.
Scope: local network sharing only
This setting governs file sharing on your local network, which Microsoft describes as sharing over a LAN. For sharing files with someone outside your network, Microsoft recommends OneDrive rather than adjusting these network settings. Local network sharing, nearby sharing, and internet sharing are separate use cases, and this control serves only the first.
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Troubleshooting a LAN file-sharing connection
If devices cannot see or reach each other, work through these checks before assuming the encryption level is the cause:
- Confirm that both devices are on the same network.
- Set the network profile to Private where appropriate for a trusted home or office network.
- Under Private networks, make sure Network discovery and File and printer sharing are turned on.
- Remember that password-protected sharing is a separate setting, so a password prompt is not a sign that the encryption level is wrong.
- Only after these checks, test the File sharing connections option, and use 40- or 56-bit encryption only if the incompatible device is confirmed as the cause.
Microsoft’s troubleshooting steps for LAN discovery and access follow this pattern. They are a starting point, and results will depend on the devices and network configuration involved.
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